Introduction to photography Tips and techniques for better photography
• Photography is a science, because there are basic principles of physics that govern success • Photography is art because its beauty is subjective Photography J J Greek for “painting with light” J J Can be considered both an art and a science
Tips and techniques for better photography
First photograph taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in France. in 1826, on a bitumen coated aluminum plate
Tips and techniques for better photography
Exposure
Tips and techniques for better photography
Stops
J J A difference of 1 stop is a doubling or halving of the light making the image J J The amount of light that strikes the film/chip is measured in stops and is also known as exposure value (Ev) J J A stop is used to measure the differences in Ev of apertures, shutter speeds and film speeds J J “Fast” means the camera can expose a photo quickly
Tips and techniques for better photography
Film Speed
Film
Tips and techniques for better photography
Film Speed
J J It is measured in values using an International Organizations of Standards (ISO) number. Used to be measured in American Standards Associations (ASA) numbers J J Film speed is a measure of the sensitivity of the film or sensor in a camera.
J J ISO numbers are used in both film and digital cameras
Tips and techniques for better photography
Film Speed
J J ISO numbers are linear in their relationship J J ISO numbers come in a wide range, but standard numbers are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 J J The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the film/sensor and also the more noise or grain in the image
Tips and techniques for better photography
Film Speed
Low ISO
High ISO
Tips and techniques for better photography
Shutter Speed
Shutter
Tips and techniques for better photography
Shutter Speed
J J Shutter speed is measured in fractions of seconds J J Controls the amount of time the shutter or curtain is open J J Depending on the camera, it may show the shutter speed without the numerator, i.e. 250 instead of 1/250
Tips and techniques for better photography
Shutter Speed
J J A doubling or halving of the time value (Tv) represents one stop of EV J J Common shutter speeds are 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 J J A fast shutter speed freezes the action of an image J J Conversely, a slow shutter speed blurs the action of an image
Tips and techniques for better photography
Shutter Speed
Fast shutter speed
Slow shutter speed
Tips and techniques for better photography
Shutter Speed
Fast shutter speed
Slow shutter speed
Tips and techniques for better photography
Aperture
Aperture
Tips and techniques for better photography
Aperture
J J The larger the hole, the more light that enters the camera in a given time J J Aperture is the size of the hole in the diaphragm that allows light into the camera
J J Aperture values (Av) are measured using f-stops, shown as f /# (i.e. f /16)
Tips and techniques for better photography
Aperture
J J The image at left shows common f-stop values and how they appear J J A change of 1 f-stop doubles or halves the light entering the camera J J Smaller f-numbers represent wider apertures, and larger f-numbers are smaller apertures
Tips and techniques for better photography
Aperture
J J The wider the aperture, the more shallow the depth of field, and vice versa J J The Av controls the amount of depth of field in an image
Tips and techniques for better photography
Av & Tv together J J The wider the aperture used, the less time – i.e. the faster shutter speed – is needed to properly expose the image J J Conversely, the slower the shutter speed, the smaller the aperture needs to be J J For any image, there are a number of combinations that will make a correct exposure
1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16
f -stop
1 1000
1 500
1 250
1 125
1 60
1 30
1 15
1 8
Shutter speed
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting
J J Light is the essential ingredient of photos
J J One of the skills that separates photographers from snap shooters is the ability to solve lighting problems J J There are 2 primary factors to consider for light: direction and colour
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - direction J J The direction the light comes from can make the image seem flat or 3-dimensional J J Front lighting is easy to photograph, but images are generally flat J J Top lighting, such as from the sun overhead, Also makes the image flat, and shadows are short and dark J J Side lighting will emphasize texture and contours, and create long shadows
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - direction
Front lighting
Side lighting
top lighting
bottom lighting
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - Colour J J The colour of light is measured by temperature in Kelvin (°K) J J The colour of natural light changes through the day J J Humans respond psychologically to different colours, therefore the colour of a photo will affect emotional responses J J Light that is in the reds, oranges and yellows is said to be “warm”. Conversely, “cool” light is blue in tone
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - Colour
Warm lighting
Cool lighting
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - Colour J J When taking a photo with a digital camera, the White Balance setting of a camera will affect the colour cast of the image, balancing the lighting of the subject J J Typical white balance settings of a camera include: Tungsten, Florescent, Shade, Sunny, Cloudy, Flash, Auto and Manual J J Filters can also be used to affect the colour of light in the image
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lighting - Colour
Flash/mid-day
Tungsten
Florescent
Cloudy
Tips and techniques for better photography
Camera shooting modes J J All digital cameras have various modes for shooting
Tips and techniques for better photography
Camera shooting modes J J Scene Modes take the guess work out of setting proper exposure • Modes include presets for taking photos in a variety of settings such as at night, on the beach or snow, or for portraits J J Manual modes allow for more creative control
• a Greater understanding of camera settings is required
Tips and techniques for better photography
Composition
Tips and techniques for better photography
Lenses J J The length of a lens is measured in millimetres (mm), or equivalent for point-and-shoot cameras J J Low numbers are considered wide lenses, while high numbers are considered long lenses • A wide lens, i.e., 18mm, is useful for landscape photos • A long lens, i.e., 300mm, is useful for close-ups of wildlife J J Human eyesight is equivalent to about 50mm
Tips and techniques for better photography
Depth of Field J J Depth of field (DoF) is the “zone of acceptable sharpness” J J DoF is controlled by aperture
and distance to subject • The closer the subject, the smaller the DoF • The wider the aperture, the smaller the DoF
Tips and techniques for better photography
Depth of Field
Distant - deep DoF
Close - Shallow DoF
Tips and techniques for better photography
Depth of Field
Small Aperture - deep DoF
Large Aperture - Shallow DoF
Tips and techniques for better photography
The rule of thirds J J The “rule of thirds” states that when composing your photo, place the centre of interest at a junction of the lines that trisect the image
Tips and techniques for better photography
The rule of thirds J J Also, when
composing landscape shots, the horizon line should be on one of the intersecting l ines
Tips and techniques for better photography
Framing J J Framing is using a foreground object to “frame” the subject of the photo J J The frame should be appropriate to the subject J J The frame should have its own aesthetic value J J Render the frame sharply, or blur it away
Tips and techniques for better photography
Framing
Tips and techniques for better photography
Fill The Frame If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough. Robert Capa, World War II photojournalist J J If you can’t get closer to your subject, use a longer lens to fill the frame J J Filling the frame refers to the primary subject, not extraneous objects
Tips and techniques for better photography
Fill the frame
Tips and techniques for better photography
Portrait Techniques J J The subject should face into the image so that there is more space in front than behind
Tips and techniques for better photography
Portrait Techniques J J Subjects usually
shouldn’t be square on to the camera
Tips and techniques for better photography
Landscapes J J Try to include
an object to create sense of scale
Tips and techniques for better photography
Landscapes J J Horizon Line should be placed to emphasize either the sky or the land
Tips and techniques for better photography
Landscapes J J Horizon Line should be placed to emphasize either the sky or the land
Tips and techniques for better photography
Landscapes J J Focus on a detail within the scene to add interest
Tips and techniques for better photography
Landscapes J J Try to use a line that will lead the viewers eye into the picture
Tips and techniques for better photography
Final tip
J J There are no rules in photography
Tips and techniques for better photography
J J The subject should face into the image so that there is more space in front than behind
Tips and techniques for better photography
J J Subjects usually
shouldn’t be square on to the camera
Tips and techniques for better photography
J J Horizon Line should be placed to emphasize either the sky or the land
Tips and techniques for better photography
The end Tips and techniques for better photography
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