Professional Diploma in

PHOTOGRAPHY

SUMMARY NOTES
What Is Photography?
MODULE 1

THIS FIRST
LESSON EXPLORES
PHOTOGRAPHIC
STYLES AND HOW
THEY ARE USED
AS FORMS OF
COMMUNICATION.

1.01
THIS LESSON
ALSO EXPLAINS What is an exposure?
THE PROCESS

1.02
OF CAPTURING
AND RECORDING. Camera Types
UNDERSTANDING

1.03
THE CONCEPT
OF EXPOSURE, What Is Your Style?
IS ESSENTIAL TO

1.04
YOUR ABILITY TO
CAPTURE THE SCENE, Tips To Get Started
THE WAY YOU SEE
IT. FINALLY WE
TAKE LOOK AT THE
VARIOUS TYPES OF
CAMERAS CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE AND WHY
YOU WOULD USE ONE
OVER THE OTHER.

LESSON 1
 1.01
What Is Photography?

WHAT IS EXPOSURE?
On earth the primary source of light is from the sun, otherwise artificial light
provides a source of light or us. But most objects around us do not emit light
and do not have their own natural light source. The way that light allows us
to see, is that all objects actually reflect light. Even the blackest object on
the planet reflects some amount of light therefore allowing us to see them.
So what’s actually happening is that light from sun or some article source is
emitting light, its bouncing off or reflecting off objects and then enters our
eyes allowing us to see.
The pupils in our eyes controls the flow of light entering our eyes. They can
opened to a large size and closed down quite small , or essentially get bigger
or smaller to restrict light or allow more light in depending on the lighting
conditions we are in.
Too much light and we will be blinded by the objects, they will be too bright
and we won’t be able to see them. Too little light and objects will be too dark
and we won’t be able to see them properly. This is essentially exposure. Our
eyes need a certain pupil size or setting in order for our vision to be correctly
exposed for the scene we are looking at. Too much light and our vision will
be over exposed. Too little light and our vision will under exposed.

Exposure works the same way in our photography. The digital sensor, which
captures and records our images is light sensitive. Light entering the camera
forms an image on the sensor, if we do not control the light entering the
cameras our images will either become too bright or too dark. Too much light
hitting the sensor and the image becomes over exposed. Not enough light
and the image will be under exposed. What we want to achieve is the right
level of brightness to replicate the scene as saw it. We refer to this as correct
exposure.
 1.01
Module 1 - Lesson 1

The Exposure Triangle

To obtain correct exposure we must use 3
different functions and consider 3 different
options. In Auto Mode the camera will control
these settings for us.

Light - Aperture
We control the Volume of light using the camera’s
Aperture.

Time - Shutter Speed

We control the amount of Time that light is let in
by setting shutter speed.

Sensitivity - ISO
We can increase or decrease the camera’s
sensitivity to the light by altering ISO.
1.02
What Is Photography?

CAMERA TYPES

The word camera comes from camera obscura, which means

“dark chamber” and is the Latin name of the original device
for projecting an image of external reality onto a flat surface.
The modern photographic camera evolved from the camera
obscura.
“All cameras The functioning of the camera is very similar to the functioning
of the human eye. All cameras use the same basic design: light
use the same enters an enclosed box through a converging/convex lens and
basic design: an image is recorded on a light-sensitive medium. A shutter
light enters mechanism controls the length of time that light can enter the
camera.
an enclosed Most photographic cameras have functions that allow a person
box through to view the scene to be recorded, allow for a desired part of
a converging/ the scene to be in focus, and to control the exposure so that it
convex lens is not too bright or too dim.
As technology has advanced we now have a range of different
and an image is Camera types, each with its own functions and uses.
recorded on a
light-sensitive • Smart Phone Camera
medium” • Compact (Point & Shoot) Camera
• Bridge Camera
• Mirrorless Camera
• Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)
• Medium Format
 1.02
Module 1 - Lesson 1

Smart Phone Camera

A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture photographs. Most camera
phones are simpler than separate digital cameras. Their usual fixed-focus lenses and
smaller sensors limit their performance in poor lighting. The principal advantages of
camera phones are convenience, ease of use and compactness.

• Small & Portable

• Lots of Useful Apps
• Instant Sharing
• Limited Control
• Lower Quality Images
• Can Be Very Expensive
1.02
What Is Photography?

Compact Camera

A point-and-shoot camera, also known as compact camera, is a still camera designed

primarily for simple operation. Most use focus free lenses or auto-focus for focusing,
automatic systems for setting the exposure options, and have flash units built in.
Point-and-shoots are by far the best selling type of separate camera.

• Small and portable

• Fast and easy to use
• Zoom lenses offer options
• Small image sensors
• Variety of shooting modes
• Can be expensive
 1.02
Module 1 - Lesson 1

Bridge Camera

Bridge cameras are cameras that fill the niche between the single-lens reflex cameras
(SLRs) and the point-and-shoot camera. The term “bridge camera” was originally used
to refer to film cameras which “bridged the gap” between point-and-shoot cameras
and SLRs. Like other cameras, most current bridge cameras are digital.

• Larger size
• Very convenient for travel
• Great for budding photogra-
phers
• Offer more control over com-
pacts and phones
• Enormous zoom ranges
• Lens cannot be changed
• Limited in quality compared
to DSLRs
1.02
What Is Photography?

Mirrorless Camera

A mirrorless interchangeable lens camera features a single, removable lens and uses a
digital display system rather than an optical viewfinder. The word “mirrorless” indicates
that the camera does not have an optical mirror.

• Interchangeable Lens

• Small Size

• Full Control

• Lots of Functions & Modes

• Expensive

• Less Durable
•
• Range of Available Lens
 1.02
Module 1 - Lesson 1

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)

A digital single-lens reflex camera is a digital camera that combines the optics and the
mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor, as opposed to
photographic film. The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a DSLR
and other digital cameras. In the reflex design, light travels through the lens, then to a
mirror that alternates to send the image to the viewfinder or the image sensor.

• Full Control

• Range of Lens Available

• Wide price Range

• Professional Quality

• Knowledge Needed

• Heavier Camera

• Can Be Very Expensive

1.02
What Is Photography?

Medium Format

In digital photography, medium format refers either to cameras adapted from medium-
format film photography uses or to cameras making use of sensors larger than that
of a 35 mm film frame. Often, medium-format film cameras can be retrofitted with
digital camera backs, converting them to digital cameras.

• High Quality Photos

• Large Image Sensors

• High Quality Lens

• Very Expensive

• Challenging to Use

• Cumbersome
 1.03
Module 1 - Lesson 1

WHATS YOUR STYLE?

Landscapes
Landscape photography illustrates the beauty of a natural world. Landscape it is
not always filled with mountains, lakes and trees but can be Urban set.

Portraits
Portraiture refers to photographing a person or group of people to capture their
expression, personality and mood. Typically but not always the face is usually the
focus of the image.
Sports & Action
Location is often important for sports photography. At big events, professional
photographers often shoot from VIP spots with the best views, usually as close to
the action as possible
Wildlife
Wildlife photography is a genre of photography concerned with documenting
various forms of wildlife in their natural habitat.

Product & Food

Food photography is a style of photography aimed at capturing images of food in
a creative, attractive and interesting way.

Family, Newborn & Pets

The style revolves around shooting People bets or newborns and is very popular.
It can include techniques from Portraiture.

Photo Journalism
Photojournalism is similar to documentary photography in that you are
usually highlighting a particular subject or issue. However the difference with
photojournalism is that the subject you are photographing is a current event.
1.03
What Is Photography?
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 1.04
Module 1 - Lesson 1

TIPS TO GET STARTED

Tripods
One of the best investments you can make is a solid tripod. A good tripod will last
a long time. Be sure to try before you buy.

Manual Focus
Auto focus systems have advanced but can still get it wrong. They can be noisy or
slow. Manual focus allows for greater control and seamless focus changes.

Focus on the Eyes

We make connections through the eye contact, this is were the view looks first.
Always take care to ensure that the eyes are sharp.

Angles
Don’t just shoot from eye level. Mix it up with angles to keep your viewer engaged
and tell your story in an interesting and unique way.

Enjoy
Experiment with your photography. Photograph new subjects. Take your time and
keep learning and improving. Share your photos and don’t be hard on yourself.

The word “photography” was created from the

Greek word (phōtos) meaning “light“ and (graphé)
meaning drawing”, together meaning “drawing or
painting with light”.
What Is Photography?
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