Photography 101
Time
8.3 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Prerequisites
Multimedia Basics
Departments
Human Technologies
Authors
Damian Loh
Ross Parker
Ross Parker
Groupings
Individual
Pairs
Pairs
Minimum Year Group
None
Blurb
Want to take better photos? Learn how SLR and DSLR cameras work, as well as how to improve your images using Acorn, in this hands on unit, which complements visual literacy lessons learned in DCVT.
License
This work is shared under the following license: Creative Commons BY-SA-NC
Outline
| The Pitch Why should I bother learning this?
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| Resources What is needed to run this unit?
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Interdisciplinary Links Do not try and force this. What areas of other subjects might this reflect and/discuss language. For IB, links with ToK.
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| Teacher Reflection What was successful? What needs changing? Alternative Assessments and Lesson Ideas? What other Differentiation Ideas/Plans could be used?
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| Credits Any CC attribution, thanks, credit, etc.
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5 mins
Want To Take Better Photos?
The Pitch
- Learn how cameras work, and how you can use them, and photo editing software to your advantage.
- In this unit you will have the opportunity to spend some time learning about the basics of photography in the field.
- You will spend a lot of time out of class, in which time you must conduct yourself appropriately, using your time wisely.
- You will also get to practice your creativity and photography skills.
- If you are looking to purchase a camera in the future, then this is also the place for you!
10 mins
Setup & Getting Started
Gear Up!
- If you have a camera, use it. However, if you don’t, you may loan a camera from school or use your phone.
- You may use your tripod or accessories if you wish.
- Do NOT buy a camera just for this unit: if you are keen to become a photographer, wait until after the unit, as you'll have learned a lot.
- A big camera doesn’t mean it’s good.
- For example, mirrorless cameras are very compact compared to traditional DSLR cameras,
- Now, let’s have fun!
75 mins
Camera Basics
Stuff You Need To Know
- A camera is a device that can capture an image, in the form of light, and store it for future use.
- Camera's come in many different forms, but mostly work in similar ways.
- Let's consider some basic definitions:
- Focal point: the center of the in-focus items in the camera's frame (e.g. the items in the image that are not blurry)
- ISO: camera’s light sensitivity.
- Lower value (e.g. 100) requires less to take a photo
- Higher value (e.g. 1600) can shoot in low light, but images will be more grainy
- Lower value (e.g. 100) requires less to take a photo
- Aperture (aka F/STOP): the size of the opening in your lens.
- Lower F/STOP: bigger aperture, lets in more Light
- Higher F/STOP: smaller aperture, lets in less Light
- Aperture also controls depth of field (e.g. how deep the focal point is):
- Low F/STOP: shorter depth of field (e.g. more contrast between in-focus and out-of-focus elements). Better for artistic shots.
- High F/STOP: longer depth of field. Better for informative shots.
- Low F/STOP: shorter depth of field (e.g. more contrast between in-focus and out-of-focus elements). Better for artistic shots.
- Shutter Speed: the amount the time of the shutter is open for when taking a phot.
- Faster Speed: less motion blur, useful when you want to have a clear sharp photo that freezes the object while moving, such as sports photography or a dog running. E.g. 1/10 second.
- Slower speed: useful for low light, when you have a tripod or getting really cool star shots. E.g. 1” 2” 4” 5” and bulb mode.
- Please watch the videos below to lean more about these concepts:
- Finally, ask your teacher for the Pentax ME camera (c. 1970), which allows us to explore how the camera works. Ask your teacher to explain the following:
- Light sensitivity (aka ISO)
- Aperature size
- Shutter speed
- Focal point
- Depth of field
20 mins
Simulated Shooting
Virtual Hands On
- In order to improve your understanding of the relationships between the various camera controls, you might want to spend some time using this camera simulation to play around and see what does what.
80 mins
Shooting On Film
Hands On
- The Pentax ME is quite temperamental and hard to use: it is only semi-automatic, and its mechanisms are quite old. We could shoot with it, but it is tough. Remember, it is over 40 years old.
- Instead, start with one of the school's more modern film SLRs, which your teacher can provide you with.
- Before you start, find the camera's manual online, and learn about some of its settings and controls.
- Get a roll of film for the camera, load it, set if the ISO speed (if needed), and start shooting.
- Your film probably has 36 exposures, meaning you can only take 36 photos. Shoot slowly and deliberately, planning each shot.
- Remember, you cannot review your photos after shooting, and will need to wait until you finish the roll and get it developed before you can see the result. This slowness is one of the joys of shooting on film, but it might take you a while to get used it.
- If you get some good results with this camera, then perhaps you might be interested in trying the Pentax ME.
70 mins
Shooting Digital
Hands On
- A digital SLR (DSLR) works much the same as an SLR, but captures on a sensor. You can still control the aperture, shutter speed, simulated ISO, focal point and depth of field.
- Take one of the school's DSLR cameras, and spend some time shooting images.
- Think about how the process is different from using a film SLR.
140 mins
Editing In Acorn
Hands On
- Taking a good photo is only part of the job of a modern day photographer. Much can be achieved by using software to edit the photo. Take for example the image below: the original at the top is washed out, and has been enhanced in the second image, using Acorn:
- From an information literacy point of view, this raises interesting questions about what we can trust (try the Information Literacy unit if this interests you). You didn't really think all those gorgeous models were so perfect did you?:
- With that said, used responsibly, photo editing can be fun and rewarding. Take some of your images, and apply some of the following Acorn tutorials to them to see what you can do to improve them. Make sure to keep your original images, and use Save As to create new files for your edited work: this will allow you to do "before and after" comparisons to show your work.
70 mins
Present & Submit
Finishing Up
- By now you should have a collection of digital images (you can scan some of your film ones if you want to include those).
- Take some time to upload your best photos to a document or slideshow.
- Include some before and after images to show your digital editing skills.
- Add captions to explain the shot and camera and techniques used.
- Once your gallery is ready, submit the link to Gibbon as evidence of your learning.
30 mins
Purchasing A Camera
Optional!
- If you've enjoyed this unit, and want to grow your skills further, buying your own camera is a good step. To that end you might want to be aware of the different types of cameras, as shown below:
- Mirrorless Camera
- Smaller, light weight, compact
- No flickering mirror means no shakes.
- Electronic Viewfinder
- Most of the models are expensive.
- Interchangeable lenses
- Lower Battery Life (Not a big deal)
- Fewer lenses available
- Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) Camera
- Biggest and bulkiest camera of all types.
- A mirror inside the sensor compartment.
- Can be affordable, depending on your budget
- Optical Viewfinder
- Interchangeable lens.
- Variety of camera body types and lenses.
- Being replaced by mirrorless cameras as technology advances.
- Bridge Camera
- Comes with a non-interchangeable lens.
- Fixed lens has a large focal length. (Zoom)
- The quality isn’t exactly the same with a mirrorless camera or DSLR.
- Compact Camera
- Most affordable, compact and light, user-friendly.
- No extra lens required.
- Limited Aperture & zoom range
- Small Sensor means more informational noise in photos (e.g. lower quality)
- Mirrorless Camera
- The following video is full of useful advice:
Links
- camera simulation
- Background Blur Filter
- Black & White
- Changing Colors
- Color Correction
- Fade Out Techniques
- HDR Effect
- Color Correcting Part 2
- Lighten or Darken
- Restoring and Coloring Old Photos
- Retouching a Portrait
- Soft Lighting
- Straighten a Crooked Photo
- Clone Tool
Images
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