Initial Skills Assessment

AS Media Production

Technical Skills Audit Print Production

Name: Andrew Brown                           Tutor group: 1.22                Date: 13/04/11

Photographic Skills

Which of the following photographic features/equipment have you used on a camera before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Manual Focus features	X		I experimented with manual focus in skill development lessons. I used manual focus when learning about poses, shutter speed and aperture settings. I think I have made good progress with this feature and need to experiment more so that I can be able to become faster at focusing an image.
Shutter Speed	X		I used this feature in a skills development lesson. We took slow shutter speed photos in the dark using a torch. While the lens was open, it captured the light of the torch and this meant we would do shapes. I also used fast shutter speed. I got someone to run past or do a cartwheel and then captured the image, Since the shutter speed was fast the image didn’t blur. I think I have used these skills effectively but can improve on the timing of my shots when using fast shutter speed, so I get the right shot, and the control of the camera when using slow shutter speed, so it doesn’t blur.
Aperture control	X		Aperture control was the topic for one of my skills development lessons. We took photos of an object using 3 different f-stops so we could explore the field of depth. I used 3.5, 9 and 22 and explored how the focus changed depending on what f-stop I used. These photos turned out successful as there was a clear different between the photos. I could improve my skills further by taking more photos with different objects and different backgrounds.
ISO Control	X		This feature was used in the same skills development lesson as the aperture control. Different amounts of light were absorbed by the camera though the different shots we took. I don’t think that I used this skill very effectively as I don’t think I had much knowledge about the feature. All my attention was on aperture control and not on the ISO control.
A tripod	X		I used a tripod when doing aperture control. I used this because the camera needed to be kept very still when taking the photos as the shutter was open for a significant amount of time and the slightest movement of the camera could blur the image and therefore I used a tripod so the image would stay still. Also it allowed me to keep the camera in the same place so I could easy compare the differences between the f-stop. I feel as if I have used the tripod effectively because my photos came out the way I wanted to and the focused part of my photo wasn’t blurry. I would like to increase my skill of using a tripod by using it with different features and doing different kinds of shots.
External flash		X
Self timer facility		X
Light meter		X
Composition grids		X

Photoshop Skills

Which of the following features of Photoshop have you used before:

Feature	Yes	No	Comments if yes – where have you completed this skills and to what level
Have you ever used Photoshop ever before?	X		Before I started the course I had no experience of Photoshop what-so-ever. But I have learnt a lot about the programme and developed a lot of skills which has helped me very much with producing my magazine cover and double page spread. I also think the skills I have learnt are effective although there is quite a big room for improvement as there is still more to learn about the software.
Text control	X		I used text control from the very first task I did. I had to create an advert and the text I put on only had a drop shadow. For my first time suing the product I think I did a good job but it wasn’t effective. I then used text in my magazine mock up. I used downloaded fonts and stokes. I also completed a tutorial for my main sell line text. I also used colour which I managed to get from my models t-shirt. The text worked but everything did look a bit flat. In my final production the text which I used had downloaded fonts, a range of colours, strokes, drop shadows and my main sell line text had been cut out of its background. This was effective as everything worked however I do think I could have been more aware of my space and font size.
Filters	X		I have only used one filter tool. The filter which I have used is the gaussian blur tool. I did this in my independent learning through a Photoshop tutorial. I used it to blur colours in together so it looks as though theres a flow of colour. I think I used this tool well as I had got the outcome I wanted. I could explore different filters to greatly improve my skills.
Brushes	X		I have learnt how to use brushes and greatly developed my skills. I referred to brushes a little bit while doing my first tutorials but I first started to use brushes properly when doing my magazine mock up. I downloaded some brushes and changed the colours of them to give my magazine a design. When doing my Unit 3 production I used a range of brushes to edit the face. I downloaded some brushes and changed the colours to edit the red burnt part side of her face. I extended it further down her face and used different colours to give it some texture. I could improve by using different brushes on different images.
Layers	X		I first experimented with layers when doing my induction project. I found that it was easier to put everything on a new layer as it was easy to select and easy to delete. I also used layers to overlap an image with another image. I overlapped the photo of a girl with red sauce with a red cross. I next used layers when I was doing the magazine mock up task. I used an image as a background and then I put item over the top of it such as text. I also used brushes to and put them of the image too. In one of my tutorials I used different layers and then used the blending options on the layers to give different effects. I used the blending mode overlay, colour and soft light to give off different effects. In my unit 3 production I used layers in a variety of ways. I duplicated my background layer with my main image on, moved my layer with the masthead in between the two background layers and cut some of the overlapping layer so my main image overlapped my mast head and the background was still behind everything. I also used layers so that I could have a sell line images on a green bar and so I can have text one some shapes. I could improve by continuing to use layers and by using different blending options to explore the effects.
Opacity control	X		I first explored opacity control when I was doing one of my tutorials. I used opacity on duplicated layers so that they became transparent and the lines underneath the image could be seen. In my unit 3 production I used opacity control on my mast head. I did this so that the colour wouldn’t become so dominant and so the image behind it was still visible. I also changed the opacity on a green bar at the bottom of the magazine. Again I did this so the image underneath was still visible. I think I have used this tool effectively as I got what the effect which I wanted but can expand on the tool by using it on different images and exploring what different effect this tool offers.
Shape creation	X		I haven’t used the shape creation tool much while using Photoshop. In my unit 3 production I used it to create an arrow for my main sell line to go on. This was effective as it stood out from all the other sell lines. I also used a star shape for my price to go on. This was effect as it was eye catching and it also makes the reader more likely to buy it. I think the way I have used the tool so far is effective but I can improve by using all the shapes and using them to do different things such as make a cartoon image or something.
Brightness and contrast control	X		I’ve controlled brightness and contrast on my final product to make the image brighter and also to make the ride side of my models face redder. Doing this was effective as it makes the message more power and also makes the nice side of my models face more appealing. I can improve on this tool by using it on different images and exploring different effects.
Gradients	X		I have only used gradients once whilst using Photoshop. I used it when doing a tutorial. I learnt how to make a gradient have lots of different colours and also how to randomise these colours. I think I have used this tool well but could have used it a lot more and can improve by using the gradients in different ways such as for text colour or for a background.
Load selection features		X
Feathering		X
Colour curves adjustment		X
Resolution setting control		X
Magnetic lasso, polygon lasso tool	X		I used the magnetic lasso tool when experimenting with Photoshop. I used this tool to cut out my images so I could put them onto a different background. I also did this for one of my flat plans. I think I used this tool effectively as I have managed to cut out things in an effective way. I don’t think there is much room for improvement while using these tools.
Cropping tool	X		I haven’t used the cropping tool much while using Photoshop. I have only used it after taking screen shots of the steps I have doing during tutorials. I used the cropping tool so it got rid of everything I wanted. I can improve with this tool by cropping other images.
Clone tool	X		I only started using the clone tool when doing my unit 3. I used it when editing the red part of my models face. I needed to spread the make up more so I used the clone tool so that it would look like the rest and match it. I think I have this tool effectively as I got the effect I wanted the part I cloned did match the rest. I can improve the way I use this tool by using it more and edit different images. For example I could remove a sign from a building.
Retouch tool		X