Tomas Mendoza Photography

What camera should I buy? Is Canon better than Nikon? What about Sony? …Pentax? …Olympus? As if brand was easy to choose, we have to pick the model. Canon offers DSLR from $700 to about $12K. Well, if they are the same brand why the difference in price? In one word: Features.
On our seventh meeting we get to review and critique our ‘ISO Assignment’ and get to see if we have begun noticing some ‘qualities’ or ‘limitations’ of our cameras. We get to compare Camera Models and I get to show-and-tell about my main camera, backup and past models. Hmmm, I guess I’ve been around

I remember ordering a Light Meter because I couldn’t figure out what the proper exposure was. By the time the package was delivered I had ‘discovered’ my camera came with a built-in light meter and also included Exposure Compensation. On our eighth session we get to discuss the Trinity of Light and how the harmony among ISO, F-Stop and Shutter Speed can be manipulated to free our creativity and convey meaning to an image.

f1.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 1600, 50mm

Photography from the Greek ‘ph?tós’ (light) and ‘graphi?’ (to write) means ‘to write with light’ So, after Aperture, ISO, Shutter and Exposure Compensation, we finally get to talk about Light.
On our ninth meeting we get to review and critique our ‘Manual Assignment’ and discuss the light texture. Ok, we can’t touch it but light allows us to convey Contour, Mood and Meaning.
Yup, the presence (or absence) or shadows and tones can ensure people will see the world just the way we see it from behind the lens

f5.6, 1/40 sec, ISO 100, 95mm

As mentioned before, Photography is the art of painting with light. Light (whether ambient, flash, strobes, or ‘hot lights’) can be modified, reflected, enhanced or decreased even made harsh or soft. Not just that but flash or strobes can be used to turn day into night or create a sunset at midnight.
On our tenth meeting we get to play with flashes and strobes, umbrellas, reflectors, ‘gobos’ and discuss different features including wireless. Most of the fun comes from bouncing our on-camera flash and balance it with ambient light also known as Key shifting.
We get to discuss and practice Rembrandt lighting, a two-light technique

f4.0, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 28mm, Window Light reflected of the wall

f4.0, 1/100 sec, ISO 800, 38mm, On-Camera flash with diffuser

How do I shoot Quality pictures? Once the frame is properly Exposed in terms of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO Setting then the last element to consider is Composition.
At this stage it is you who controls and ultimately decides how the image will look after post-production. It is time to release your creativity and compose or organize the elements within the frame to convey the mood as you see fit. Keep in mind that Cameras don’t make pictures, People do.
We get to review and further discuss and practice composition techniques previously mentioned. We get to shoot practice shoots of the same subject from multiple angles and distances with ambient light, flash and using light modifiers

f6.3, 1/400 sec, ISO 100, 200mm, Overcast afternoon

f2.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 200, 75mm, Window lighting