Basic Camera operation
General questions On cameras:
- What is the generic name for your type of camera?
- What is camera shake?
- How would you recognise that a fast film had been used to produce an image?
- If a black and white film is produced with fix first what is the result?
- What is an ISO setting?
- What type of lens is a 300mm F2 lens, who would use it?
- What is a written 25 filter?
- What do these numbers refer to? 8000 2 60
- What do test numbers refer to? 5.6 2.8 11
- What is the difference between TV and AV
AV= Apature Value- How big the window is.
- Which exposure setting transmits more light 125 F8 or 4 F32
- Which digital camera would you choose an aps h or full frame
- What is the difference between Raw and JPEG?
JPEG=
APERTURE
Controls
1. The amount of light hitting film / sensor. Quantitative effects. Exposure
2. The Depth of Field.
Qualitative effects:
Definition:
Qualitative effects:
Definition:
-
Opening in the lens which changes in size. Large aperture = More light to pass. Small aperture = Less to pass.
- Apertures selected by rotating aperture ring on lens barrel ( manual cameras ) or by rotating command dial ( auto cameras ). Put aperture on 5.6. 22. Widest ? 5.6
- Usually aperture is wide open. Actual size of aperture selected is only apparent when taking a photo, or depressing DOF preview button.
- Arranged in a sequence known as F-numbers or Fstops.
- Whole number sequence is 1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, 45, 64
- Every other number seems to double.
- F64- was a landscape group of photographers which included Ansel Adams.
- May have 1/2 or 1/3 stop numbers which may or may not be shown.
1/2 = 1.0 - 1.2 - 1.4 - 1.7 - 2 - 2.4 - 2.8 - 3.3 - 4 - 4.8 - 5.6 - 6.7 - 8 - 9.5 - 11 - 13 - 16 - 19 - 22
1/3 = 1.0 - 1.1 - 1.2 - 1.4 - 1.6 - 1.8 - 2 - 2.2 - 2.5 - 2.8 - 3.2 - 3.5 - 4 - 4.5 - 5.0 -5.6 - 6.3 - 7.1 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 13 - 14 - 16 - 18 - 20 - 22
- F Number = focal length / aperture size
- Each stop allows t---- / ---f as much light to pass (do not be fooled by the x1.4 factor)
F8 > f 5.6 = F 4 > 5.6 = F22 > F11= F1.4 > F4=
- Camera on M. Point at light source. Note aperture / shutter. Select different aperture(s) note effects.
- Same F number on different lenses allows s--- amount of light to pass. Even if diameter appears to be different. Relative apertures.
- Also controls ----- of f----. How much appears in focus either side of critical focus point. Arranged -/3 in front 2/- behind of point of focus.
· L---- aperture = s---- F-stop number f-- = -----w D o F.
- S---- aperture = l---- F-stop number f-- = w--- D o F
- Depth of Field usually indicated, by engravings on lens barrel (not zoom lenses).
Other factors influencing D o F:
- lens focal length l----- the lens n------- the DOF, wider angle the lens the w---- the D of F
- Distance of subject n-----r subject narrower DOF. Further a--- wider D O F
- What can be suggested by a wide depth of field?
- What can be suggested by a narrow depth of field?
- What is the Hyperfocal distance?
- How and when would you use it?
- Lens perform best at about - stops down from maximum aperture F5.6 / F8 [for 35mm]
Extension studies
Find at least 4 examples of images produced with a range of different apertures and comment on their production. Record your findings in your mat/tech/processes workbook
SHUTTER
· Located at ---- of camera body just in front of film. Called f---- ----e shutter
What does it look like?
How does it move?
Is there another type of shutter?
What must you never do to a shutter?
· Controlled by dial / control wheel on camera. Numbers relate to time shutter is open for, expressed in f--------- of a second.
· Arranged in sequence: 4, -, 1, B, 1, 2, -, 8, 15, 30, --, 125, ---, 500, ----, 2000, 4000.
You may have ½ or 1/3 stops
· What does B stand for?
When might you use it?
· Each stop allows ---- / ----e as much light to pass. 125 > 60 = . 250> 1000 =
· Camera on M. Point at light source. Note aperture / shutter. Select different shutter(s) speeds, note effects.
· Controls how -------- is represented. S--- shutter speed with moving object >blur.
F--- shutter speed with moving object > frozen.
· P----- with a slow-ish shutter speed gives still subject with b------ background
· What moves during exposure ?
· How can you avoid camera shake?.
· What does the X signify?
· Interesting effects generated by using slow / fast shutter speeds with flash and ambient light. See flash gun workshop
· Find at least 4 examples of images produced with a range of different shutter speeds and comment on their production. Record your findings in your mat/meth/processes workbook
EXPOSURE
WHAT IS EXPOSURE
Technical
Practical
EXPOSURE MODES
How can you control your aperture and shutter?
Demonstrate exposure mode selection
What are the advantages / dis of each?
- M
- A
- Tv
- Av
LIGHT METER
What type of light meter do you have in your camera?
Where is the light meter in your camera?
What does the light meter do?
How is the information displayed?
What does a light meter think you are photographing?
EXPOSURE ERRORS
Under
Over
PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS and SOLUTIONS
· L
· D
· C
LIGHT METER MODES ( camera)
·
EQUIVALENT EXPOSURES
Changing the aperture or shutter alters the amount of light hitting the film/sensor.
Work out the change in stops for the following express this in + or _ stops.:
Shutter 125 > 60 =
250 > 500 =
1>4sec =
1000 > 30 =
Aperture
8 >11 =
4 > 2.8 =
22 > 4 =
16 > 45 =
Combination
125 f8 > 250 f11
1” f5.6> 4 f8
1000 f 2.8 > 250 f8
If you change an A/S setting you have to compensate for increase/decrease in light transmission by changing the other A/S in the opposite direction to maintain the same exposure and avoid under or over exposure.
Fill in the following tables of equivalent exposures.
60 | 5.6 | 500 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 250 | 4 | |||
EXPOSURE VALUES / EV
Single number that gives all possible A/S combinations for any given amount of light at 100 ISO
F stops | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 60 | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
1.4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
2.8 | 3 | ||||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||||
5.6 | 5 | ||||||||||
8 | 6 | ||||||||||
11 | 7 | ||||||||||
16 | 8 | ||||||||||
22 | 9 | ||||||||||
32 | 10 | 20 |
Give all possible exposure combinations for EV 11
Homework
Collect at least 4 examples of images produced in difficult lighting conditions.
Explain why they are difficult
What did the photographer have to do to produce the images.
Collect the material in your Unit 2 note book
Langfords Basic Photography
The 35mm handbook
Your camera manual
EXPOSURE EXERCISE
Light a white backdrop with 2 tungsten lights at 45’.
Set ISO to 400
Set digital camera to manual mode
Set WB to tungsten
Take an image and record readings from the evenly illuminated backdrop
Change backdrop as below and record readings
WHITE SCENE | BLACK | MID GREY | |
S A | S A | S A |
What do the images look like? What does the histogram of each image look like?
Explain the exposure readings?
WHITE
BLACK
GREY
How can you produce correct images from the white and black scene?
WHITE SCENE | BLACK | MID GREY | |
S A | S A | S A |
Explain your actions and results
FLASH GUNS
Flash gun images
FLASH GUNS
Flash gun images
· Illuminate subjects in d--- environments. .
· Use with ambient light to give mixed exposure. Flash can be-: Less [f--- i-]. Same [1 to 1]. More [d-- to n----] - than ambient light.
· F---- blur . Use slow shutter speeds with flash. Moving subjects recorded as frozen and blurred at the same time.
· Multiple flash. Exposing same frame with several bursts of flash, Strobe or painting.
General characteristics
· 3 main type: H--s--- fitting, bracket fixing / h----- h----, and camera pop up.
· Punch out packets of light expressed in F stops, e.g. F 8.
· Flash duration is very short, usually less than 1/1000 second.
· Light is balanced to 5----' K, i.e. photographic daylight.
· Cameras with f---- p---- shutters have maximum shutter speed settings for flash. What is yours?
Power
· FG vary in power output. Indicated by g---- n-----. Larger GN more powerful FG, always quoted at 100 ISO. What is your GN of your FG ?
· There is an important relationship between GN, distance and exposure. Under pins all FG operations. GN / d------- [in metres] = f stop [aperture]. Defines maximum F stop achievable at any distance.
45 F F F F F
1M 2M 4M 8M 11M
Light quality
· Flash tubes are s---- and, therefore, produce inherently h--- l----, which gives images with little modelling, r-- e-- and deep shadows behind subject.
· Use b----- techniques to soften light and give modelling. Remember bounce increases flash to subject distance, therefore, reducing maximum F stop FG can achieve, and light can take on the c----- of bounced surface.
Operation
3 possible modes of FG operation: m-----, a-------- and d--------.
Manual
· Gives f--- p---- only*. F stops changes with subject distance. Table on back on gun.
· Low maximum output. Hot shoe type. Cheap. Why are they of limited use?
Automatic
· Allows varying output. You C----- F stop required, FG attempts to achieve it. Internal t-------- circuit in FG measure light returning from subject and quenches flash when required f-stop achieved. C-------- [o k] indicates successful exposure.
Choose F11 on Metz 45 point at ceiling fire FG what do you see? And why?
Choose F4 on Metz 45 point at white reflector board fire FG what do you see? And why?
· If unsuccessful r----- f-stop / move c----- until within capability of FG.
· Usually swivel / elevating head design which allows easy bounce techniques.
· Expensive, powerful, useful. Best have 6 auto settings F2.8>F16.
Dedicated / TTL
· Development of auto guns. Flash and camera c---------- to establish accurate exposure.
· Expensive but accurate.
· Can be difficult to over ride.
· Metz systems use SCA system to dedicate to any camera make / model.
PRACTICE USE BY COMPLETING ON-CAMERA FLASH EXERCISE
BLACK AND FILM
Structure
Speed / ISO
Fast e.g. • -00 ISO
• V --- S-------- • B -- G----- • l—A • L—C-------
• Use
Slow e.g. • -00 ISO
• L-- S------- • S----- G • H---- A • H--- C------- • Use
AJW
CCB METS METH PROC CERT 2008
Medium e.g.
-00 ISO M------ S M----- G
• • • •M–A • M----- C • Use
Unusual
Chromogenic e.g. • Processed in
• 00 .Best at –00 .Useful 50 > 800 • M------ S • S*----- G • M ------ A
• L* ----- C • Use
Infra Red e.g. • -00
• S-------- to • B—G • L—A • Use
• Need Wr----- 2- f-----. Bracket e-------.
Polaroid e.g. •I
•U • Use
AJW
CCB METS METH PROC CERT 2008
Pushing
Film can be re rated in emergency conditions i.e. unexpected low light conditions 400 ISO > 800 ISO >1600 ISO.
• Increased • Lose
• Low • Needs increased
Modern Emulsions
Kodak Tmax, Ilford Delta, Fuji Acros use different grain structure to older films gives higher acutance and lower grain for same film speed. Need more careful exposure and development.
www.ilfordphoto.com
www.fujifilm.com
www.silverprint.co.uk www.luminous-landscape.com M Langfords Basic Photography
AJW
CCB METS METH PROC CERT 2008
Exercise Black and White Images In your groups consider the images. Make notes with regard to the questions and report back to the class.
Homework
Select 4 images, each produced from a different B/W film type and speed. Comment on the images as above. Record your work in your Mats/meth/ pros workbook
Further research
Using famous examples try and describe what is suggested by film choice. Further possible research, find film makes websites and compare their products.
Describe the image.
What type of image is it?
What type of film used? Justify your answer
Why was it used?
Describe the image.
What type of image is it?
What type of film used? Justify your answer
Why was it used?
Describe the image.
What type of image is it?
What type of film used? Justify your answer
Why was it used?
AJW
