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Photography Basics: Camera Controls

This document provides an introduction and overview of basic photography concepts and camera controls for a beginning photography course. It outlines different types of photographs, assumptions about the students' camera experience, and an overview of the key controls including focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, and lens selection. The controls determine creative choices around depth of field, movement, and low light capabilities. The next session will be a practical workshop to apply the concepts covered.

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660 views1 page

Photography Basics: Camera Controls

This document provides an introduction and overview of basic photography concepts and camera controls for a beginning photography course. It outlines different types of photographs, assumptions about the students' camera experience, and an overview of the key controls including focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, and lens selection. The controls determine creative choices around depth of field, movement, and low light capabilities. The next session will be a practical workshop to apply the concepts covered.

Uploaded by

peterblaise
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Photography Course Notes for Lesson 1

Camera controls and basic concepts


Course assumptions...
 you have your own camera and you are familiar with its basic controls
 you have tried to read the manual (but don't worry if you haven't, or can't)
 you want to learn how to make better photographs

What type of photographs do you want to make?


 "Snapshots" - family, holiday, etc for personal interest; any camera is suitable "the best camera is the one that's with
you" (e.g. iPhone)
 Record or documentation - people, places, events, etc for general interest better results are obtained from better
cameras
 Personal expression (art, exhibition, competition, profession?) - any subject; people, places, things best results
require "serious" cameras (e.g. DSLR)

Know your camera...


 All cameras have limitations. If you know the limitations of your camera you can work around them.

Your camera's controls = your creative choices

Focus - you can choose how and where to focus


 most digital cameras provide autofocus and manual focus

Shutter speed - you can choose whether or not to show movement


 faster shutter speed = shorter time (e.g. 1/2000s) → allows moving subjects to be "frozen"
 slower shutter speed = longer time (e.g. l/2s) → allows moving subjects to be blurred
 slower shutter speeds increase likelihood of unintentional camera movement causing blurry images

Aperture - you can choose how much of the image is in focus


 large aperture = small number (e.g. f/4) → shallower depth of field (blurry background)
 small aperture = large number (e.g. f/22) → greater depth of field (whole image is sharp)

ISO speed - you can choose to make images in low light without using flash
 numerical indication of sensitivity to light ("the digital equivalent of film speed")
 larger numbers indicate greater sensitivity (typical values are 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600)
 as available light decreases, increase ISO speed to compensate, instead of using flash

Lens selection - you can choose how much of a scene/subject to include


 lenses are typically classified by their focal length (expressed in millimetres, e.g. 18-55mm)
 shorter focal length = wider angle of view; longer focal length = narrower angle of view
 the narrower angle of view, the greater the magnification (hence "zoom in on the subject")

"It’s not the camera, it’s the photographer."

Next session: Sunday, 8 February, 9.30 a.m. Practical workshop at MCC to review topics covered in this lesson.

30 Jan 2015

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