Still Photography Cameras

Cameras can be divided into several major types. Although most cameras operate in roughly the same way, there are a few notable differences. It helps to know what type of camera you are using, and what its strengths and weaknesses are.

Common Components

Firstly, let's look at what cameras have in common. Except for some specialist types of camera, all cameras have the following basic components:

Body: A light-tight compartment to house the recording medium (film or CCD).
Lens: A transparent element to focus light rays onto the recording medium.
Aperture: A method of controlling how much light reaches the recording medium.
Shutter: A method of controlling how long the recording medium is exposed to the incoming light.
Viewfinder: A way to see the image that is to be captured.
Transport: In film cameras, a method of moving the film and holding it in the correct position.

Types of Camera

SLR (Single Lens Reflex): The viewfinder sees the same image as the main lens, i.e. what you see is what you get. SLRs also allow you to change lenses for different purposes. This is a hugely popular type of camera, pretty much the standard for enthusiasts and professionals.
Viewfinder (or range finder): In this type of camera the viewfinder is separate to the lens. This is common in cheap cameras, although some professional cameras also use this configuration. The main problem with a separate viewfinder is that the image you see may not be quite the same as the image that gets recorded. This limitation is overcome in professional cameras by using viewfinders that compensate for the different positions. Viewfinder cameras do have some advantages; for example, lower noise and higher light levels to the viewfinder.
Twin reflex: The camera has two lenses — one for the photograph and one for the viewfinder. This type of camera has certain advantages in some professional situations.
View: A flexible bellows joins two standards — one with the lens and the other with the viewfinder or film. This allows for unusual types of composition; for example, distorting the shape of the image by skewing the film plane.
Pinhole: A very simple camera without a lens.

Photography Filters

Filters – The Must-Have Accessory for Creative Photographers

A filter is a glass or resin element which sits in front of your lens and alters the light entering your camera. They can be used for a wide variety of uses and creative effects. Although great things can be achieved in the digital darkroom filters still offer many benefits to the photographer.

In the age of digital photography, some people believe that filters are no longer necessary. Effects which would once have only been possible using filters can now be achieved in photo-editing software. However, there is still a place for filters, and some of the things they can be used for can’t be replaced by photo-editing effects. As well as adjusting color and creating special effects, filters offer protection to lenses and can be used to alter the amount of light entering the camera.

The following are must-have filters for the creative photographer.

UV & polarizing filters

1) UV filters.
UV filters remove ultra-violet light rays which can make shots look hazy, although this has become less of an issue with modern digital cameras. UV filters are cheap to buy and there’s a good argument for saying that every lens you own should be fitted with one. As they have a neutral influence on color or light levels, UV filters are a great way of protecting the valuable elements at the front of lenses. If a filter is scratched, it’s much cheaper to replace than a lens.

2) Polarizing filters.
Polarizers control the amount of polarized light entering a lens, and can be used to saturate colors and darken skies. Polarizing filters can reduced to remove reflected light from glass or water, and have many practical uses for the photographer. Rotating the front of a polarizing filter regulates the effect, so they offer great flexibility. Polarizers are a must-have for landscape photographers, and they be used to create stunning blue skies and beautiful clear shots of lakes and rivers.

3) Close-up filters.
Some lenses offer a macro facility for close-up photography, but close-up filters are a great alternative for entering this fascinating world. Close-up filters come in a variety of magnification levels, and allow you to focus more closely than a standard lens allows. Before buying a macro lens, consider using close-up filters as this will save you a lot of money.

4) Neutral density filters.
By reducing the amount of light entering the lens, neutral density filters offer a great range of options to the creative photographer. Neutral density filters come in a range of densities, and the greater the density the less light can pass through. When working in bright conditions, neutral density filters allow the photographer to use long exposures for creative effects. For example, the movement of water and clouds can be illustrated with a blur of motion. Graduated neutral density filters allow the photographer to balance the difference in brightness between the land and the sky.

Color filters

Notes

Color filters were popular in the days of film, for correcting colors and creating special effects. They can still be useful and/or fun to play with, but for most applications they have been made redundant by digital processing.
Some filters can be screwed to the front of lenses, so you will need different sizes if you use a variety of lenses. Square filter systems offer greater flexibility, and use special adaptors which attach to the front of lenses.

Photographic Composition

The term composition refers to the content of a photograph; specifically, the way everything in the photo is laid out. This includes the subject matter, the relative size and positions of objects within the photo, lighting and tonal balance, etc.

There are lots of rules about composition, most of them fairly simple. If you follow the rules (at least when you're starting out) you will find your photos naturally become better.

One of the most important rules in photographic composition is the rule of thirds. This topic is already covered in our video tutorials so you can go there to read about it.

The following pages provide more tips on composition:

Basic Composition Principles

Composition is the way a photograph is framed and determines the impact of the image.

Most cameras take rectangular photos, so decide if the photograph is going to be taken horizontally or vertically. Long wide scenes like a sunset look better horizontally where as tall subjects such as sky scrapers or a tree look better taken vertically.

Rule of thirds.

Rule of thirds is a balancing technique you can apply when you are taking your image. To set it up you need to find the grid tool in your camera settings and turn it on. You will then be able to line up your three things. You should line up the main points of interest or focal point with the lines.

Simplify the background.

Busy backgrounds can take a lot of focus away from the focal point. So to emphasize a specific object or subject take the photograph with a simple background such as a sheet or a wall. You can also simplify the background by using a shallow depth of field.

Framing a scene.

Using a frame in a shot can alter the composition dramatically. It draws attention towards the focal point and fills unwanted space. It can be achieved simply by framing the outside or part of the outside of the photograph with natural (such as a cave or a tree canopy) or man-made (such as windows and archways) objects.

Less is more – keep it simple.

A picture with a dominant image is likely to have a stronger effect on the viewer. To do this, take a picture with one or two solitary items. It is an easy and efficient way to make a point and it will also dictate the path of the viewer’s eyes.

Using lines.

Lines are very important when taking a photograph because it dictates where the viewer carries their eyes and helps balance or segment your photo. You can use objects such as power lines, hedges, fences or rivers.

Contrast.

The most important thing about your photograph is light and color. Contrasting tones and shades create a dramatic impact. If you have a bold color amongst soft or dull colors, that object is going to stand out, similar to a spotlight on a stage. You can also generate interest with contrasting textures (rough/smooth, shiny/dull, soft/hard) and objects (light/dark, delicate/robust, predator/prey).

Close ups.

When you take a photograph with a close up of an object it attracts and holds the viewer’s eye. It is quite a good way to make an impact or it can make even a common place object seem remarkable.

Alternative viewpoints.

Taking a photograph from an unusual place is a good way of making the ordinary look extraordinary. It shows the viewer an image or setting they may be familiar with and changes the viewpoint so they could see it from a different perspective.

Experiment.

Remember that these are just guidelines that you shouldn’t limit yourself to. These principles are just a guideline so feel free to do whatever you want with your picture.

Sometimes to take a great photograph all you need to do is add a different filter or use a weird lens. Use your imagination and remember a lot of photography is being at the right place at the right time to capture the moment.

Composition: The Subject

Make sure you know exactly what it is you are photographing, i.e. have a clearly defined subject. For example, if you are photographing a person and you are not interested in what's happening in the background, compose the photo accordingly (i.e. zoom in on them or get closer).

Likewise, if you are photographing flowers, wide shots are fine but you should also try getting up close and making a feature of an individual flower.

Don't have unnecessary empty or useless space in the photo (e.g. lots of sky if the subject is on the ground). In some cases you may have a good reason for including empty space — the rule is to leave out empty space which serves no purpose. If it adds to the effect of the composition, that's fine.

In some cases the subject is simply a scene or a landscape. You don't necessarily need a person or object to be the subject — it can be anything at all. The point is to be aware of what it is you are trying to capture, and how you can best compose the photo to achieve this.

Composition: The Frame

While concentrating on the subject of the photo, it's easy to overlook other parts of the composition. Before you hit the shutter button, take note of everything in the photo — not just the subject.

Check the edges of the frame

If an object is not completely in shot (i.e. part of it is outside the frame), make sure it will still look okay. Some objects don't look good if you can't see the whole thing, or at least a certain amount of it. Partial objects can be awkward or even confusing; for example, a sign that begs to be read but is cut off half way through. You can't always avoid this situation; sometimes it doesn't matter, and you may even use it for effect. However it is something to be mindful of — try to have a reason for including or excluding partial objects.

It's especially important to notice how people in the background are framed — it's best not to cut them off in an unflattering way. You may need to adjust the framing to have enough of them in shot to look comfortable, or leave them out altogether.

The first example on the right includes a person in the background who is uncomfortably cut off. To fix this you could either zoom in to exclude the person, or zoom out to reveal both background people.

Avoid distracting objects

If something in the photo attracts the eye more than the subject, try to compose the photo differently.

Composition: Angles

One of the most common ways to add dramatic effect to a photograph is to use an interesting or unusual camera angle.

Many shots can be given added impact by simple changes in the camera view. The photo on the top right has quite a nice composition, but the effect is much more dramatic when the camera is rolled to the right.

When the subject is a person, different angles can have a strong influence on how they are perceived. A photo looking down at a person can make them look diminished, or perhaps down-to-earth, informal, etc. A photo looking up at someone can make them look powerful or imposing.

In the image below, the subject presents a non-threatening friendly face.

The subject in the next photo has a more "I'm in charge" feel.

Composition: Balance

There are many types of "balance" in a photograph; for example, a mix of close and distant objects, a mix of light and dark, etc. Poor balance is not usually good, for example, a photo with too much light and no contrast. Experiment and learn how to provide a pleasing balance.

The photo below has an obvious theme in the balanced stones, but it also contains a balance of light/dark tones, foreground/background, sharp/soft areas, etc.

The next photo has a balance of light/shadow as well as technology/nature.

Using Lines in Photographic Composition

Look for different types of lines in the composition (e.g. buildings, poles, the horizon, etc).

Different lines have different effects:

Vertical lines emphasise strength, power and height.
Horizontal lines emphasise width, stability and security.
Diagonal lines have a more dramatic, dynamic effect than vertical and horizontal.
Curved lines reflect nature, relaxation, sensuality, etc.

Lines can be used to direct the viewer's interest, emphasize parts of the frame, and generally create interesting effects.

Note that lines do not have to be artificial or even particularly obvious. In the example on the lower right, the man's arms create a diagonal flow from the bottom right to the upper left of the frame.

That's the end of this tutorial. If you would like to discuss anything covered here, please feel free to join ourphotography forum.

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Wednesday, 3 February 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY TOTURIAL