INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY BPH100

Distance Education Course -Introductory Photography

GAIN A SOLID FOUNDATION IN BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY!

This is a great course for the beginner. You will learn the principles of photography, all about equipment, lighting and possible problems.

To complete the assignments you need access to camera. (Whilst any camera is satisfactory, an SLR is best. Your tutor can advise on buying a camera if you do not have one).
Comment from one of our Introduction to Photography students:
"Glad I signed up" G. Gadja


Learn, Study and Work in Photography

Throughout this course reference will be made back to our own perception of light through our eyes and the similarities and differences between the eye and the camera. One crucial fact underlies all photography, and for that matter, any "visual recording" medium. That fact is that although many and various technologies can produce images, the quality of those images is eventually judged by our own eyes. They act as a parameter for our technological design.


COURSE STRUCTURE

You will be given instructions throughout this subject guide to do various things ... you may be asked to contact an organisation, you may be given something to read, or some information to research. Various tasks will be given to you to develop your knowledge and abilities in photography care. Along with these tasks, you will also be given a number of questions to answer at the end of each lesson. You are required to submit them as an assignment to your tutor.

1. Origins of Photography:

This lesson discusses the principles those underpins photography and examines the evolution into digital technologies.

2. Film

This lesson explains how photographic images are able to be captured both on film or digitally. The lesson also explains how photographic images are able to be captured by digital cameras.

3. Photo Equipment: Cameras

This lesson provides you with a firm understanding of how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking photographs

4. Photo Equipment

This lesson determines appropriate applications for a range of common items of photographic equipment and develops an understanding of how digital images can be transferred effectively from a digital camera

5. Processing/Developing Images

In this lesson you investigate developing Different Film Types, Processing Solutions, Fixer, Developer, Stop Bath, Fixing, Washing, Wetting Agents, Drying, etc.

6. Enlarging and Photo Manipulation

This lesson covers the process by which photographic film may be enlarged. It also explains techniques that can be used to process digital photographs within a computer to achieve improved or changed images.

7. Lighting

Hear you learn to work more effectively with light when taking photographs.

8. Fault Finding

The final lesson deals with common photographic problems, and how to deal with them.

Duration: 100 hours


AIMS

  • Discuss the principles those underpins photography and examine the evolution into digital technologies.
  • Explain how photographic images are able to be captured on film. This lesson will also explain how photographic images are able to be captured by digital cameras.
  • Provide you with a firm understanding of how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking photographs. It provides a framework, upon which you will base your work in future lessons.
  • Determine appropriate application for a range of common items of photographic equipment and develop an understanding of how digital images can be transferred effectively from a digital camera
  • Explain how photographic film is developed.
  • Describe the process by which photographic film may be enlarged. Also explain techniques that can be used to process digital photographs within a computer to achieve improved or changed images.
  • Work more effectively with light when taking photographs.
  • Identify and avoid common faults in photographs.


Photo Tips -Learn the Language of Photography

Start with the following terms:

ANGLE OF VIEW
The angle between outer edges of the image area as seen by the lens.

APERTURE
The opening in a lens through which light enters.

ASA
A number classification from the American Standards Association which represents how sensitive a particular film is to light

BACKLIGHT
Light coming from behind the subject being photographed.

BOUNCED LIGHT
Light from a flash or photographic lights bounced off the ceiling, wall, a screen, or a reflective umbrella, onto the subject.

COLOUR SATURATION
Purity or strength of colour.

COMPACT CAMERA
Small highly automated 35mm camera usually with auto focus, auto film winding and auto exposure. You just pick it up and shoot.

DEPTH OF FIELD
The area where you get sharp focus within the picture. The zone extends approx 1/3 in front and 2/3 behind the point of focus.

DIFFUSER
Translucent filter that can scatter light and produce a softer image.

DSLR
Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera

EXPOSURE
The product of the intensity of light reaching the film(controlled by aperture) and the length of time the light is allowed to act on the film (ie: shutter speed).

EXPOSURE LATITUDE
The degree of over or under exposure which a film will tolerate.

FAST FILM
Film which is highly sensitive to light (ie: ISO ratings of 400 or more)

FAST LENS
One which opens very wide, denoted by a low f number

FISHEYE LENS
Extremely wide angle lens with an angle of view approaching 180° and in some circumstances beyond, which creates a highly distorted picture. Depth of field here is almost infinite, so focusing is often not needed.

FLASH SYNCHRONISATION
A system which ensures a flash is triggered when the shutter is open.

FLOODLIGHT
A tungsten light with a dish shaped reflector, used in a studio to produce a wide beam of light.

f NUMBERS
Numbers on the aperture control ring, indicating size of aperture at different settings. Moving the control to the next lowest number doubles the aperture size and reduces the depth of field.

GRADE
System of numbers from 0 to 5 representing the contrast recording ability of black & white printing papers. Grade 0 has the greatest number of tones, and 5 has the least.

HOT SHOE
Part on top of camera which flash can be attached to, an electrical connection at the point of contact fires the flash in synchronisation with the camera.

INCIDENT LIGHT
The light falling on an object or scene, as distinct from reflected light.

INTERSECTION OF THIRDS
Rule where the picture is divided in thirds both horizontally and vertically. Objects positioned at the intersections of these lines become emphasised components of the photograph.

ISO
Number classification devised by the International Standards Organization
with same purpose as ASA. Does the same as ASA, and uses the equivalent numbers to ASA. For all intents and purposes, ASA = ISO.

LARGE FORMAT CAMERA
A type of camera, often used in the studio or perhaps for architectural photography, which photographs using individual pieces of film; typically 5x4 inches or 10x8 inches, rather than rolls or cassettes of film.

PANNING
Swinging the camera to follow a moving subject while shutter is opened.
Can produce a relatively sharp image of the moving object (eg: a racing horse) though the background may be blurred.

POINT OF FOCUS
The point which you focus onto in a picture.

REVERSAL FILM
Any film producing a direct positive image, also known as transparency or slide film

SENSITIVITY
Degree to which photographic emulsion is affected by light exposure.

SENSOR
Light sensitive digital device which replaces the film in a digital camera.

SHUTTER
A device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

SHUTTER SPEED
The length of time a shutter remains open allowing light to affect the film.

SLR (SINGLE LENS REFLEX)
Camera which uses a 45 degree mirror situated behind the lens to direct light from the lens onto the viewfinder. This way you see exactly the image which will be recorded when the shutter is opened.

STOP
Another term meaning aperture.

 

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