How Cameras work: the technical side of photography
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Photography is undoubtedly one of the most important inventions in history -- it has truly transformed how people "see" the world. Consider social media, it is a breeding ground for photos both good and bad.
he basic technology that makes all of this possible is fairly simple. A Camera, the device that takes or creates a photo, is made up of 3 parts. The three basic elements are: an optical element (the lens), a chemical element (the film) and a mechanical element (the camera body itself). The Optical Element:. The optical component of the camera is the lens. The lens is a curved peice of glass or plastic that "sees" or "lets in the Light" to them be recorded on the "Chemeical element" The Chemical Element This refers to the Film. now a days alot of photography is digital so the chemical element then is the memery card. The Mechanical Element This is very symply the body / or structure of the camera. |
Operating your Camera
It is difficult to take good pictures without having a solid understanding of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture – the Three Kings of Photography, also known as the “Exposure Triangle“. While most new DSLRs have “Auto” modes that automatically pick the right shutter speed, aperture and even ISO for your exposure, using an Auto mode puts limits on what you can achieve with your camera. In many cases, the camera has to guess what the right exposure should be by evaluating the amount of light that passes through the lens. Thoroughly understanding how ISO, shutter speed and aperture work together allows photographers to fully take charge of the situation by manually controlling the camera. Knowing how to adjust the settings of the camera when needed, helps to get the best out of your camera and push it to its limits to take great photographs. To further convey the importance of these three elements and photography you will notice I have enlarged the type!!! Yes that's on purpose and hopefully you will commit or reference this page in the future.
Below is a summary and explanation of the components of the Exposure Triangle
Shutter Speed – the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera. Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second, when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow more light into the camera sensor and are used for low-light and night photography, while fast shutter speeds help to freeze motion, like a sports action shot!.
Examples of shutter speeds: 1/15 (1/15th of a second), 1/30, 1/60, 1/125. |
Aperture/ F Stop – a hole within a lens, through which light travels into the camera body. The larger the hole, the more light passes to the camera sensor. Aperture also controls the depth of field, which is the portion of a scene that appears to be sharp. If the aperture is very small, the depth of field is large, while if the aperture is large, the depth of field is small.
In photography, aperture is typically expressed in “f” numbers (also known as “focal ratio”, since the f-number is the ratio of the diameter of the lens aperture to the length of the lens). Examples of f-numbers are: f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0. |
ISO – a way to brighten your photos if you can’t use a longer shutter speed or a wider aperture. It is typically measured in numbers, a lower number representing a darker image, while higher numbers mean a brighter image.
However, raising your ISO comes at a cost. As the ISO rises, so does the visibility of graininess/noise in your images. Examples of ISO: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600. (https://photographylife.com/iso-shutter-speed-and-aperture-for-beginners) |
I scowered the internet for a good video that explains the nueonces of the "EXPOSURE TRIANGLE" . Bellow I bleive to be a good explenation that is understandable. I'm sure you've had teachers before whom you know know the material but just can't explain it to newbie ie students so that they understand it....
This Exposure Triangle can be a little intimidating! I know there are lots of numbers and I'll admit it numbers scare and intimidate me. Yes there is a very technical side to photography almost mathematic, but I don't expect anyone to master these numbers and how the work together right away. we will go through each on of these individually so that we can explore them and how they affect the photo. but we will also can utilize a CHEAT SHEET. there are combination (kinda like formulas) that will yeild the product ie photo you want. Bellow is such a cheat sheet!
intro: assignments
Worksheetopen and copy the worksheet to answer the questions
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practiceusing the website bellow create at snap shot the demonstrates the following... when you shoot it just right click to copy image and then paste it into your portfolio
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1st DSLR Photo Assignment
Pick one object that you are going to create different photo of inside the classroom. The task is to keep the photos interesting and different.
Using only 1 object take 5 good shots that are all different.
To complete this, you have to be creative to take/ make good shots.
Making different photos than the others, is really hard.
Consider these tips to complete your assignment
Using only 1 object take 5 good shots that are all different.
To complete this, you have to be creative to take/ make good shots.
Making different photos than the others, is really hard.
Consider these tips to complete your assignment
Assignment requirements
- Pick one singular object and make multiple and different photos of it
- Must take at least 25 raws and 5 edited (again the 5 must look different)
- Must use DSLR Cameras
- Must have decent exposure
- Must have focus!
By using one object over and over you can really use the time to concentrate on your camera skills. You're not walking around and looking for shots you are setting them up here in class so you can take your time and understand your camera. While you are all going to be responsible for your own work, you can work in teams as you will need to share the cameras (unless you bring in your own. )