Welcome to Boot Camp!Welcome to Boot Camp!

Each month we will Each month we will be covering basic be covering basic lessons in lessons in photography such photography such as camera as camera settings, lighting, settings, lighting, composition, etc…composition, etc…

Lesson 1

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CAMERA BASICSCAMERA BASICS

These basicsThese basics

are commonare common

to ALLto ALL

cameras:cameras: F-StopF-Stop Shutter Shutter

SpeedSpeed Film Film

Speed(ISO)Speed(ISO)

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CAMERA BASICSCAMERA BASICS

•F-Stop (how much light is seen, how much the aperture is open)

•Shutter Speed (how long the light is seen in the aperture)

•FILM SPEED (ISO) (how fast the film itself responds to this light)

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F-STOPF-STOP

HOW MUCH LIGHT IS SEENHOW MUCH LIGHT IS SEEN Sometimes known as ‘aperture’Sometimes known as ‘aperture’ Ranges from about 1.8 to 32Ranges from about 1.8 to 32 A higher number (i.e. 32) means less A higher number (i.e. 32) means less

light is ‘seen’.light is ‘seen’. A lower number (i.e. 1.8) means A lower number (i.e. 1.8) means

more light is ‘seen’.more light is ‘seen’.

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F-STOPF-STOP

HIGHER F-stop (i.e. 32)HIGHER F-stop (i.e. 32)ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES Increased Increased depth of fielddepth of field, i.e. image , i.e. image

background is not blurrybackground is not blurry

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES Needs more light, i.e. slower shutter Needs more light, i.e. slower shutter

speed.speed.

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F-STOPF-STOP

LOWER F-STOP (i.e. F1.8)LOWER F-STOP (i.e. F1.8)ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES Lets plenty of light in! Better to use in Lets plenty of light in! Better to use in

darker settings.darker settings. Less blurry since faster shutter speed Less blurry since faster shutter speed

may be needed to compensate for may be needed to compensate for more light.more light.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES No depth of field, i.e. No depth of field, i.e. background of background of

image likely out of focus.image likely out of focus.

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F-STOP IMPACTF-STOP IMPACTLow F-stop Low F-stop High F-stopHigh F-stop

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SHUTTER SPEEDSHUTTER SPEED

MEASURES HOW LONG LIGHT IS MEASURES HOW LONG LIGHT IS LET INTO THE FILM/CAMERALET INTO THE FILM/CAMERA

Common values include ½ sec, 1/8 Common values include ½ sec, 1/8 second, 1/1000 second etcsecond, 1/1000 second etc

Shorter time means less time for light to Shorter time means less time for light to get into the cameraget into the camera

Shorter time reduces blurrinessShorter time reduces blurriness Longer time lets in more light, adds need Longer time lets in more light, adds need

for tripod or image stabilizationfor tripod or image stabilization

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SHUTTER SPEEDSHUTTER SPEED

FASTER SPEEDFASTER SPEED

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES Reduces blurriness as image is ‘seen’ only Reduces blurriness as image is ‘seen’ only

briefly – great for sports events.briefly – great for sports events.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES Less time for light to enter cameraLess time for light to enter camera Requires brighter conditions or raising ISORequires brighter conditions or raising ISO

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SHUTTER SPEEDSHUTTER SPEED

SLOWER SPEEDSLOWER SPEEDADVANTAGESADVANTAGES Great for darker conditions (more time for Great for darker conditions (more time for

light to enter the camera)light to enter the camera)

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES Increased chance of blurrinessIncreased chance of blurriness Often requires a tripod be used for Often requires a tripod be used for

steadiness.steadiness.

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Shutter Speed=1/15 of a SecondShutter Speed=1/15 of a Second

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Shutter Speed=1/150 of a secondShutter Speed=1/150 of a second

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FILM SPEED (ISO)FILM SPEED (ISO) Traditional cameras use film of different Traditional cameras use film of different

sensitivities. It is measured by its ISO sensitivities. It is measured by its ISO number, i.e. 64, 100 400number, i.e. 64, 100 400

Slower speed (i.e. 64) is good for enlarging Slower speed (i.e. 64) is good for enlarging but requires bright light and/or slow but requires bright light and/or slow shutter speed and/or lower F-stop.shutter speed and/or lower F-stop.

Faster Film (i.e. 400) is poor for enlarging Faster Film (i.e. 400) is poor for enlarging but needs less light and thus good for but needs less light and thus good for indoor photography.indoor photography.

Digital Cameras do not use film per se. Digital Cameras do not use film per se. They use a technology called CCD (Charge They use a technology called CCD (Charge Coupled Device) which senses images.Coupled Device) which senses images.

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TIPS ON TAKING PHOTOSTIPS ON TAKING PHOTOS• Be aware of ‘backlighting’, i.e. a bright Be aware of ‘backlighting’, i.e. a bright

background will make your subject background will make your subject appear ‘dark’.appear ‘dark’.

• Best to have the light on the subject Best to have the light on the subject from from behind youbehind you for proper lighting. for proper lighting.

• Take photos in early morning/late Take photos in early morning/late afternoon for dramatic shadows.afternoon for dramatic shadows.

• Frame your subject in the viewfinder Frame your subject in the viewfinder and use the ‘and use the ‘rule of thirdsrule of thirds’ when framing ’ when framing your subject. See the next slide.your subject. See the next slide.

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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The concepts are generally the sameThe concepts are generally the same• The F-stop (‘Aperture’)The F-stop (‘Aperture’) is sometimes ‘fixed’ is sometimes ‘fixed’

within the digital camera.within the digital camera.• The digital camera then adjusts the The digital camera then adjusts the shutter shutter

speedspeed (and if possible, the aperture) based on (and if possible, the aperture) based on light conditions.light conditions.

• The The film speedfilm speed is the same for all photos is the same for all photos within the camera, i.e. it is not chemical based within the camera, i.e. it is not chemical based but usually uses CCD technologybut usually uses CCD technology

• The main important concept is The main important concept is PIXELsPIXELs

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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYPIXELS – short for PICTURE ELEMENTPIXELS – short for PICTURE ELEMENT.. The more PIXELS a camera has, the better the picture The more PIXELS a camera has, the better the picture

quality,i.e. level of resolution or details in each picture. quality,i.e. level of resolution or details in each picture. Some typical values:Some typical values:

640x480 pixels640x480 pixels - This is the low end on most "real" - This is the low end on most "real" cameras. This resolution is okay if you plan to e-mail cameras. This resolution is okay if you plan to e-mail most of your pictures to friends or post them on a Web most of your pictures to friends or post them on a Web site. This is 307,000 total pixels. But you will not be site. This is 307,000 total pixels. But you will not be happy with this resolution if you print it.happy with this resolution if you print it.

1216x912 pixels1216x912 pixels - If you are planning to print your - If you are planning to print your images, this is a good resolution. This is a "megapixel" images, this is a good resolution. This is a "megapixel" image size -- 1,109,000 total pixels. image size -- 1,109,000 total pixels.

1600x1200 pixels1600x1200 pixels - This is "high resolution." Images - This is "high resolution." Images taken with this resolution can be printed in larger taken with this resolution can be printed in larger sizes, such as 8x10 inches, with good results. This is sizes, such as 8x10 inches, with good results. This is almost 2 million total pixels. You can find cameras almost 2 million total pixels. You can find cameras today with up to 25 million pixels. today with up to 25 million pixels.

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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYDIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYHow it worksHow it works

A picture is taken and the camera A picture is taken and the camera automatically converts the pixels from automatically converts the pixels from analog to digital format.analog to digital format.

The camera then converts the digital The camera then converts the digital pixels to color images.pixels to color images.

Then they are stored in digital memory Then they are stored in digital memory within the camera and/or on memory within the camera and/or on memory cards/sticks and so on.cards/sticks and so on.

Pictures can then be subsequently Pictures can then be subsequently transferred from the digital camera either transferred from the digital camera either by serial cables or more recently via a USB by serial cables or more recently via a USB port.port.

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Optical/Digital ZoomOptical/Digital Zoom Digital cameras usually allow for some Digital cameras usually allow for some

zooming.zooming. Optical zoomOptical zoom is often better; the camera is often better; the camera

makes adjustments within the lens makes adjustments within the lens themselves.themselves.

Digital zoomDigital zoom is whereby the camera is whereby the camera calculates how to adjust the pixels, adding calculates how to adjust the pixels, adding them or removing them. Interpolation is them or removing them. Interpolation is used when adding them.used when adding them.

Macro modeMacro mode is another type of zoom and is another type of zoom and allows close-up pictures, i.e. flowers.allows close-up pictures, i.e. flowers.

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Advantages of Advantages of Digital CamerasDigital Cameras

The pictures do not need to be developed The pictures do not need to be developed at the store, saving money and time.at the store, saving money and time.

The picture you took can be viewed within The picture you took can be viewed within a few seconds of taking it.a few seconds of taking it.

You can readily delete photos within the You can readily delete photos within the camera that are done improperly or by camera that are done improperly or by mistake.mistake.

You can upload to a computer and use You can upload to a computer and use software to enhance the photo further.software to enhance the photo further.

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BATTERIESBATTERIES

The best batteries are known asThe best batteries are known as

Nickel Metal Hydride, i.e. NiMHNickel Metal Hydride, i.e. NiMH They are rechargeable.They are rechargeable. They last about as long as alkaline They last about as long as alkaline

batteries.batteries. You can buy batteries and charger at You can buy batteries and charger at

BJs, Radio Shack and so on.BJs, Radio Shack and so on.