Lesson video

Hello, everyone, I'm Miss Mia, and I'm really excited to join you on your learning journey.

I can't wait to explore new ideas, create amazing projects, and have fun with you all as we discover and learn together.

In today's lesson, you will be able to take high-quality photographs using a self-made lightbox studio.

Your keywords are on the screen now, and I'd like you to repeat them after me.

Key light.

Backdrop.

Lightbox.

Fantastic, now let's find out what these words mean.

A key light basically produces the main light, which illuminates the subject.

In other words, it's lighting it up.

Now a backdrop is a material or surface that is positioned behind a subject.

And lastly, a lightbox is a small photography studio.

These are the keywords that we will be coming across in this lesson, and if you can use those words during the lesson when explaining your ideas or how you've used certain items, that is fantastic, you are beginning to speak like an artist.

We've got three lesson cycles here.

Our first lesson cycle is all to do with creating and using a photography lightbox.

We're then going to be using the photography lightbox to take a photo.

And lastly, from the photos that you've taken, you're then going to select your best photograph.

And there's a way in doing this.

I'm super excited about this lesson, I hope you are too.

Let's get started.

Now, artist, Mandy Barker is a photographer who made a series of photographs called "Shelf-Life," about plastic waste and the damaging effects on the environment.

Mandy Barker's "Shelf-Life" series aims to highlight the environmental impact of plastic pollution, particularly focusing on the longevity of plastic waste in the ocean.

Mandy Barker takes photographs of the trash that she finds in the ocean.

The things she finds in the ocean, like plastic bottles, toys, and even toothbrushes, are then turned into amazing pieces of art.

Her photos are very colourful to look at, and they're almost like beautiful patterns, but when you look closely, you can see that they're actually made from litter that people have disposed of.

So, photographers like Mandy often use a photography studio to create and capture images in a controlled environment.

Now, when we talk about a controlled environment, what we mean by saying that is within this environment, a photographer can look at the perfect lighting.

On top of that, there will be no distractions.

So a studio is usually a quiet, controlled space as mentioned before.

So when there's nothing to distract in the background from the main object in the image, it actually makes it easier for photographers to focus on what they're photographing.

On top of that, weather doesn't matter.

In studios, photographers don't have to worry about the weather.

So whether it's raining, snowing, or it's really windy outside, the studio is always a good place to take a picture, because the weather's not going to have an impact on it.

And lastly, a photographer can take their time when taking photographs in a photography studio.

Well, since there's no rush in a studio, photographers can also take their time.

They can adjust the lights, they can change the background as many times as they like to take a very good picture.

And we're going to talk about how we can take a high-quality picture later on.

A photography lightbox typically includes essential equipment such as cameras, lighting setups, backdrops, and props, allowing photographers to manipulate factors like light, shadow, and background to achieve desired results.

A photo lightbox is a small photography studio, sometimes used by photographers.

It has a backdrop, sides and key lights, and you can see all of those items are highlighted in the picture there.

Now let's focus in on the backdrop.

A backdrop in a lightbox actually helps create a clean and simple background that makes the main subject stand out.

It can also set the mood or theme of the photo.

Now, a key light is the main light used in photography.

And did you know it's also used in filmmaking? It's usually used to illuminate the subject or the object that we are photographing.

It's also usually the brightest light, and it is placed at an angle to create shadows and depth, helping to shape the subject's features and give the image a more three-dimensional look.

Then, of course, we've got the main tool, the camera, and this is what we're going to use to take the picture.

Now don't worry if you do not have a camera in class, you could also use a tablet.

Now, you can make a simple DIY lightbox by cutting away the sides of a cardboard box, then covering it with a large piece of fabric or coloured paper.

You will also need a light and camera holder.

Now, when it comes to the light, we don't need the key lights that photographers use.

We can actually use torches.

So if you have a torch, you can use that, as well as the camera holder.

If you don't have a camera holder, that's absolutely fine.

You'll be able to use your hands, or you could ask your friend to help you to hold the camera or iPad steadily.

Now, photographers might use a special camera or a phone.

In our case, we can also use an iPad.

A viewfinder on a camera is a little window you look through to see what the picture will look like before you take it.

So this for me is the best part.

I love taking photos.

When I look through the viewfinder, I make sure that the subject is in clear focus, and that everything is positioned the way I want before taking the picture.

Now this comes with practise.

What you'll find is that the more pictures you take, slowly, slowly, you'll start getting better.

Sometimes the pictures that we take at the beginning might not always be the best, so the best thing here to do is experiment.

Over to you, true or false? A studio lightbox is an expensive piece of specialist photography equipment.

Is this true or is this false? And why? You can pause the video here, and click when you're ready to rejoin us.

So what did you get? Well, it's true.

Why? You can pause the video again.

So what did you discuss? Well, they are easy to buy, and you can actually easily and quickly make a DIY lightbox.

So, this is exactly what you're going to do.

For this task, you'll be setting up your own lightbox to take photographs of plastic, like Mandy Barker.

So what you're going to do is you're going to find a cardboard box, and you're going to make sure it is clean and empty.

Then you're going to cut away three sides of the box, leaving a back, side and base.

You are then going to use fabric to cover the remaining sides of the box.

This will help diffuse the light and provide an even, consistent background with no stains, folds, or wrinkles.

You're then going to place a key light facing the open side of the box.

You're going to put the camera holder in front of the open side of the box.

This will help keep your camera steady while you take pictures.

Now remember, if you don't have a camera holder or an iPad holder, you can ask your friend to help you whilst you click the button to take the picture.

Then you're going to locate the viewfinder on your camera.

So when it comes to taking the picture on the iPad instead, what you're going to do is open the camera, so you're going to tap the Camera app on your iPad.

You're then going to use both hands to keep it still.

You're going to look at the screen, and point the camera at what you want to photograph, and then you're going to tap the screen where you want it to be focusing clear.

Remember, there's no right or wrong answer.

This is your time to experiment.

You can pause the video here and have a go.

Click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, welcome back.

I really hope you enjoyed setting up your photography lightbox and taking pictures using either a camera or iPad.

You can pause the video here, have a go at creating your photography lightbox.

Once it's ready, come back here to click play and we can move on.

So how did you do? Did you enjoy creating your photography lightbox? Was it a bit fiddly? Let's see how Jacob and Sam got on.

So Jacob and Sam have been working together to make a lightbox.

They are discussing what makes it successful.

Sam says, "It should have an even, consistent background and have no stains, folds, or wrinkles." Jacob says, "I made sure that my camera holder was stable so that my camera won't move when I take photos." Now remember, if you don't have a camera holder, no problem.

You may have discussed with your partner how best to hold the camera or iPad when taking the photo.

Steady hands in this will win the game.

Now let's move on to our second lesson cycle.

Now in this lesson cycle, you will begin to take the photo.

You are going to use the photography lightbox that you made to take a photo.

Let's begin.

Lightboxes mean that photographers do not need to use an expensive and large studio.

A lightbox is cheap, portable, and easy to use.

Sometimes makeup artists, marketers, use light boxes in a confined space as this makes taking pictures of what they're creating easier.

Over to you, which of the following is true? A, a lightbox is expensive, large, and hard to use.

B, a lightbox is cheap, portable and easy to use.

Or C, a lightbox is the only way to take photographs.

You can pause the video here, and click play when you've got the answer.

So, what did you get? If you got B, you are correct.

A lightbox is cheap, portable, and easy to use.

You can also make your own DIY lightbox if you have the correct equipment.

Let's move on.

Now, this small lightbox setup is particularly useful for photographing small or individual items such as plastic.

Sofia and Izzy are discussing which plastic items they would photograph.

They have been inspired by Mandy Barker.

Sofia says, "I would use a lightbox to photograph a plastic wrapper from a snack that I had today." Izzy says, "I would use a lightbox to photograph one of my favourite plastic toys." Over to you.

Which of the following plastic items would be suitable for photographing in a lightbox? Is it A, a yoghourt pot? B, a bottle? Or C, a plastic chair? Think about the size.

You can pause the video here, and click play when you've got the answer.

So, what did you get? Well, you can use both the yoghourt pot and the bottle, because the size is appropriate.

We would definitely struggle fitting a chair into the lightbox.

Now, let's move on to the main task for this lesson cycle.

So, what you're going to do now is select an interesting plastic item to photograph.

Now you might think about the colour on that plastic item, the shape of it, the textures, and the labels and design.

Then, you're going to place the plastic item into your lightbox.

You're going to position your key light to illuminate the subject.

Next, you're going to set the camera so the object fits in the camera viewfinder and is clearly in focus, and you are ready to take photographs.

Now, if you're using an iPad, the same still applies, you're going to make sure that the object fits on the iPad screen, and then when you're ready, you're going to click the camera button.

Then you're going to discuss with a partner how you know you have set up your lightbox and are ready to take photographs.

Now, before you begin, I'm going to give you three more top tips.

Number one, make sure when using the key light it is evenly distributed around the lightbox to avoid shadows.

This helps your subject look bright and clear.

Number two, position your subject.

Place your subject in the centre of the lightbox, and make sure it's not too close to the walls to avoid unwanted reflections.

And tip three, if you're using an iPad, tap on the screen to focus on the subject inside the lightbox.

This will make sure you've got a sharp and clear image.

Off you go, have fun taking the images, and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, how did you do? I hope you had a lot of fun taking lots of pictures and experimenting with the positioning.

And you may have also experimented with what happens when you hold the camera too close or you took it back too far.

Let's find out how Sam and Jacob did.

Now, Jacob and Sam have been working together to get their lightbox and items ready to take their photographs.

Sam says, "The subject of the plastic item is fully in the viewfinder." Jacob says, "The plastic item is well-lit and in focus." And by making sure that you were able to have your plastic item fully in the viewfinder, with it being well-lit, you should have been able to take high-quality photographs.

I hope you enjoyed that.

Well done for completing that task.

Let's move on.

For this lesson cycle, we're now going to be taking and selecting our best photograph.

Now, photographers will often take multiple photographs of the same subject.

Then they're going to select their favourite and highest quality ones to actually print.

If you've ever been to a wedding, you may have seen that the wedding photographer is taking so many pictures.

But when it actually comes to selecting the pictures for the wedding book, photographers really need to narrow down and select their best pictures.

So in this case, I can see three photographs at the bottom, and the selected photo is the middle photo.

Over to you.

Why did the photographer select photo B from these images? Have a think.

You can pause the video here, and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, what did you get? Well, photo A has drops of water in the photo.

You may have noticed that.

Photo C, well, the background is not contrasted well enough with the object.

Photo B, on the other hand, is well-lit, in focus, and in this case has no errors.

Well done if you've got that correct.

Let's move on.

Now, when selecting a high-quality photograph to print from multiple taken, photographers might consider the following: The focus and sharpness: The image should be sharp and in focus, especially in the key areas of interest, with no unintended blurring.

Secondly, exposure and lighting: The photo should have proper exposure with well-balanced lighting that highlights the subject without overexposing or underexposing important details.

Next, composition and framing: The subject should be well-framed within the image.

Next, detail and texture: The photograph should capture fine details and textures clearly, especially if these are important to the subject matter.

Lastly, impact: The image should evoke the desired emotion or reaction, conveying the intended mood, story, or concept effectively.

Now, imagine these as ingredients for taking a high-quality image.

If we can combine all of these, we will have multiple high-quality images that we can select from.

This might actually make it difficult for us, but even from that selection, we know that we've got the best to choose from.

Back to you.

Which of the following qualities in your photo would you want your photo to have to select a high-quality photograph to print? Is it A, focus and sharpness? B, detail and texture? C, subject matter and size, or D, blurring and shapes? You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to rejoin us after your discussion.

So, what did you discuss? Well, you should have picked A and B.

Focus and sharpness, detail and texture.

This is really important, because when taking your photograph, these are the key ingredients for making sure we can take a high-quality photograph.

Now, subject matter and size: Subject matter and size, blurring and shapes, do matter when initially picking the object, and also when practically taking the image.

But after that, what we focus on are focus and sharpness, and detail and texture.

Onto the last task for this lesson cycle.

You're now going to take multiple photos and experiment with different camera angles, the position of the plastic item, and the lighting.

You're then going to select a high-quality photograph to print.

You could discuss with a fellow photographer, which of your photographs should be printed.

So, off you go, continue to experiment with the positioning of your object, and think about the key ingredients when it comes to taking a high-quality image.

Click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you do? I really hope you enjoyed taking those pictures.

Now let's find out how Jacob and Sam got along.

Jacob and Sam have been working together to select the highest quality photograph of their plastic items objects.

They are discussing how they made that choice.

Sam says, "My photograph is in focus and shows the details and textures on my item." Jacob says, "My chosen photograph will convey the message about how wasteful plastic is." Well done if you managed to select high-quality photographs from the photographs that you took.

We've made it to the end of the lesson.

Let's summarise our learning.

So in today's lesson, you've learned that some photographers can take photos using a photography lightbox.

You've also learned that lighting the subject is important.

Lighting makes sure that images are fitted in the camera viewfinder and are in focus.

And lastly, photographs can send a powerful recycling message.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

I hope you really enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing you in the next one.

Bye.