STILL PHOTOGRAPHY

UNIT 1: TOPIC 1
Photography: Definition, Meaning & Concept

Photography literally means “Writing by Light”.

Photography (derived from the Greek photos- for "light" and -graphos
for "drawing")
Sir John Herschel first used “Photography” term in March 1839.
Photography is a creative medium and man behind the camera, always
plays main role.
Photography is a latest & fastest medium of communication.

DEFINITION
Photography is the process, activity and art of creating still pictures
by recording radiation on a sensitive medium, such as film or an
electronic sensor.
According to O.P. Sharma, “the complete process by which pictures
are made by the chemical action of light on a sensitized plate or film
known as photography.
Photography is the technique of recording and generating permanent
images, by the capturing and preservation of physical stimulus-
patterns on a layer of photosensitive material.
It involves recording light patterns as reflected from objects on a
sensitive medium through momentary exposure.
The process is done through mechanical, chemical or digital devices
commonly known as camera.
CONCEPT
Photographic science required human toil and research of more than
two thousand years to reach the present-day state.
VISIBLE LIGHT is one of the many forms of electromagnetic
radiations encountered in nature, which helps us to see the object of
the material world. It is link between viewer (our eye) and the viewed
(objects around).
The speed of light was first known in India based on a statement by
Sayana Acharya (1315-1387)
In Rig Veda, it is stated that “O Sun! you who traverse 2202 yojanas
(unit of distance) in half a nimesa (Unit of time).” This corresponds to
a speed of about 302,073 km/s, which is close to the speed of light
(1,86,000 miles/sec.)

MEANING
Photography is a universal language of communication and
expression. It is a language of light by which we record and interpret
the world around us.
A photograph is a message. It conveys a statement, an impression, or
an emotion. You are as an author trying to convey this visual message
in a clear, concise, and effective way.

THE RECIPE FOR A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH IS

A foreground, a background, and appropriate placement of subject of
interest as well as eliminate the certain parts which are not related
with the whole and correct exposure
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area; make mental notes of
important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing
crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot.
Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod
or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a
good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that
they're comfortable and will pose well.

Photography as a medium of Communication

Photography is an important part of mass media from a long time. It
has an important and valuable place in print media. Newspapers,
magazines and new media use its power to convey messages among
their readers. Photographs play an effective role to disseminate
information among people. A story with photograph convey more
information than a story without photograph. Photo feature and photo
montage are important tool to describe a thing. Photography is a
powerful medium. It can expose truths and show emotions that words
never could. It can turn a mirror to our deepest fears and give us hope
for humanity. It can change the world.
It is a medium which can disseminate messages among illiterates
effectively. We can understand it with following points:
1. Support written matter
2. Tools of evidence
3. Persuade the message effectively
4. Tools of identification
5. Represent objectivity
6. Create emotional environment
7. Precise
8. Catchier to get attention
9. Understandable for all
10. Show the real expression
11. Increase credibility
12. Authenticate the information
13. Advertisement
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images
in order to tell a news story, which plays a vital part in modern news
reporting.

The Role and Importance of Photography

Photographs are the medium of expression. A photograph is a
beautiful combination of imagination and creativity. It is the result of
the great combination of art and science. It is probably the greatest
hobby of the world. The most powerful photographs are the ones that
have an element of surprise in them. The one which can influence the
mind, is the best photograph. Photographs are more effective than
words. The proverb ‘one picture is equal to thousand words’ prove the
power and importance of photograph. It plays an important role in our
life and are more reliable than words.
We can understand the role of photographs from following points-
• Major tools of evidence
• Medium of identification
• Shows the real expressions
• Gives life to memorable moments
• Capable to create emotional environment
• The way to see the past
• Vehicle of communication
• Speaks itself and speaks only truth
• Capable to express the real situation
• More effective than words and volume
• More authentic
• Increase credibility
• Represent real body language on particular occasion
• Show the difference between past and present
• Capable to give popularity to a person, place, thing, monuments etc
• Provides most accurate historical record possible of the
personalities, places etc
Photographs can be used to influence the thought of a person within
few seconds. The most important thing with photograph is – what we
see, we can keep for a long time as photograph. It can be helpful to
make aware society and its people.
TOPIC 2
Brief History of Photography
History of Photography is mainly concerned with the development of
the Art & Technique of producing images known as Photography. It
was not discovered by a single person or in a single day. Aristotle was
the person who observed that light passing through a small hole in the
wall of a room shaped an image of subject on another wall. Journey of
photography was started with the advent of camera obscura (dark
chamber).
Early Invention (1800-85)-
In 1820, a French scientist Joseph Nicephore Niepce was
experimenting with a technique of creating image by action of light.
Niepce was the first person who can be considered as founder of
photography technique. The first photograph is considered to be an
image produced in 1825 by Niepce. It was produced with an
equipment like camera, and required an eight-hour exposure in bright
light condition. He couldn’t get the technique to fix the image for long
time.
• In the process he discovered a way to copy images on a plate when
exposed them in the light.
• He put plate soaked in silver chloride and allowed light to come.
After exposure, he took out it. He observed the area where light fell
on surface was dark. In this way, when he exposed the plate in light,
light shining through it burned an image in the dark, creating nearly a
perfect copy of the original image.
In 1829, Louis Jacques Daguerre invented the first practical
photographic method. He formed the partnership with Niepce and
improved the process which was developed by Niepce. He reduced
the time of exposure to less than 30 minutes. In 1839, he developed
more convenient and effective method of photography which was
known as ‘Daguerreotype’. He coated a copper plate with silver, then
treated it with iodine vapour to make it sensitive to light. The image
was developed by mercury vapour. But one problem remained: The
image darkened over time. Daguerre solved this final obstacle by
washing away silver iodide with a solution of warm water and table
salt. He produced many photographs by this Daguerre type method by
1839. After few months, he sold his techniques to French govt. and
published details about techniques.
The word ‘photography was used by sir John F.W. Herschel in 1839.
In 1840, Henry Fox Talbot, an English mathematician invented the
first negative from which multiple positive prints were made. In 1841,
he improved his process which was known as ‘Calotype’. Called,
Photogenic drawing, his process produced contact prints of leaves.
Talbot’s process used negatives which were produced on silver
chloride- coated paper. In 1849, he prepared glassy type paper also. In
1854, Scott Archer of London introduced collodion wet plates (glass
negative system). In 1871, Dr. R.L. Maddox invented the dry plate
using gelatine which helped to improve speed and quality.
Black & White Era: The birth of film (1885-40)-
In 1885, George Eastman figured out how to process pictures on a roll
film. He also introduced his camera ‘Kodak’. It was a box camera
with a fixed focus lens and single shutter speed. After few years, he
introduced ‘Brownie’ a popular model that introduced the concept of
the snapshot. In 1898, Kodak company started manufacturing of roll
film for commercial purpose. In 1920’s, 35 mm roll film was
introduced.
The first practical reflex camera was ‘Rolleiflex’. It was a medium
format TLR, introduced in 1928. In 1930-40 various model of TLR
were introduced. The first penta-prism SLR was the Contax S,
introduced in 1949. The most popular rangefinder camera Leica M3
(one of Leica series model) was introduced in 1954. Retina of Kodak
was also popular camera model. Pentax, Yashica and Canon also
introduced various model during this period.
Colour Era (1940-80)-
In the early 1940’s, colour films were introduced in market. After
second world war, photojournalism became an important part of
journalism. Rolleiflex was the most popular model during 1950’s.
Colour film for various format camera were introduced during this
era. Canon introduced their first 35 mm SLR ‘Canon flex’ in 1959.
This era can be remembered for the various design of camera- SLR,
TLR, Rangefinder, Polaroid.

Digital Era (1981- till date)-

In 1981, Sony was the first company to introduce a film-less camera
‘Mavica’. It couldn’t get recognition among camera users because of
poor image quality. After few months, ‘pro- mavica’ was launched.
Kodak launched first digital camera in 1986. Canon introduced their
first digital SLR ‘DCS-3’ in 1995. During 1990-2000, various model
of point & shoot camera and DSLR of various company like Canon,
Nikon, Kodak, Sony were introduced in market. The journey of
digital era is continued with new technological invent.
TOPIC 3
Types of Cameras: Digital vs Film

A camera is an optical instrument that records images that can be

stored directly, transmitted to another location, or both. These images
may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies.
The term camera comes from the word camera obscura (Latin for
"dark chamber"), an early mechanism for projecting images. The
modern camera evolved from the camera obscura.
Film cameras
 View camera
 Rangefinder/viewfinder camera
 Point and shoot or compact cameras
 Single lens reflex camera (SLR)
 Twin lens reflex camera (TLR)

Digital cameras
 DSLR is the term for digital SLR cameras.

1. VIEW CAMERA: A flexible bellows joins two standards — one

with the lens and the other with the viewfinder or film. This allows for
unusual types of composition; for example, distorting the shape of the
image by skewing the film plane.
Used for: Commercial studio photography, Landscapes and
Architectural photography
Built like an accordion, with a lens in the front, a viewing screen in
the back, and flexible bellows in between.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1. Large film size (4x5, 5,7, 1. Bulky and heavy

8x10)

2. Sharp detail 2. Must use a tripod.

3. What you see in the 3. Image on the viewing screen is

viewfinder is exactly what not bright so you have put a
you will get on the negative focusing cloth over your head
and the back of the camera.
4. You can change the 4. The image appears reversed and
position of the film and upside down on the viewing
lens relative to each other screen.
to correct distortion.
5. Rapid shooting is difficult.
2. RANGEFINDER CAMERA: is a camera fitted with a rangefinder:
a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to
measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp
focus. Most varieties of rangefinder show two images of the same
subject, one of which moves when a calibrated wheel is turned; when
the two images coincide and fuse into one, the distance can be read
off the wheel.

* A compact, lightweight, camera that

allows you to view the scene through
a small window.
* Viewfinder cameras include
inexpensive point‐and‐shoot cameras.
* Rangefinders have a coupled
rangefinder that allows manual focus.

 These are called "rangefinder" cameras because they focus using

a dual-image range finding device. You turn a ring, and when
two superimposed images line up, you're in perfect focus.

 With a rangefinder camera, you never look through the lens. You
focus and compose through a window on the top right, just like
on a disposable camera.

 The rangefinder looks out of the little window on the left.

It triangulates as you turn the focus ring, bringing two images into
correlation at perfect focus.
ADVANTAGES
-Compact, lightweight, and fast handling.
- Quieter than an SLR
- Bright viewfinder image allows easy focusing.

DISADVANTAGES
- Parallax error ‐ Because the viewfinder is in a different position than
the lens, you cannot see exactly what the lens sees. The closer the
subject the more evident the parallax.

3. SLR (SINGLE LENS REFLEX): The viewfinder sees the same

image as the main lens, i.e., what you see is what you get.
SLRs also allow you to change lenses for different purposes. This is a
hugely popular type of camera, pretty much the standard for
enthusiasts and professionals.
 SLRs are the most popular cameras today.
 SLR means single-lens reflex. A DSLR is a Digital SLR.
 Reflex means that there is a reflex mirror that bounces light up
from the lens onto a flat ground-glass screen.
 You see this image through a prism that makes the screen look
like it's standing straight-up in front of you.
 The prism is what sits inside the lump on top of the lens.
 SLRs see exactly what the lens does.
 SLRs see the exact composition, the exact framing, the exact
point-of-view, the exact perspective, and usually the exact
depth-of-field.
  No matter how long or short your lens, or the distance to the
subject, what you see is what you get.

* An SLR has a mirror

and pentaprism that
allow you to use the
lens for viewing and
focusing.

* Most are 35mm, but

some are medium
format.

ADVANTAGES
▪ Eliminates parallax ‐ what you see is what you will get.
▪ Easy to focus.
▪ Usually has a built‐in light meter.

DISADVANTAGES
▪ Heavier and larger than a rangefinder.
▪ Relatively complex with many parts that may need repair.
▪ The mirror movement makes the camera loud and causes vibration.
▪ Momentary black‐out at the time of exposure.
4. TWIN LENS REFLEX(TLR): The camera has two lenses — one
for the photograph and one for the viewfinder. This type of camera
has certain advantages in some professional situations.

* A TLR has a fixed mirror

that reflects the scene upward
onto a viewing screen.

* There is one lens to expose

the film and another to view
the image.
ADVANTAGES
▪ Fixed mirror allows quiet operation.
▪ Simple, rugged construction.
▪ The viewing screen placement on top allows you to easily
photograph from the ground or other awkward angles.
▪ Medium‐format film.

DISAVANTAGES
▪ Parallax
▪ It is difficult to follow moving objects because the image on the
screen is reversed left to right.
▪ It is a larger camera that can be somewhat cumbersome.
▪ Difficult to use at eye level

5. PINHOLE CAMERA - A very simple camera without a lens.

6. POLAROID CAMERA (INSTANT CAMERA)
The instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film
image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were
formerly made by Polaroid Corporation. The invention of modern
instant cameras is generally credited to American scientist Edwin
Land, who unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the Land
Camera, in 1948, a year after unveiling instant film in New York City.
Polaroid Cameras are also known as instant cameras. It is a small and
compact device that takes pictures and develops hardcopy instantly.
Photographic films are used to produce images in these cameras.
Polaroid Cameras give you little creative control and are designed to
point, shoot and print straight away, with photos developing in a
couple of minutes.

7. UNDERWATER CAMERA –
It is a type of camera which is used for underwater photography.
Underwater camera is used to capture the images under water. It is
waterproof and require a watertight housing for underwater use. It
requires specialized equipment and techniques to click picture. Such
type of cameras gives their best result with wide angle and macro
lens. Fish, marine mammals, sub-merged cave and underwater
landscape are the best option to click as subject. A special flash (fill
flash) is used with to supplement the overall exposure and restore lost
color. Automatic exposure modes help us to get best picture quality.

8. ACTION CAMERA -
 An action camera, also known as action-cam, can be defined as
a digital camera that has been designed for filming while it is
immersed in the action.
 Since they are immersed in the action, they have a compact and
waterproof surface. They are tiny and lightweight and can
produce high quality, wide-angle videos in any environment.
  They usually record videos and not still photos hence allowing
the user to capture the action without having to interact with the
camera or removing it from its housing.
 They have become an integral part of most outdoor extreme
sports such as wingsuit flying and base jumping.
 They are often attached to handlebars, helmets or surfboards
depending on the perspective you wish to capture.
 When attached to the helmet, for example, it captures the
perspective of the actor. Some people also attach them to the
dashboards of their cars so that they can capture crazy drivers on
the road and protect themselves from fraud.

Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera

 DSLR is a camera which works on the same pattern of SLR
camera but it uses sensor not film role.
 DSLR is the abbreviation for Digital Single Lens Reflex.
 Digital means that the camera operates with a fixed, digital
sensor.
 Single-lens means the camera uses the same lens for framing,
focusing, and taking the photograph. This is different from
rangefinder and twin-lens-reflex constructions. With those types,
you can’t see the exact view from the lens that will take the shot.
Instead, you need to rely on other methods for setting up the
shot.
 Reflex refers to a system where a mirror splits or directs the
incoming light towards the optical viewfinder. It allows you to
see an exact, optical view of the scene. This mirror can be fixed
and semi-transparent (in SLT-type cameras). Or, it can flip up
during exposure (in SLRs and DSLR).
 So, what is the difference between a DSLR and SLR camera?
Mainly that the former has a digital sensor to record its images.
An SLR uses film.
 FEATURES:
• Preview of image
• Minor editing tool
• External flash unit can be attached
• Information display panel
• Wide range of ISO
• LCD panel
• RAW and JPEG image
• White balance
• Interchangeable lens
• Autofocus
• Auto exposure
• Burst Mode
• Manual, Auto, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Night, Portrait
and sports modes etc.
• Spot, matrix and center weighted metering system
• Diopter adjustment

Film Advantages
There are a few advantages of film photography over digital
photography:
  There can be a lower initial cost for a film camera than for a
comparable digital camera.
 Film delivers a higher dynamic range, which makes it better at
capturing detail in whites and blacks.
 Film photography is more forgiving of minor focusing issues
and exposure problems.
 A film camera often has a higher resolution than what is found
in most digital cameras.
 Film photographers with a limited number of exposures
available on a roll of the film must think more about their
images before shooting them. Digital photographers tend to take
pictures first and think later. Depending on your viewpoint, this
is either an advantage or a disadvantage.

Film Disadvantages
Some of the disadvantages of film photography are:
 Film cameras are usually heavier than similar-sized digital
cameras.
 Film storage takes up a lot of physical space.
 Purchasing and developing film is a continuing cost.
 The film must be developed before viewing, so you can end up
developing poor photo captures or images taken unintentionally.
 Unless you have a darkroom, the photographer is dependent on
a lab to develop the images.

Digital Advantages
The advantages of digital cameras and photography include:
  The resolution of a point-and-shoot camera, which is often 12 to
20 megapixels, is a high enough resolution for large prints.
 A digital camera is usually lighter in weight than a film camera.
 Memory cards are tiny so they don't require much storage space.
One memory card can store more images than a dozen rolls of
film.
 The images from a digital camera can be viewed immediately.
 You can edit your images directly on the camera or on a
computer with photo-editing software.
 You can choose to print only the images you like best.
 Many cameras offer built-in filters.
 There is instant gratification with a digital camera. This can be
an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your perspective.
Digital Disadvantages
Some of the disadvantages of digital photography and cameras
include:
 Digital photography usually requires computer skills to manage
and edit images.
 The initial cost for a digital camera is usually higher than for a
comparable film camera.
 Digital images easily lose detail in whites and blacks.
 Some digital cameras are difficult to focus.
 Digital images are less subtle than film images.
 Digital cameras become obsolete much faster than film cameras.
 The digital storage can be lost; backups are absolutely
necessary.
 Many digital cameras do a poorer job focusing in low light than
film cameras.
 Digital cameras are bigger consumers of batteries than film
cameras. Digital photographers need to keep extra batteries on
hand to ensure the camera stays charged.
TOPIC 4
Types of photography
1) POTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
• Portrait photography is one of the most popular genres of
photography, with good reason. Good portrait photographers are able
to capture the personality and emotion of people around them. It is
more than just capturing a picture of somebody; it's an artistic
representation of a person's attitude.
• Portrait photography is all about the face. A photographer's goal is to
take a carefully crafted photograph of a person's distinguishing facial
features while capturing the person's attitude, identity, and personality.
The photo may include a blurred background and the person's body,
but those factors are not emphasized in the image.
2) WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
• The genre of photography that focuses on animals and their natural
habitat is called wildlife photography. Animal behaviours in wild are
also capture by wildlife photographer. Mostly these pictures are
captured to be printed in journals or exhibitions. Many people practice
this type of photography. Apart from a good camera, several lens,
strong flashlight, you need patience to click the right picture.
3) NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Natural photography comprises of pictures of nature as viewed from
the eyes of the photographer. Contrary to what many people believe,
nature photography is not only restricted to capturing the images of
trees and plants, but rather includes any outdoor natural aspect
including hills, water bodies and even the sky.
4) ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY
Advertising photography is all about photographing objects to be
covered by advertising. The purpose of advertising photography is to
show items in the most attractive way and to encourage their
purchase. Promotional photos accompany us in everyday life.
The basic elements of advertising photography are to capture a mood,
emotion or feeling that a product can elicit in a viewer. As the name
implies, advertising photographers are concerned with selling or
appealing to instincts within a viewer that would create a need to buy.
Advertising photographers approach their work as artists whose job is
to tell a captivating story through the use of stylized images, colours,
lighting, and framing.
5) FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Fashion Photography is a genre of photography which is devoted to
displaying clothing and other fashion items. It is most often conducted
for advertisements or fashion magazines. Over time, fashion
photography has developed its own aesthetic in which the clothes and
fashions are enhanced by the presence of exotic locations or
accessories. With its huge audience, high pay-checks and glamorous
international lifestyle, fashion photography may seem like one of the
world’s most sought-after professions.
6) NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
• Night photography not only offers an entirely different perspective
of things but also provides a great depth of colours that further
enhances the magic and mystery of clicking images at night.
• Night photography refers to the activity of capturing images
outdoors at night, between dusk and dawn. Night photographers
generally have a choice between using artificial lighting and using a
long exposure, exposing the shot for seconds, minutes, or even hours
in order to give photosensitive film or an image sensor enough time to
capture a desirable image. With the progress of high-speed films,
higher- sensitivity digital sensors, wide-aperture lenses, and the ever-
greater power of urban lights, night photography is increasingly
possible using available light.
UNIT 2: TOPIC 1
Basic parts of DSLR Camera
LENS-
A lens brings light to a fixed focal point and it allows you to control
the amount of light that is coming at your camera. Lenses can be
adjusted in many ways.
The lenses that can be used with DSLR cameras are a lot in number,
and all of them work perfectly fine. For example, you can use wide-
angle, fixed, zoom, whatever you may need.
SENSOR-

A sensor in a camera is added to receive the information that comes

from the viewfinder and the lens The sensor is the main part that turns
that information into an image.

There are two main types of sensors that a DSLR camera works with.
CCD charge-coupled device, and CMOS complementary-metal-oxide
semiconductor. You may have mostly heard about the CMOS one
since it is the most commonly used.

SHUTTER –
A shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period,
exposing photographic film or a photosensitive digital sensor to light
in order to capture a permanent image of a scene
VIEWFINDER-
Just as the name tells, a viewfinder is one of the most important parts
of a camera. It shows exactly what is going to be photographed.
Most DSLR cameras have optical TTL (through the lens) viewfinders,
which basically allow you to look through the lens and every DSLR
viewfinder is very precise.
TOPIC 2: Camera Control and Adjustment
a) Exposure-Aperture, Shutter, ISO
Exposure is the total amount of light that you allow into the camera.
Too much light results in an over-exposed image where there are areas
of bright white or ‘blow-outs’. These areas contain no detail or colour.
Too little light results in an under-exposed image where there are
areas of low detail.
Great differences in light within a photograph confuses the camera.
The camera exposes to the bright light; therefore, the darker portions
of the photograph are blacked out.
ISO

Changing any of the

three elements will
affect the exposure

APERTURE SHUTTER SPEED

Aperture and shutter speed are inversely proportional to each other.

Aperture is the camera feature that regulates the amount of light that
passes through the lens by controlling the size of the opening in the
lens. The piece of the mechanism, which does this, is called the
diaphragm or aperture. It is made up of very thin metal blades, which
open or close over each other and alter the size of the hole in the
centre. This hole is called aperture.
It is measured in f/stops. The smaller the number the wider the lens
will open.
The common range for f-stops goes from
f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22

 The larger the aperture number, the smaller the aperture hole,
and better the depth of field.

 The smaller the aperture number, larger the hole, and less focus
or depth of field.

Shutter Speed –

An automatic mechanical device, which allows and controls the light

passing through the lens and acts on the sensitive emulsion (Films), so
as to make a proper exposure is known as “Shutter”. shutter speed is
the time for which the shutter is held open during the taking of a
photograph to allow light to reach the film. These shutters move slow
or extremely fast, as per requirement of the situation. The light is
passing at the very high speed of 1, 86,000 miles per second and if it
is not controlled properly, it will ruin the picture.

A shutter speed greater than 1/60th second requires the use of a

stabilizing device like a tripod. Without stabilization, the photograph
will not be crisp and clear. Low Light requires longer shutter speeds
and a tripod.

Combination of Aperture and Shutter:

Both aperture and shutter are carefully designed to work together

hand in hand. Not only the size of the aperture, but also the length of
time the shutter remains open, controls the amount of light reaching
the film, so the two have to be adjusted together. If you use a large
aperture, then the shutter must open for a short period and vice
versa...
ISO-

 It stands for International Organization of Standardization.

 It is the measurement of how sensitive the image sensor in the

camera is to light.

 Measured in numbers 100, 200, 400, 800, etc.

 Lower numbers used when smooth crisp images are desired and
you have plenty of light.

 Higher numbers are used when light is limited, you do not want
to use a flash, or the subject is moving; may result in grainy
images. Average ISO is 200.

b) Depth of Focus and Depth of Field

Depth of focus refers to the distance range in front of the camera or
lens where the image remains acceptably sharp when the lens is
focused at a specific distance. It describes the tolerance for
maintaining focus on a subject at a particular distance while allowing
slight variations in the distance between the lens and the subject.
Depth of focus is particularly relevant in macro photography or close-
up situations where the distance between the lens and the subject is
very short. It is influenced by factors such as the focal length of the
lens, aperture setting, and the permissible level of sharpness within
the acceptable focus range.
In practical terms, a larger depth of focus allows for a wider
acceptable range of distances within which the subject will appear
sharp, while a smaller depth of focus limits the range and requires
more precise focusing to keep the subject in focus.
Depth-of-Field refers to the distance from the nearest to the furthest
point of perceived "sharp" focus in a picture. When a lens focuses on
a subject at a distance, all subjects at that distance are sharply focused.
Subjects that are not at the same distance are out of focus and
theoretically are not sharp. Depth-of-field is governed by three
factors: aperture, lens focal length and shooting distance.
The smaller the aperture, the deeper the depth of field (the other two
factors remaining the same). For example, if the lens focal length and
the shooting distance stay the same, the depth of field is much deeper
at f/16 than at f/1.4.

The greater the shooting distance, the deeper the depth of field. I.e.,
other two factors remaining the same). For example, if the subject is
photographed from three and then from seven meters away, the zone
of sharpness in the foreground and background is greater at seven
meters.

The shorter the lens focal length, the deeper the depth of field (the
other two factors remaining the same). For example, comparing a
28mm lens with a 50mm lens at the same aperture and shooting
distance, depth of field is deeper with the 28mm lens.
 The smaller the aperture, deeper the depth of field
 The larger the aperture, shallow the depth of field

c) Measurement of light -Exposure Metering System

When the camera is set to Auto, Program, Aperture Priority or Shutter

Priority Mode it checks on certain parts of the image and calculates
the best ISO, aperture value, or shutter speed based on the amount of
light in these reference areas. This process is called Light

Metering or simply Metering.

• Most camera metering method gets the average luminance level of

the images within the reference area. If the result does not match the
luminance level of a reference "Middle Gray" (approx. 18% Gray),
then the appropriate exposure adjustments are made. There are three
common metering modes used by many digital cameras today, each
with its specific advantages and disadvantages.

Centre Weighted Metering

• This is the most common method of metering found in most point-

and- shoot cameras. It uses the entire screen as a reference for
calculating the exposure but puts more weight on the centre. This
method generally gives a fairly good exposure result for scenes that
contain a good balance between light and dark areas. However, some
scenes may be dominated by light images, for example, a white bird
on a white sand in a sunny day - this gives an inaccurate result as it
will tend to lower the exposure setting thinking that the scene is too
bright. The same problem may also happen if the scene is generally
dark such as any black animal in the dark mud.

Partial or Spot Metering

• Similar to Centre Weighted Metering but the reference area is much

smaller and most of the areas away from the centre are ignored.
Partial Metering uses only about 13.5% of the screen area while Spot
Metering uses 3.5%. This allows the light measurement to be
confined to a more specific area and put more priority on proper
exposure on that area. A typical example would be if your subject has
a very bright background. Using Centre Weighted Metering would
tend to balance the exposure such that the details will not be flushed
out by the bright background lighting. As a result, your subject,
having less illumination than the background will appear very dark,
almost like a silhouette. With Partial or Spot Metering, the balancing
of the exposure is done based on a smaller area. If you choose to
target the face of your subject then your subject will have proper
exposure while the background will be overexposed, which is a more
useful compromise.

Evaluative or Matrix Metering

• A more sophisticated algorithm is used in Evaluative or Matrix

Metering. The screen is divided into several parts, each part is
calculated separately and the camera decides which area has the most
significant reading and sets the exposure based on the reading on this
area. The Auto-focus area sometimes plays a part in the way the
camera decides which area to use and most of the time the resulting
exposures are accurate. Most cameras today uses Evaluative or Matrix
metering as a default for its Auto setting since it is the most reliable
for most situations. It is also useful if you are unsure which Metering
to use.

d) Composition and Perspective

“The composition of a shot can not only make it pleasing to the eye,
but it can also speak volumes to the audience.” Arthur
Composition is all about the placement of your subject(s) in the frame
so that the effect is as pleasing to the eye as possible.
There are four basic concepts that should be considered in every
composition:

 Point of view (POV)—Determines the viewing position of the

audience.

 Focal point—Used to direct the viewers' eyes to the important

storytelling parts of the composition. Focal points are created by
the application of the other basic compositional principles.

 Paths of motion—Shot elements in your scene create paths of

motion in and through the shot. These paths are used to attract
and hold the attention of the viewer.

 The illusion of depth—Must be created if you want to draw your

audience into the world of the story you are creating.

There are several guidelines to help compose more attractive shots.

These include:
 Simplicity
 The Importance of Using a Tripod
 The Rule of Thirds
 Balance
 Framing

SIMPLICITY Don’t place your primary subject against a busy or

congested background. Each scene should have a single story to tell.
To simplify your shot, you may need to alter the camera position,
alter the size of the image, or select the right background.
IMPORTANCE OF TRIPOD While the camera may seem light, to
hold it steady for long periods is difficult, especially for the novice
videographer. Using a tripod is strongly recommended whenever
possible. Steady pictures are an important element of good
composition. This is not only important for visual purposes, but
having steady shots of movement goes a long way when editing,
allowing the editor to more efficiently sequence shots.

RULE OF THIRDS Videographers use the rule of thirds when

shooting interviews for the placement of subjects within the frame.
Using the rule of thirds, eyes are placed on the upper third line and as
a result set the headroom for the subject. Headroom refers to the space
above the subject's head and the top of the picture frame. Appropriate
headroom is especially important to video journalists who often shoot
headshots of interviewees and news anchor talent.

BALANCE Generally, asymmetric or informal balance is considered

more pleasing in a photograph than symmetric (formal) balance. In
other words, placing the main subject off-centre and balancing the
"weight" with other objects (smaller or lower impact) will be more
effective than placing the subject in the centre. Generally, asymmetric
or informal balance is considered more pleasing in a photograph than
symmetric (formal) balance. In other words, placing the main subject
off-centre and balancing the "weight" with other objects (smaller or
lower impact) will be more effective than placing the subject in the
centre.

FRAMING A "frame" in a photograph is something in the

foreground that leads you into the picture or gives you a sense of
where the viewer is. For example, a branch and some leaves framing a
shot of rolling hills and a valley, or the edge of an imposing rock face
leading into a shot of a canyon. Framing can usually improve a
picture. The "frame" doesn’t need to be sharply focused. In fact, if it
is too sharply detailed, it could be a distraction.
TOPIC 3: Type of Lenses and Special Purpose Lenses

The lens is one of the most important vital parts of the camera and
quality of camera mainly depends on the quality of the lens.

The lens throws an image of what sees on to the film and picture
quality depends largely on its ability to produce a clear, sharp picture.

A lens is a finely polished glass, curves on both sides. This simple

lens is called a meniscus and generally tends to produce
unsatisfactory image with various kinds of distortions.

These distortions corrected to a large extent by using different pieces

of glass lenses in combination, some cemented together with
transparent cement.

Camera lenses come in either fixed (prime) focal lengths, or zooms,

which cover a range of focal lengths. The different focal lengths are
grouped into categories for different types of lenses.

1. PRIME LENS

Prime lenses (or fixed focal length lenses) can’t zoom in or zoom out.
Therefore, every time the photographer wants to get tighter on his
composition, he can either (1) physically move the camera closer to
his subject or (2) change the camera lens for one with a longer focal
length and narrower field of view – the telephoto lens.

As a trade-off for the inconvenience of switching lenses, the image

quality is far superior with prime lenses, offering more pristine,
clearer photographs.

2. ZOOM LENS

Zoom lenses (or varied focal length lenses) are by far the most
common type of lenses known to the average consumer.

Cameras often come with it right from the box. This is so because
with zoom lenses you can go telephoto or wide-angle at your will.
The advantage of zoom lenses over prime lenses is that you don’t
have to change lenses to get to a tighter or a wider composition; it
saves time. Plus, if the cameraperson is not switching lenses, they
don’t have to worry about carrying them or constant cleaning.

With zoom lenses, the photographer can capture, for instance, a

podium with several people on it, or go for tight close-ups and capture
each one’s faces.

The disadvantage of zoom lenses is the loss in image quality.

3. NORMAL LENS

Normal Lenses are halfway between telephoto and wide-angle lenses.

Normal lenses mimics what the human eye sees, without neither
getting too close to the subject, nor distorting it, nor compressing the
distance among the plains. The normal lens view is at 45 degrees.
They have wider maximum aperture than wide angle lens.

4. WIDE ANGLE LENS

Wide Angle Lenses are the lenses with short focal length used for
landscape photography that involves capturing all the scenery in front
of them.

These are generally used when we need wider view or when the
subject is in the extreme foreground. We can use it to get more in the
frame where space prevents us from stepping back.

Traditionally, a super wide-angle lens is classified as anything under

20mm. Wide-angle is 16-35mm.

5. TELEPHOTO LENS

A telephoto lens has an incredible level of magnification. They

contain many glass elements, which work much like a telescope. A
telephoto lens allows the photographer to get close shots of faraway
subjects.
There are two subcategories for telephoto lenses.
  There are short telephotos, with focal lengths between 85 and
135mm.
 Then you have the standard telephoto lenses, which have a focal
length between 135 and 300mm.
A telephoto lens gives you excellent magnification, allowing you to
shoot far-away objects. But the angle of view is very narrow. And
a telephoto zoom lens will have a small maximum aperture.
The magnification quality of a telephoto lens makes them popular
with sports and wildlife photographers. A sports
photographer can capture action shots without venturing onto the
pitch. And wildlife photographers can get intimate images of animals
in the wild without scaring them or getting in harm’s way.

SPECIALITY LENS:
MACRO LENS: A macro lens used in macro photography is any
lens that produces an image on the focal plane (i.e., film or a digital
sensor) that is the same size or larger than the subject being imaged.

This configuration is generally used to capture very small subjects. A

macro lens may be of any focal length, the actual focus length being
determined by its practical use, considering magnification, the
required ratio, access to the subject, and illumination considerations.

ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE/ FISHEYE: A lens with a focal length of

less than 14mm is called an ultra-wide-angle lens. The field of vision
is so wide the picture is bent and curved around the edges. This effect
gives it the name of the fisheye lens because it’s like looking through
the eye of a fish.
Ultra-wide-angle lenses offer an enormous field of view. But the
warping effect means fisheye lenses have a limited appeal with
photographers. Fisheyes can be used for landscape photos, abstract art
shots, cityscapes, and more.
TILT SHIFT LENS: In photography a perspective control lens
allows the photographer to control the appearance of the perspective
in the image.

The lens can be moved parallel to the film or sensor, providing the
equivalent of corresponding view camera movements. This movement
of the lens allows adjusting the position of the subject in the image
area without moving the camera back, it is often used to avoid
convergence of parallel lines.

A lens that provides the shift is called shift lens while those that can
also tilt are called tilt-shift lenses.
TOPIC 4: CAMERA ACCESSORIES

Camera accessories are additional items that can enhance your

photography or videography experience. Here are some commonly
used camera accessories:
1. Tripod: A tripod provides stability and eliminates camera shake,
allowing for sharper images and smoother videos, especially in low-
light situations or when using slower shutter speeds.
2. Camera bag: A camera bag helps protect your camera and
accessories while providing convenient storage and easy
transportation. Look for a bag with padded compartments and
adjustable dividers to accommodate different equipment.
3. Lens filters: Filters can alter the light entering the camera lens,
resulting in various effects. Common types include UV filters
(protective), polarizing filters (reduce glare and enhance colours), and
neutral density filters (reduce the amount of light entering the lens).
4. External flash: An external flash unit provides additional light
when shooting in low-light conditions or to create more even lighting.
It allows for more control over the direction and intensity of the light.
5. Remote shutter release: A remote shutter release allows you to
trigger the camera's shutter without physically touching it, which is
useful for long exposures, self-portraits, or minimizing camera shake.
6. Lens hood: A lens hood attaches to the front of the lens and helps
reduce lens flare and stray light, improving image contrast and
reducing the risk of unwanted glare.
7. Extra batteries and memory cards: Having spare batteries and
memory cards ensures that you can continue shooting without
interruptions and have sufficient storage space for your photos and
videos.
8. Camera cleaning kit: A camera cleaning kit includes tools like a
blower, microfiber cloth, and lens cleaning solution to keep your
camera and lenses clean from dust, smudges, and fingerprints.
9. Camera straps: Upgrading your camera strap can provide better
comfort and ergonomics during extended use. There are various
options available, including sling-style straps, wrist straps, and
harness systems.
10. External microphone: If you shoot videos with your camera, an
external microphone can significantly improve the audio quality,
capturing clearer and more focused sound while reducing ambient
noise.
11. Battery grip: Battery grips attach to the bottom of the camera and
provide additional battery power, improving the camera's battery life.
They also offer a more comfortable grip for vertical shooting and may
include extra controls.