the basics of photographyHUMAN 100: Introduction to Humanities

photographyIt is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by

recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film, or electronically by means of an image sensor.

It came from two Greek words:

Photos (φωτός) – which means ‘light’ and

Graphine (γραφή) – which means ‘to draw’.

photographyThe subject matters used for photography before includes

landscapes and portraits, today our daily life becomes our subject.

photographyEarly photographers which practice photography as an art use

painting as model. Their photographs, like the paintings, tells a story.

Art Movements: Styles in photography

pictorialismPhotographers use a variety of techniques to undercut the

objectivity of the camera, producing gauzy, atmospheric images that seemed more painterly, and thus more like art.

It is a style in which the photographer has somehow manipulated what would otherwise be a straightforward photograph as a means of "creating" an image rather than simply recording it.

In 1869 English photographer Henry Peach Robinson published a book entitled Pictorial Effect in Photography: Being Hints On Composition And Chiaroscuro For Photographers.

Fading Away (1858) by

pictorialism

Spiderwebs (1908) by

pictorialism

straight photographyPure photography or straight photography refers to photography

that attempts to depict a scene as realistically and objectively as permitted by the medium, renouncing the use of manipulation.

Its also a type of picture that has no side effect but tell the truth in general.

It is considered as a point of honor for photographers not to crop or manipulate their photographs in a way.

The Steerage (1907) by

straight photography

straight photography

Migrant Mother (1936) by

abstraction

This was developed in the early 20th century painters, wherein different forms of objects were simplified and reduced to its most characteristic aspects.

Abstract photography can produce very dramatic images. It relies on our more primal sense of form, color, and curves than it does on detail.

abstraction

Abstraction (1915) by

abstractionHere are some techniques on abstract photography:

a. Selective Focus

abstractionb. Light and Shadows

abstractionc. Lines

abstractiond. Texture

abstractione. Blur

abstractionf. Zooming in

abstractiong. Partial Object

surrealism

Surrealism is a form of art which arose after the WWI, wherein artist looked for the intrusion of strange, dreamlike moments into ordinary, everyday life.

surrealismBodyscapesby

surrealism

solarization

Solarization is a process by which an exposed negative is briefly re exposed to light during development which cause chemical change to the photographic emulsion.

solarization

Solarizationby

solarization

new mediaToday, photographers welcome the new technologies such

as computers and digital cameras as natural extensions of their medium.

new media

Basics of Photographythe camera as medium

cameras: then and now

19th century studio camera standing

on tripod and using platesCompact Kodak folding camera from 1922

Leica-II, one of the first 135 film cameras, 1932

Contax S of 1949 – the first pentaprism SLR

Polaroid Colorpack 80 instant camera, c 1975

Digital camera, Canon Ixus class, c. 2000

cameras: then and now

cameras: then and now

Nikon D1, the first digital SLR used in journalism and sports photography, c. 2000

Smartphone with built-in camera spreads private images globally, c. 2010

basic parts of a cameraa. - holds all the other

parts together and provides protection to the delicate internal parts of a camera.

basic parts of a camerab. - consists of

several layers of lenses of varying properties which allows to zoom or focus.

Focusing - is a process at which the camera lenses are moved until the subject becomes very sharp.

basic parts of a camerac. - this is the ‘trigger’ of the camera which

initiates the image capturing process.

basic parts of a camera

d. - this part

contains several symbols which allow you to select a shooting mode.

basic parts of a camerae. - this is the small viewing window that shows the image

that the camera’s imaging sensor sees.

basic parts of a cameraf. - this is found around the old manual of SLR as way

to select an aperture opening.

basic parts of a camerag. - this is also found around the lens of a DSLR

camera which is turned to manually focus the lens.

basic parts of a camera

h. - this is the

small screen at the back of the camera used for framing or for reviewing recorded images.

basic parts of a camerai. usually built-in on the body of the camera which provided instantaneous burst of bright light.

basic parts of a camera

j.

comprise of a set of directional keys and few other buttons to activate certain functions and menus.

basic parts of a camerak. this part turns on or off the camera. This may

also contain a record/play mode select or on some cameras.

basic parts of a cameral. this part allows the user to control the camera’s lenses to zoom-in or zoom-out.

basic parts of a camera

m.

this part holds the batteries.

basic parts of a camera

n.

an expansion where the memory card is inserted.

basic parts of a camerao. this varies the focal length of the lens in the viewfinder in

order for people wearing eyeglasses see clearly through it even without the eyeglass.

basic parts of a camera

p. - this

part allows users to attach a tripod or monopod for added stability.

Basics of Photographycamera angles

camera anglesCamera angles and movements combine to create a sequence of

images, just as words, word order and punctuation combine to make the meaning of a sentence. You need a straightforward set of key terms to describe them.

Describing Shots

When describing camera angles, or creating them yourself, you have to think about three important factors: a. The FRAMING or the LENGTH of shot, b. The ANGLE of the shot, and c. If there is any MOVEMENT involved

When describing different cinematic shots, different terms are used to indicate the amount of subject matter contained within a frame, how far away the camera is from the subject, and the perspective of the viewer. Each different shot has a different purpose and effect. A change between two different shots is called a CUT.

framing or shot leghta. Extreme Long Shot - This can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. There will be very little detail visible in the shot, it's meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

framing or shot leghtb. Long Shot or Full Shot - this is the most difficult to categories precisely, but is generally one which shows the image as approximately "life" size -- corresponding to the real distance between the audience and the screen in a cinema (the figure of a man would appear as six feet tall).

framing or shot leght

c. Medium Shot - Contains a figure from the knees/waist up and is normally used for dialogue scenes, or to show some detail of action.

framing or shot leghtd. Close-up Shot - This shows very little background, and concentrates on either a face, or a specific detail. Everything else is just a blur in the background. This shot magnifies the object and shows the importance of things, be it words written on paper, or the expression on someone's face.

framing or shot leghte. Extreme Close-up Shot - As its name suggests, an extreme version of the close up, generally magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience in reality. An extreme close-up of a face, for instance, would show only the mouth or eyes, with no background detail whatsoever. This is a very artificial shot, and can be used for dramatic effect.

camera angles1. The Bird's-Eye view

This shows a scene from directly overhead, a very unnatural and strange angle. Familiar objects viewed from this angle might seem totally unrecognizable at first.

This shot does, however, put the audience in a godlike position, looking down on the action. People can be made to look insignificant, ant-like, part of a wider scheme of things.

camera angles

camera angles2. High Angle

Not so extreme as a bird's eye view. The camera is elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview. High angles make the object photographed seem smaller, and less significant (or scary).

The object or character often gets swallowed up by their setting -they become part of a wider picture.

camera angles

camera angles3. Eye Level

A fairly neutral shot; the camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene. The camera will be placed approximately five to six feet from the ground.

camera angles

camera angles4. Low Angle

These increases the height and give a sense of speeded motion. The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling, the lack of detail about the setting adding to the disorientation of the viewer.

The added height of the object may make it inspire fear and insecurity in the viewer, who is psychologically dominated by the figure on the screen.

camera angles

camera angles

5. Worm’s Eye View

Taken also from a low angle but more extreme.

camera angles

camera angles6. Oblique/Canted Angle

Sometimes the camera is tilted to suggest imbalance, transition and instability. This technique is used to suggest point-of-view shots --when the camera becomes the 'eyes' of one particular character, seeing what they see.

camera angles

Elements of a good photograph

elements Composition- taking the scene as a whole and not just the main subject of the photograph.

Rule of thirds- mentally dividing the frame into three distinct vertical and horizontal sections.

Framing- used to draw the viewer’s eye to the subject of the photograph. It may use natural elements to frame your subject.

elements

Lighting

elements

Exposure

elements

Storytelling

elements

Graphic Interest- how a photographer see the scene and how it is presented to the audience.

elements

basic photography rules1. Get a steady hand on the camera.

2. Choose a pleasing backdrop, preferably something that suits the atmosphere you want to create.

3. Avoid direct sunlight when shooting outdoors.

4. Pay attention to what is happening when taking outdoor photographs.

5. Find fitting backdrop for portraits and use tripod to keep the shot from being blurred.

6. In group pictures, make sure that everyone is included in the picture.

7. Take candid shots.

ACTIVITY

Answer page 177 and 178 in your book.