Chapter 1: What is Photography?

What is Photography?

A Science & an Art

Define Lens:

A device that focuses light on to an image.

Define Camera:

A light-proof box that has an opening to admit light.

Define: Camera

A light-proof box that has an opening to admit light.

Define Shutter:

A mechanical door that opens to admit light and then closes.

Define Zoom Lens

Covers everything from wide angle to normal to telephoto. Range in focal length from 28mm - 100mm.

Zoom

Covers everything from wide angle to normal to telephoto. Range in focal length from 28mm - 100mm.

1888

George Eastman made the 1st mass-market, point & shoot camera called Kodak.

Define Telephoto Lens:

Includes less of the scene and make objects look closer than a normal lens. Range in focal length from 75mm - 1200mm, sometimes higher.

Telephoto

Includes less of the scene and make objects look closer than a normal lens. Range in focal length from 75mm - 1200mm, sometimes higher.

Define Wide Angle Lens

Includes more of the scene and makes objects look farther away than a normal lens. Range in focal length from 6mm - 35mm.

Wide Angle

Includes more of the scene and makes objects look farther away than a normal lens. Range in focal length from 6mm - 35mm.

1826

Joseph Niepce created the 1st successful photograph. Used a Camera Obscura.

What are the three building blocks of photographic imagery?

Light,Time,Subject

1839

Louis Daguerre invented the Daguerreotype.

Define Normal Lens

Most closely matches the view of the human eye. Standard is 50mm. Smaller, lighter and easier to carry than other lenses.

Normal lens

Most closely matches the view of the human eye. Standard is 50mm. Smaller, lighter and easier to carry than other lenses.

What three sciences are involved in the process of photography?

Physics, Chemistry & Optics

What types of art are involved in the process of photography?

Printmaking & aesthetics values of Drawing & Painting.

Define SLR:

Single lens reflex. A camera with a hinged mirror that reflect the projected image from the lens into a prism or ground glass.

Define Exposure:

When light is allowed through the lens (opening) into the camera (through shutter) onto light sensitive material (film/digital sensors) resulting in a recorded image.

List the choices you have when taking a picture?

Which Camera, Which Film, How the Image is composed, When the Shutter is tripped, The F-Stop & Shutter Speed, How the image is developed/printed.

Also in 1839

William Henry Fox Talbot began his contact printing known as Negative/Positive Approach, forming the basis for all photographic processes that followed.

Define Pin Hole Camera

a basic camera that does not utilize a mechanical shutter or lens.

Define Rangefinder:

an SLR camera that utilizes an offset viewfinder to compose the picture.

Define Medium Format:

cameras have larger negatives, better resolution and richer colors that the 35mm, but they are also larger, heavier and more expensive and most require a tripod.

Define Large Format:

cameras that are even larger that the medium format cameras and can only be used with a tripod. They are used if the highest quality images and largest prints are needed.

Define Autochrome:

early color transparency process using vegetable starch.

Define Daguerrotype:

positive black/white image on a mirror polished, silver-plated copper sheet.

Define Camera Obscura :

projected an upside down and reversed image onto ground glass.

1907

the Lumiere brothers of France created the 1st successful color process called Autochrome.

What are you able to do through photography?

the ability to freeze time & see the invisible in everyday life. change laws and lives.