Lecture 104

• Basically a light proof box that contains light sensitive materials
• In the case of digital cameras, this light sensitive material is a sheet of photodiodes.

• A circular opening in the lens that limits the quantity of light that can enter the body of a camera.

• The amount of the final image that is in focus.
• The smaller the f-stop number, the smaller the depth of field
• This results in a blurred background.

• Shutter speed is a primary factor effecting the overall exposure of the captured image.
• Shutter speed is the amount of time light is allowed to hit the light sensitive material (in the case of a digital camera the sensor) and is measured in seconds.
• A typical exposure is 1/125th of a second.

• Designed to mimic film speed in cameras, ISO in a digital camera controls the sensitivity of the cameras sensor to light falling on it.
• A high ISO allows for shooting in lower light conditions or at faster shutter speeds, but often can leave artifacts in the digital image produced.

• Applies only to digital cameras
• An adjustment to the relative amounts of color in an image such that neutral colors (typically whites and grays) are accurate in the final image.
• There are generally pre-sets on each camera for specific types of lighting (indoors, fluorescent, sunlight, etc.). These tend to work well.
• You can always manually set white balance with a white object to make sure it is accurate.

• Deliberately taking a series of photographs (usually 3,5, or 7) with the middle being properly exposed and the bracketing photos being progressively under- and over- exposed.
• Used specifically for High Dynamic Range photography (which we will cover in a couple weeks)

• 1/2 the shutter speed = 2x the aperture to get the same light entering the camera body.
• Example: f/11 @ 1/60 sec. = f/8 @ 1/125 sec.

• Allows a photographer to purposely underexpose or overexpose an image (in relation to the automatically determined settings)
  • (-2) Bright light with heavy shadows
  • (-1) For heavy side lighting or back lighting
  • (0) Even lighting throughout the picture (scene)
  • (+1) When the background is darker than the subject
  • (+2) Best for large, dark backgrounds.

• Noon is the most even light, shadows will be relatively small, colors tend to be most accurate.
• Most photographers like early morning or early evening, where light comes from the side and accentuates texture. Colors are not as accurate.

• “Joint Photographic Experts Group” = JPEG
• Most common file type for digital photographs
• Files are compressed to make files smaller at the cost of losing digital information. Once the image is compressed, resolution cannot be added to it.
• Typically images are compressed 10 to 1 with little noticeable (visual) difference in the photograph.

• “Tagged Image File Format” = TIFF
• Adaptable, can be be a loss-less or a lossy file format depending on compression used.
• Popular for high depth color images Unusual to come directly out of a digital camera

• Often called “digital negatives” Extensions vary by camera manufacturer
• Stores complete information captured by camera’s sensor with minimal processing.
• Allows far greater flexibility in post processing images. (you can recover exposure mistakes easily)
• Requires special decoding software (Built in to most photo software today)
• 2-6 times larger than .jpg files

• Movie/Video Mode: Capture of live video
• Macro/Close Up: Shoot pictures very close to objects
• Night Mode: To automatically adjust the exposure time for a dark scene. Need Tripod.
• Portrait Mode: This sets the aperture as low as possible, blurring the background.
• Landscape Mode: This sets the aperture as high as possible, keeping foreground and background in focus.
• Sports Mode: Sets the shutter speed as high as possible, “freezing” action.
• Stitch/Panorama Mode: Helps you to take a series of pictures that can be combined into one panorama.
• Aperture Priority: Allows a photographer to specify the aperture, then adjusts other settings as necessary.
• Shutter Priority: Allows a photographer to specify the shutter speed, then adjusts other settings.
• Full Manual: Allows a photographer to specify ALL SETTINGS ON THE CAMERA.

• How big is your card? How many images are you planning to shoot? What will the final output be?
• Now: Navigate your camera’s menu, locate the image size/type settings and choose what is appropriate based on what you plan to do with you final images…

• Lens cleaner
• Extra Batteries
• Extra Memory Card
• Tripod?
• Extra lenses (if you have a changable lens camera)
• Other accessories (panorama head, lens filters)
• Are you allowed to photograph the subject?
• Look at the weather and plan accordingly
• It will rain…

• Often an image can tell a story through the “mood” of the photograph in conjunction with the subject material. (this is often done with light)
• There may be elements of the photo that allow a viewer to “navigate” through the photo. Elements that draw the eye into the photo (and hopefully keep it there)
  • St. Peter’s Bacillica, Rome, Italy
  • Schynige Platte, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
  • Andes Mountains, Peru

• Strong symmetry dominates the photograph
• On (or a few) elements deliberately break the symmetry and become the focal point
  • Brooklyn Bridge, New York

• Strong focal point at center of photograph, elements radiate outward from focal point.
• Can be a great photograph of a group of people (if they are positioned appropriately)
  • Ice Cave, Switzerland
  • Sea Ranch, Northern California

• Strong diagonal element captures attention and directs the eye through the photograph
  • Sea Ranch, Northern California

• Many layers (usually architectural) build up the photograph and create depth allowing a viewer to “wander” through the photograph
  • Tambo Colorado, Peru
  • Tambo Colorado, Peru

• One of the simplest rules to follow (and get great images)
• Divide the viewfinder into 9 rectangles (some cameras will do this for you!)
• Position focal points of interest on the intersections of those lines to create a strong composition.
  • New York
  • Highland Lake, Maine
  • Newport Beach, Rhode Island
  • Angora Fire, Lake Tahoe, California
  • Tenovo Bay, Viti Levu, Fiji
  • Andes Mountains, Peru
  • Sea Ranch, Northern California

• Use strong lines in the photograph to frame important objects or subjects… much like a “picture frame”
  • Pompeii, Italy
  • Coliseum, Rome, Italy

• Use patterns to drive your composition, pay close attention to where the pattern breaks as that becomes the focal point of the image.
  • Shingled Roof
  • Thatched Roof

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