Overview
Students are introduced to the 35MM SLR camera and the digital camera as examples of the typical photographic equipment they will need to complete this unit. Students are given an overview of the general parts and functions of both camera formats, but are required to read the manuals and specifications of the specific camera format that they intend to use for this photograph unit.
ExpectationsOverall Expectations:
CRV.02 Demonstrate skills in manipulating traditional art tools related to media art (e.g., camera, video camera, photocopier, tape recorder); CRV.03 Demonstrate skills in manipulating new and emergent digital technologies used in creating media art (e.g., digital cameras, scanner, digital recorder, computer). Specific Expectations: CR2.03 Use appropriately the tools and equipment of traditional art forms related to media art; TH1.03 Recognize and use vocabulary specific to media art. |
ContentIdeally, one should use either a traditional SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Camera, a digital or a digital SLR camera when taking this course. You will find it easier to work with these types of cameras rather than a disposable camera or even a camera phone (although the quality of camera phone images has been improving exponentially over the last few years, and has inspired a new classification of photography, mobilography).
There are various cameras on the market in a number of price ranges, but they all have the same basic features that you should be familiar with before using any camera. The SLRThe single lens reflex camera or SLR is probably the most popular type of small-format camera for general use. You can find digital SLR cameras, but for now; we will look at the traditional film-based 35mm SLR. With an SLR camera, the photographer is able to determine the focus and composition of an image by using the single lens of the camera and a single moving mirror mechanism inside the camera that projects the image onto a glass screen. What you see through the viewfinder is what is going to be captured with the film.
The most important feature that you, as the photographer, need to be aware of is the way the aperture and the shutter speed work in conjunction on a 35mm SLR camera to take a properly exposed photograph.
Aperture - The aperture is the size of the opening in the diaphragm of the lens -- basically, the larger the opening, the more light that reaches the film. On most cameras, the various openings are designated by a series of “f “ numbers on the focus ring of the camera lens. These are known as f-stops. The smaller the f-stop number, the larger is the opening in the aperture. Also, each f-stop is a ratio of the others. For example, if you had your camera set to f/8 and you moved it down to f/5.6, you have just doubled the size of the aperture opening, letting in twice as much light. If you reversed that and went from f/5.6 to f/8, you have then cut the amount of light in half. Shutter Speed - The shutter speed controls the amount of time the shutter in the camera will remain open. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of seconds, such as 1 second, 1/15, 1/30, 1/125, and so forth. The smaller the fraction, the faster is the shutter speed. Just as with f-stops, a change of setting either doubles or halves the exposure. In older SLR cameras, the shutter speed was adjusted by a dial on the camera, but many high tech SLR’s have an LCD display instead. Aperture Size and Time Combination - The aperture and the shutter speed have to work in combination to achieve a properly exposed photograph. In other words, the wider the aperture selected, the less time it takes to create an image on the film, so a faster shutter speed is needed. The smaller the aperture, the less amount of light reaches the film, so a slower shutter speed is needed. There are a variety of combinations that can be used to get the correct exposure. How you combine the f-stop and the shutter speed will also depend on your lighting conditions and of what you are trying to take a photograph. Exposure Meter - Most cameras will come with an exposure meter built inside the camera (although you can also buy handheld meters as well). The exposure meter assesses the brightness of the scene and will indicate if you have made choices in settings (aperture and shutter speed) for a correct exposure. The 35mm SLR can come with different operating modes that can assist the photographer with aperture and shutter speed configurations. Depending on what your particular needs are, some modes may be better than others. Common Camera-Operating Modes Manual - A fully manual camera means that it is the photographer that must adjust the f-stop and shutter speed for every shot that is taken. At most, these cameras may have an exposure meter that will offer some guidance, but the photographer can choose to ignore it. Every time the f-stop is changed, the shutter speed must also change. This can be time consuming, but the photographer has control over every aspect of the shot. Semi-automatic - Many cameras offer at least one operating mode where the photographer can change at least one factor – usually the f-stop. Once that has been adjusted, the camera will automatically respond and choose the most appropriate shutter speed for correct exposure (or vice versa depending on whether the camera is aperture-priority or shutter-priority). Program - Many high-tech cameras offer a fully automatic operating mode, which is usually designated with a “P” for programmed exposure. In this case, both the f-stop and the shutter speed are automatically set by the camera in response to the available lighting conditions. While this mode is very quick to use, it offers little to no flexibility or creative input from the photographer. Of course, once we look at digital cameras, the availability of operating modes makes a giant leap forward in terms of what the camera is able to do. The Digital Camera
Digital cameras have a variety of features, buttons, programming menus and modes, so it is difficult to give an overview of how a “typical” digital camera works; there are so many to choose from.
Comparing Cameras
The learning object below will give you an opportunity to see how different types of cameras work. Take time to go through it carefully until you have a familiarity with each camera. Anatomy of a Camera
Resources
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