GST 216 Photography Class

Definition of Photography

• Photography is the science, art, and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation.
• It involves recording light using a light-sensitive material (such as photographic film) or electronically using an image sensor.

Camera and Image Processing

• A lens is used to focus light onto a light-sensitive surface inside a camera during a timed exposure.
• An electronic image sensor produces an electrical charge at each pixel, which is processed and stored in a digital image file.
• In film photography, a latent image is created, which is later developed into a visible image.
• Digital imaging uses an electronic image sensor to record images as electronic data, allowing for image post-processing.

History of Photography

• 19th century: Studio cameras used plates.
• 1900: Box cameras, one of the first mass-produced pocket cameras using film.
• 1922: Compact Kodak folding camera.
• 1932: Leica-II, one of the first 135 film cameras.
• 1949: Contax S, the first pentaprism SLR.
• 1975: Polaroid Colorpack 80 instant camera.
• 2000: Digital camera, Canon Ixus class.
• 2000: Nikon D1, the first digital SLR used in journalism and sports photography.
• 2010: Smartphone with built-in camera spreads private images globally.

Uses of Photography

• Scientists use photography to record and study movements.
• Artists use photography to explore avenues beyond photo-mechanical representation of reality.
• Military, police, and security forces use photography for surveillance, recognition, and data storage.
• Amateurs use photography to preserve memories, capture special moments, tell stories, send messages, and for entertainment.
• High-speed photography visualizes events too fast for the human eye.

Technical Aspects

• Photographers control the camera and lens to expose light recording material to form a latent image or RAW file.
• Digital cameras use electronic image sensors based on CCD or CMOS technology.
• The resulting digital image is stored electronically, but can be reproduced on paper or film.
• The camera is a dark room or chamber from which all light is excluded except the light that forms the image.