Photography History, Techniques, and Composition
History of Photography
- 1826: Joseph Niepce took the first photo, which required 8 hours of exposure.
- 1837: Daguerre fixed an image on silver-plated copper.
- 1840: Talbot developed the negative-to-positive process using photosensitive paper.
- 1851: Archer obtained copies on paper using a sensitized glass plate.
- 1994: Digital cameras began to be sold.
Physical Principles of Photography
Light affects materials, changing their image and color. To capture a clear image, light rays are converged using a lens. Light enters the camera through the lens and is recorded on a photosensitive film. Digital sensors now measure light as an electrical charge, converting it into pixels to create digital images. These digital photos are stored as data on a memory card.
Developing and Printing
Developing Negative Film: In a darkroom, the negative film is removed from the camera and placed in a container with developer and fixer liquids. After 15 minutes, the film is removed and dried, revealing the negative image.
Creating Positive Prints: The negative image is projected onto photographic paper using a bright light. The light passing through the negative darkens the paper, creating a positive image. The paper is then placed in a liquid to intensify the image, followed by a fixative, and then allowed to dry.
Digital photography has changed this process, with images stored in formats like JPEG, TIFF, or RAW.
Types and Functions of Photography
- Press and Documentary Photography: Provides information.
- Artistic Photography: Focuses on expressive, aesthetic, and creative aspects.
- Scientific and Industrial Photography: Serves informative, educational, or commercial purposes.
Cameras
Basic Operation: Light strikes the film, forming an image. Standard cameras have a single trigger, a viewfinder, and a flash. Digital cameras allow you to see the framed space, delete photos, and copy them to a computer for editing.
Basic Photography Tips
- Camera Shake: Hold the camera steady and gently press the trigger.
- Lighting: Position yourself with the light behind you.
- Subject Distance: Get closer to your subject, avoiding unnecessary space.
- Framing: Consider whether a horizontal or vertical frame is best.
- Figure and Ground: Aim for a smooth background.
- Contrast: Use light contrast effectively.
- Resolution and Formats: Use the highest resolution possible.
Composition and Characteristics
Several factors influence a photo’s composition:
- Frame: The way reality is framed through the camera’s viewfinder.
- Light: Creates environments and attracts attention.
- Hard Light: Creates strong shadows.
- Soft Light: Blurs edges.
- Direction: Lateral, vertical, or backlight.
- Tone: The difference between dark and light areas, creating contrast.
- Texture: The surface quality (polished, rough, etc.).
- Line: Provides structure and guides the viewer’s eye.
- Form: The main structure of the composition.
- Rhythm: Adds dynamism to the composition.
- Center of Interest: Focuses attention on a specific element.
- Color: Seek harmony in colors.
- Mindfulness: Capture unique moments.
- Rule of Thirds: Divide the viewfinder into thirds to highlight key elements at the intersection points.
Reflex Cameras
Reflex cameras allow you to see the exact image through the viewfinder. They also provide control over the light entering the lens and the shutter speed.
Elements of the Lens
- Focus ring
- Scale of distances
- Depth of field scale
- Aperture ring
Focusing
Focusing allows you to photograph objects at various distances and focus on specific areas.
Exposure Control
- Aperture: Controls the amount of light reaching the film. A wider aperture is better for darker objects and increases depth of field.
- Shutter: Controls the time the film is exposed to light. Slower speeds create blur.
- Aperture-Speed Combination: Ensures the film receives the correct amount of light, preventing over or underexposure.