Photography Introduction PDF

Photography is the art, practice, and science of capturing images using a camera, typically through the use of light-sensitive materials such as film or digital sensors. It involves the recording of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation to create an image. Photography can be used for v...

Photography is the art, practice, and science of capturing images using a camera, typically through the use of light-sensitive materials such as film or digital sensors. It involves the recording of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation to create an image. Photography can be used for various purposes, including: 1. Artistic expression and creativity 2. Documentation and storytelling 3. Communication and journalism 4. Advertising and commercial purposes 5. Scientific and medical applications 6. Personal and family memories The process of photography involves: 1. Composition: Arranging the subject and elements within the frame 2. Exposure: Controlling the amount of light that reaches the camera\'s sensor 3. Focus: Adjusting the lens to ensure a sharp image 4. Capture: Taking the photograph 5. Post-processing: Editing and enhancing the image using software Photography has evolved significantly over the years, from traditional film cameras to digital cameras and smartphone cameras, making it more accessible and widespread than ever before. Greek meaning: Photo = Light Graphy = Writing/ Drawing = (Light drawing/writing) Photography is writing/drawing with light. Photography is the process of recording images on sensitised material by the action of light. Simply, it is the act of taking photos. Photography is the chemical processing of the material to produce a picture. The best camera is what you have\...what you have at the time. Types of cameras 1. Compact (point and shoot), Small with retractable lens 2. DSLR -- Digital Single Lens Reflect -- Uses interchangeable lens, has a mirror and an optical view finder 3. Bridge -- Like a DSLR, has a mirror, optical view finder BUT comes with a fixed lens, cannot be removed or substituted 4. Mirrorless -- without a mirror to make it smaller/compact\...has electronic view finder instead of optical view finder 5. Smartphone -- Compact point and shoot - Photojournalism aka News photography - Recording in a visual medium to tell a story. - Capturing -- moments in time, pieces of history, a decisive moment Types/Purpose of photojournalism -- i) Tell a story (A picture is worth a thousand words!). This can be in one picture or more or series. When it is one, it is a stand-alone picture; when many they can make a pictorial. \> A series of pictures on a particular topic or theme can be called a photo essay. Photojournalism is visual journalism that relies primarily on images to tell a story (while journalism uses written word). Photojournalism is communicating information through images/photographs indicating specific event or time. It is communication of news through photographs. -Creating a story that speaks without words -- Visual story telling or reporting -Create images that tell a story. Role/importance of photography in journalism +Impact -- digest a large amount of information in a single frame. Bring events to life +Easier to 'read'/Understand \+ Easier to remember \+ Emotional appeal +Makes story tangible/real +Gives further context, depth to an article Types of photojournalism i\) General news ii) Portrait iii) Feature -- context to news/supporting photo details/places involved iv) Documentary- unfolding story over days, weeks or season. Styles of photography 1. Art -- Using photography to express oneself. This is the view of a photographer. 2. Documentary reportage -- This is about the subject. Neutral way of capturing images. 3. Commercial/Advertising -- weddings, promotional pix, fashion 4. Record capturing Holding camera Grip and support camera with both hands/Elbows in/Grip on top/Start with P mode/Half press or squeeze allows some focus before full press for capturing picture/check the photo taken on monitor or LCD \*You can lean on wall/object for good support \*You can place camera on top of flat surface or ground to take some pix to avoid some shaking \*Always monitor your breathing before pressing shutter button to take pix. Exposure triangle Exposure is creating images from light. Capturing the right amount of light in a photo. Underexposed -- not enough Overexposed -- too much light Well exposed -- The correct amount - Aperture -- opening of the lens through which light passes (Hole in the lens). It is the window \>Closing = darker \>Opening = Lighter (More light comes in) - ISO (sensor) -- Measures your camera's sensitivity to light. Increased when there isn't enough light\... to artificially brighten the image. \>Affects the brightness of available light. Like increasing the volume, it amplifies the light to be brighter. However, (just like volume), the 'louder' or 'noise' in the photo, reducing image quality. \>But better-quality cameras and bigger sensor size cause less noise Rough ISO guidelines\... \*100 for sunlight \*200 for Cloudy conditions \*800-6400 for Indoors \*1600 + At night - Shutter Speed -- How long the shutter is open exposing the image to light. Measured in milliseconds to minutes. Slower speed = more light/Faster speed = Less light \>Slow shutter speeds blur the action \>Faster shutter speeds freeze the action. **Types/genres of photography** 1\. Portrait Photography: Focusing on capturing individuals, families, and groups. 2. Landscape Photography: Capturing natural scenery, vistas, and environments. 3. Wildlife Photography: Photographing animals, birds, and insects in their natural habitats. 4. Sports Photography: Capturing athletes, teams, and sporting events. 5. Photojournalism: Documenting news, events, and stories through images. 6. Fashion Photography: High-end clothing, accessories, and beauty. 7. Commercial Photography: Advertising, product, and promotional photography. 8. Wedding Photography: Documenting weddings and related events. 9. Fine Art Photography: Creative, artistic expression. 10. Documentary Photography: Chronicling events, people, and places. 11. Street Photography: Candid, unposed images captured in public spaces. 12. Still Life Photography: Images of inanimate objects, often with a focus on composition and lighting. 13. Architectural Photography: Capturing buildings, structures, and interior spaces. 14. Food Photography: Styling and capturing food for editorial, advertising, and commercial use. 15. Travel Photography: Capturing cultures, landscapes, and experiences during travel. 16. Aerial Photography: Images captured from above using drones or aircraft. 17. Underwater Photography: Exploring and capturing the underwater world. 18. Night Photography: Capturing scenes in low-light conditions. 19. Macro Photography: Extreme close-up photography of small objects. 20. Astrophotography: Capturing celestial objects, stars, and galaxies. Note that these categories often overlap, and photographers may specialize in multiple areas. Additionally, some categories may fit into broader genres, such as commercial or fine art photography. COMPOSITION Great photos are made, not taken Good photography involves preparation, planning and effort. Elements of composition 1. Proper vertical/horizontal alignment 2. Rule of thirds 3. Framing 4. Fill frame 5. Leading lines 6. Rule of space -- Leave rom for your subject to look/move into 7. View point -- High/Low/Eye-level angles 8. Focal point -- what am I looking at 9. Patterns 10. Symmetry 11. Check background -- Go round the subject - low angle to capture only sky or high angle to capture only grass -Step side ways to left, right or centre 12. Perspective -- Photograph from an angle to attend depth **Gold ratio composition**: Let's imagine we want to capture the endlessness of the sea in a picture. The day is a nice one for photography, with a glorious cloud and sun constellation in the sky. As an amateur photographer, your first reflex might be to line up the horizon across the middle, dividing the picture evenly between sky and sea. But what happens if you do not divide evenly, if you show more sea or more sky, moving the horizon up or down just a tad? When you do this, the picture becomes more dynamic. If you play a little with framing the horizon, you will land on a spot where the picture feels perfect. Chances are this perfect position will place your horizon spot-on the Golden Ratio. That sweet spot lies around 4/10 from either the top or the bottom of the image, as well as from the left and right. **Symmetry**: You can also use it to frame a picture. For instance, to place your model or focal point between two similar houses, identical windows, or trees, you create an interesting dynamic and draw the viewer's attention to that person or focal point. The human eye reacts strongly to symmetry in all forms. And this is what you want as a photographer -- a strong reaction from your audience -- because this indicates that you've communicated your story. **Diagonals:** In photography, your diagonal is an imaginary line across the picture from a lower corner to the opposite upper corner. effects. The diagonal guides the eye across the entire picture. When this diagonal intersects with other lines, tension is created. It may not always be possible to arrange a diagonal composition that lines up from corner to corner. In geometry, any sloping line is considered a diagonal. The same goes for photography -- any sloping line will provide a strong visual effect.