Science that would help in photography - help please

[Photography~girl~]

(okay so i really had no idea what the title should be...lol.)
anyway.
This coming fall/winter is my last year of highschool(ahhhh) and i get to pick what science i'm going to do!(yay.) I was thinking about Marine Bio, but i'm just not sure!(doesn't help that i can't look at the book, but that's beside the point.)(btw, i have done Biology...and Human Anatomy but i doubt that will help much in nature photography. )
Since i'm probably going into photography of some sort(nature most likely), i thought it might be a good idea to pick a science that might help me with that. Sooo, i deiced to ask you, my fellow photographers a question:
If you could pick ANY science "course"(or type of science say...weather) what would you pick that could help you in /nature/ photography?(hopefully that question made sense)
Now it realy can be...anything. no joke.(gosh i like being homeschooled. )
thanks in advance for the help. (:
ak
p.s oh, and some might have noticed i haven't been posting like...any photos lately. I'm hoping i will be soon here. We've been going to the beach a lot, and i just haven't really "found" many photos ops.(not to mention my computer is...gahhh. i'm not happy with it.) but my lovely mother gave me the assignment of taking photos of the flowers in our butterfly garden for her picture frames...and i should be taking some more water shots this week. i also should be getting my polarizor the begining of July. So hopefully i'll have more photos up here within the next week or so...

[Mitchell]

Thanks for asking this question, its somthing that i have been wondering to. maybe not this exatly becuase this will be my first year in highschool not my last but i have been wondering what is a good topic to learn about other than buisness stuff, for nature/wildlife photography..

[Edd]

Personally I would say Physics, there will be part of it where you study light, the nature of light and how it reacts when passing through different types of lenses etc. Not all of the physics course may be relevant to photography but the light section will certainly be useful.

No matter what type of photography you finally choose wildlife, landscape, macro, portrait and weddings it all involves light and it passing through a lense.

Biology would run a close second if wanting to get into wildlife, but I think more is gained when trying to photograph subjects out in the field. Learning just never ends !!!!

Ed

[bob_r]

Personally I would say Physics, there will be part of it where you study light, the nature of light and how it reacts when passing through different types of lenses etc. Not all of the physics course may be relevant to photography but the light section will certainly be useful.

I agree with Ed about studying light. Photography means "drawing with light", so any study of photography begins with a study of light.
You should also study the color/termperature of light. Morning light has a different color than mid-day light or evening light or shade. Indoor light is also different than outdoor light and is dependent upon your light source. Fluorescent is different than incandescent or flash and each has a color specific temperature that must be allowed for to capture acceptable color in your images. You should also consider studying how to set your white balance to allow for these different light sources.

My granddaughter is interested in photography too and we'll probably study it next year. She already has enough subjects to keep her busy for this coming school year. I think I will enjoy teaching this course.

[gldiana]

Hi,

basically all science studies are great because they help you understand better how things work. I think you could benefit most from Physics with a concentration in optics (how light behaves). I'm biased, I have a scientific background (Astronomy and physics/quantum mechanics)

[Photography~girl~]

...physics? well golly. prolly the one i'd like the least(i'm not a math gal, by anymeans.lol) BUT, thankfully my older brother did a physics course when he was in high school - and we still have that book. So i may just break it out and read the modules about light - and maybe get some other books about light?
thanks for the advice, guys. (: and mitchell, i'm glad i could be of help.

[gldiana]

Well, in that case I think Marine Biology would help (it's a tough subject though, I think it's harder than Physics but Animal Conservancy would also be a good one for you. You ever thought about spending a summer as a junior ranger/trail maker in a national park when you turn 18? I think that would be an awesome step forward in your photography career.

[bob_r]

...physics? well golly. prolly the one i'd like the least(i'm not a math gal, by anymeans.lol) BUT, thankfully my older brother did a physics course when he was in high school - and we still have that book. So i may just break it out and read the modules about light - and maybe get some other books about light?
thanks for the advice, guys. (: and mitchell, i'm glad i could be of help.

A.K.,

You don't have to get that envolved in math to get a good basic understanding of light. If you really want to get into the "nuts and bolts" of light for photography, I'd recommend "Light Science & Magic an Introduction to Photographic Lighting" by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua. This may be more of a textbook approach than you're looking for and much of it is indoor, studio type photography. This book has 300 pages, but there are many diagrams and images. Most of the actual properties of light are covered in the first couple of chapters.

For you, I'd recommend "The Photographer's Guide to Light" by Nigel Hicks. This book will also give you a basic understanding of light, but doesn't go into all the detail as the first one. I'd recommend that you start with this one and if you want to delve deeper into the "Science & Magic" of light, that you then get the second one.

Over half of "The Photographer's Guide to Light" pertains to outdoor photography (it also has lots of pics ). It explains the properties of light first and then has a chapter on landscapes, then one on nature, then it covers architecture and urban settings followed by outdoor portraits. From there it moves indoors to indoor portraits, interiors and ends with a chapter on still life. Indoor photography may not hold a lot of interest for you, but you need to know how to handle different lighting situations. The book only has 141 pages so even by trying out the different suggestions in the book, you won't have trouble finishing it in a school year. Knowing how you love photography, you'll probaby finish the actual reading in a week or two.

Let us know what you're working on and continue posting samples of your work. You know you'll get lots of help here if you need it.

[Photography~girl~]

Luca,
That didn't even cross my mind! I may have to look into that(and see what the parents think about it. lol) would i just go to a national state parks website to know what is all involved with that?

Bob,
thanks for the book ideas! My senior year will prolly be pretty light(no pun intented. lol) but i don't want to be super board, so maybe i can make a whole year out of just learning lighting. maybe. lol. Perhaps i could read the module or two in my bros physics book to get a "basic" science behind it(then maybe i could skip the 300 page book. lol), then read a book(the other you mentioned that was good) that is just about light with photography??
So what is the advantage to learning about studio lighting, when i'm almost 100% i will never set my foot in a studio(being the one taking the photo that is. haha)
Like i said before i'll be doing the assignment mom gave me. And a friend of mine here in MI lent me her macro lens for that. But...i'm at my grandparents for one full day..and...i forgot my camera. *is ashamed* haha. i was like "gosh, its just one day..." I feel like i left part of myself somewhere. lol. But i'll be SURE to let y'all know what i'm doing for school(and i'm sure i'll have questions while i'm learning it.) And thanks for the help y'all have already gave me. I don't know how i'd be doing with my photography if it wasn't for y'all.

[gldiana]

I think a good place to start researching is this:
http://www.nps.gov/

Plus, if you live near a National Park go speak to the local rangers.

[Photography~girl~]

thanks, luca. Mom is curious and this is her question: how does that benifet a photographer?
i think the closest national park to us is...Sleeping Bear Dunes. I think that's a national park...i'll have to ask them when we go up sometime this summer.

[bob_r]

Bob,
thanks for the book ideas! My senior year will prolly be pretty light(no pun intented. lol) but i don't want to be super board, so maybe i can make a whole year out of just learning lighting. maybe. lol. Perhaps i could read the module or two in my bros physics book to get a "basic" science behind it(then maybe i could skip the 300 page book. lol), then read a book(the other you mentioned that was good) that is just about light with photography??
So what is the advantage to learning about studio lighting, when i'm almost 100% i will never set my foot in a studio(being the one taking the photo that is. haha)

A.K.,

Both books first explain the properties of light and then go in different directions, but both show how light affects your images. Even though you may never have a studio, don't think the information won't be useful. I don't have a designated studio, but I do have all the equipment for a studio and often turn my garage into one. Strobes are very useful tools and their usage is not confined to a studio.

Also, one of the trends these days is to simply use multiple flashes with stands, umbrellas or softboxes and triggers. (Google "Strobist" to learn more) That way your "studio" is portable and can be setup indoors or out. If you should make photography a career, you'll need to become proficient with studio type equipment. It's difficult making a living in photography today (according to some of my pro buddies) and you'll need all the customers you can get and some of them will want indoor shots - portraits, weddings, product shots for advertising are some of the things that come to mind.

Even if you never get into studio or strobist type work, many shots in a studio try to mimick natural light. Also, I'm sure at some point you'll be shooting indoor pics at family gatherings. Once members of your family become aware of how good your pics are, you'll be appointed the "family photographer". Once you get that title, you not only become responsible for family gatherings, you'll probably be asked to take portraits of some of your relatives. For all those indoor shots, you'll eventually need to learn about a flash and about the different colors produced by different types of indoor lights.

A.K., you can buy the book for less than $10, including shipping, from some of the 3rd party vendors at Amazon. If you go this route, be sure to select a vendor with excellent feedback and more than just a few transactions. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... 730&sr=1-1

[gldiana]

A.K.

I guess I could tell you a million things about how that would benefit a photographer but I'll be lazy and point you to Pat's photos who's spending summer in a national park
Some food for your thought though: working as a ranger will give you an insight about landscape and wildlife that can rarely be matched by ordinary people. Thing now how you can apply that knowledge to get more unusual shots. Without counting the fact that being out all the time will increase the possibilities and opportunities for wildlife encounters, wildlife acting in unusual ways (unique shots) as well as capturing good light.

[Photography~girl~]

Bob,
ahh. okay. that makes sense. I hope i don't become the 'family photographer' real soon - i really dislike telling how people should stand and all that. just stand wherever and i'll shoot it. lol.(was quite interesting the family shots i took of just my family the other week. haha) But i do see your point. and it makes sense.

Luca,
Okay. The better you learn about the 'park' setting the better you'll be able to see the unique photo ops, correct? (instead of just wandering around like a tourist or something)

[Pokie]

How about...Meteorology...weather?

The light that outdoor/landscape photographers write with is overwhelmingly provided by mother nature.
At times, augmented by mankind.

Sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, halos, fog, mist, rain, virga, cumulonimbus, cumulus, cirrus, stratus clouds, lightning, hail, wind, dew, snow, ice, hoarfrost, drought, floods, tornados, hurricanes, dust storms.

These are brought to us and controlled by weather. You might, by extension, also include the timing and quality of spring flowers, fall leaves, and bird migrations. Perhaps even stretch to include geological features controlled by water, wind and temperature or lack thereof.

Read Galen Rowell's "Mountain Light" and understand that you can know and 'reasonably' predict the type and quality of light.
Fog = cold air over warm water or warm/moist surfaces. (think of a steaming cup of coffee or hot tea)
Light winds so the fog doesn't blow away.

I had my share of physics classes in both high school and college. I used to have some idea as to what a photon was, the dual nature of light - wave and particle, how to calculate the impact of convex and concave mirrors and lenses, etc. None very helpful to photography other than the process of learning how to acquire and interpret information and how to solve problems. I'm sure it would be helpful if I worked for Canon or Nikon and were designing lenses. As a photographer, however, I'm not. I'm not discounting physics at all, and I am fascinated by it. I'm just not sure it's applicability to photography any more than biology, anatomy, architecture, interior design, geology, engineering, or economics for that matter.

Look at the paintings of Frederick Edwin Church and Albert Bierstadt. They had command of light. I doubt they were physicists.
Look at the old B/W photographs of the dust bowl by Dorthea Lange.
Go see Kevin Carter's 1994 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the starving child stalked by the vulture.

Weather plays a pivotal role in a great deal of both the beauty and tragedy we experience throughout life.

Who knows, a career in meteorology could actually put you in places where you could see and experience and interpret and record and share through photography the beauty of the sun rising through mist, the wrath of a flash flood, crocus pushing their way through snow, or hunger brought on by drought.

Just thoughts

Pokie