Photography Basics

We begin with a light tight box to hold the film and carry it around from subject to subject.

The shutter controls when the light enters the camera and for how long it enters. A good camera will have some way of adjusting the time the shutter is open plus there has to be some type of release for the shutter.

The lens lets in light. The larger the lens the more light. The lens also effects how large the image appears based on the focal length of the lens.

The aperture is located in the lens and is a set of leaf like piece of metal that can change the size of the hole that lets in light. We consider the lens to be part of the shutter as we do not actually need a lens to focus an image if we have a small enough hole to let in the light.

In 1963, Kodak introduced the INSTAMATIC series of cameras. This series were the first cameras to utilize Kodak's then new 126 format film (an inexpensive, easy-to-load film cartridge). In February 1963, the first INSTAMATIC camera, INSTAMATIC 50 was launched in the UK. This model was soon followed by the US version, INSTAMATIC 100, which had a built-in 'peanut' flash. The INSTAMATIC series was an incredible success which later triggered the production of many imitations. Nevertheless, the inexpensive INSTAMATIC 50 compact point-and-shoot camera took the world by storm, even being given out along with SCOTT paper towels. This eventually led to a generation where everyone can 'shoot' and amateur casual photography became common; a clever business strategy to boost the sales of their 126 film. Shortly after, other big brothers of the photography industry started manufacturing their versions of the INSTAMATIC

Nothing ruins a nice photo faster than distracting elements in the background. Don't get so focused on the photo's subject that you ignore what else is going on around them. Watch out for poles, trees and power lines, and look all the way around the edges of the frame, asking “Is this what I really want in my photo?"

How you want people to view your picture determines what you do with the foreground and background. For example, zooming in, and choosing a large aperture setting, blurs the background while keeping your subject sharp. This is a pleasing effect for portraits. Conversely, zooming out to a wide angle setting, and choosing a small aperture, allow you to show the subject and their surroundings in more equal focus. Have your subject prominent in the foreground, and use the background to tell more about the subject or the environment.

Try kneeling, or even putting the camera on the ground. Climb a flight of stairs so you're higher than the subject you're photographing. Digital cameras with twist and tilt LCD screens are ideal for this. Changing angles provides a fresh perspective, and makes for a more dramatic photograph.

A winding path, a row of telephone poles or even a line of chairs at the beach can serve as elements in a good photo.

Interesting photos can be made of the waves and patterns created by drifting snow, a flock of birds flying in formation or pipes stacked at a construction site.

Look for texture in the wrinkles of a face or the bark of a tree. Hands can say a lot about a person. Pay attention to the details.

If you edit photos on your computer, you are no longer constrained by the standard 4 x 6-inch, 5 x 7, or 8 x 10 formats. Look at each photo carefully and think about what you really want people to see and react to, then crop everything else away. Try some unusual shapes, like wide horizontals or narrow verticals.

Remember: variety is the spice of photography. Composition is only limited by your imagination. Experiment, have fun, and keep learning!

Basic Mechanics of the Camera