UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production and technology (Print, Radio, TV) Week 2

1. UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production and technology (Print, Radio, TV) Week 2 Introduction to Photography

2. Aims • Develop knowledge and understanding of digital SLR cameras such as; type of DSLR cameras and different type of lenses. • Objectives • Display an understanding of how use of camera format and type of lens effect the image taken. • ‘Secret shopper’ task: conduct market research on the best deals on SLR cameras.

3. The fundamentals of digital photography ‘How equipment works’

4. Digital SLR cameras • D fro digital S for single L for lens R fro reflex. • DSLR is the most versatile kind of camera. • It provides precision when you need it and flexibility when you need to work quickly.

5. Compact cameras • Compact pocket size cameras are great for shooting subjects such as travel, people and landscapes. • They usually have limited manual settings for the precise control or shutter speed and aperture value. • Cheaper models employ tiny image sensors that create noisy, poor quality resolutions when compared to SLR cameras.

6. Medium format cameras • Medium format cameras are designed for professional use and are based on the medium format camera system. • Medium formats are used in advertising, fashion etc. Those cameras use large image sensors and can record the finest details on an image therefore images capable of grater enlargements. • Some of the well known makes are , ‘Hasselbland’‘Mamiya’, ‘Pentax’ etc.

7. Camera parts • There are 10 basic camera parts to identify in today’s digital world. Whether you have a digital compact or a digital SLR, these parts will inevitably be found on most cameras.

9. 10 basic camera parts • 1. Lens • The lens is one of the most vital parts of a camera. The light enters through the lens, and this is where the photo process begins. Lenses can be either fixed permanently to the body or interchangeable. They can also vary in focal length, aperture, and other details.

10. Aperture • 5. Aperture • The aperture affects the image’s exposure by changing the diameter of the lens opening, which controls the amount of light reaching the image sensor. Some digital compacts will have a fixed aperture lens, but most of today’s compact cameras have at least a small aperture range. This range will be expressed in f/stops. For DSLRs, the lens will vary on f/stop limits, but it is usually easily defined by reading the side of the lens.  There will be a set of numbers stating the f/stop or f/stop range, ex: f/2.8 or f/3.5-5.6. This will be your lowest settings available with that lens.

11. Lenses • ‘If you understand how a lens work, you will take much better photographs and be able to pre- visualize the result before pressing the shutter’ Andreas Feininger • Lenses are primarily bought for their focal length, described in a single measurement such as 28 mm or as a range such as 18 – 85mm – zoom lens. • Focal lens tells you how wide or narrow a scene you can capture. • The lens closest to simulating our own human angle of vision is called a standard lens and is focal length of 50mm.

12. Focal length • The amount of scene you can see through your lens is described by its focal length. • A telephoto lens is a useful tool for making far away subjects bigger in the frame, much like a telescope does.

13. Lenses Aperture, F number and stop • Inside the lens is the aperture diaphragm, which is used to regulate how much light passes on to the sensor. • Like the pupil in our eye, bigger apertures are used to let in more light in dim conditions and smaller apertures let in less when it is too bright.

14. Aperture values are described in F numbers, such as: f2.8 and f16 and are always arranged in the same numerical sequence: 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and 22. • If you increase the aperture value by one step along this sequence the amount of light hitting the sensor is doubled.

15. Lenses with maximum aperture of f1.8 or f2.8 are known as ‘fast’ lenses, as they allow in more light in dimmer conditions. • F number also influences your depth of field.

16. Type of lenses and their use • The prime lens • Prime lenses have fixed focal length, such as 35mm, 50mm or 300mm and usually have wide and fast maximum aperture. • Prime /fixed lenses capture the finest subject detail of all camera lenses. Image taken with 50 mm prime lens

17. Widen angle lens • Widen angle lens have the visual effect of pushing a subject away from you and can be a very effective way to make graphic and dynamic images. • 20 mm wide angle lens Fish eye lens

18. The telephoto lens • The telephoto lens can be described as anything with a focal length grater than a standard lens. • A telephoto lens is most useful for shooting distance subjects and cropping out unwanted peripheral details. • Also very useful for portrait photography as it creates less distortion than the wide angle lens.

19. The zoom lens • Zoom are multipurpose lenses that are designed with a variable focal length such as 28 – 70 mm. • A zoom lens lets a photographer to have a freedom to frame subject matter at different distances without altering shooting position.

20. Micro or close up lens • Micro is another word for close up photography. • Micro lens lets you get close to small objects like flowers or insects.

21. Viewfinder • 2. Viewfinder  • The viewfinder can be found on all DSLRs and some models of digital compacts. On DSLRs, it will be the main visual source for image-taking, but many of today’s digital compacts have replaced the typical viewfinder with an LCD screen. 

22. Camera body • 3. Body  • The body is the main portion of the camera, and bodies can be a number of different shapes and sizes. DSLRs tend to be larger bodied and a bit heavier, while there are other consumer cameras that are a conveniently smaller size and even able to fit into a pocket.

23. Shutter release • 4. Shutter Release • The shutter release button is the mechanism that “releases” the shutter and therefore enables the ability to capture the image. The length of time the shutter is left open or “exposed” is determined by the shutter speed.

24. Image sensor and memory card • 6. Image Sensor • The image sensor converts the optical image to an electronic signal, which is then sent to your memory card.  • 7. Memory Card • The memory card stores all of the image information, and they range in size and speed capacity. The main types of memory cards available are CF and SD cards, and cameras vary on which type that they require.

25. Storing and archiving images • Start by creating single folder or directory on your chosen storage devise where all your images are kept. • Next, create a new empty folder for each shoot. • Name your files by location or event followed by date of shoot. • Once created, transfer your files from your DSLR camera.

26. LCD Screen • 8. LCD Screen • The LCD screen is found on the back of the body and can vary in size. On digital compact cameras, the LCD has typically begun to replace the viewfinder completely. On DSLRs, the LCD is mainly for viewing photos after shooting, but some cameras do have a “live mode” as well.

27. Flash • 9. Flash • The on-board flash will be available on all cameras except some professional grade DSLRs. It can sometimes be useful to provide a bit of extra light during dim, low light situations.

28. User Control • 10. User Controls • The controls on each camera will vary depending on the model and type. Your basic digital compacts may only have auto settings that can be used for different environments, while a DSLR will have numerous controls for auto and manual shooting along with custom settings. 

29. User buttons at the back of the camera

30. User buttons at the front of the camera

31. ‘Secret shopper’ task • Conduct market research to find out the best deal on: Digital cameras and their best performance and price. • DSLR camera • Compact camera • Medium format camera • Write a report on your research findings.