This document provides an overview of a basic photography course offered at Ateneo de Davao University. The 4-week course will cover topics such as camera parts, lighting, composition, and safety tips. Students will complete readings, exercises, and photo assignments culminating in a final practical exam. The goal is to teach fundamental indoor and outdoor photography skills and provide students with a basic photography certificate upon completion. Students are expected to have a DSLR or SLR camera and related equipment for hands-on lessons and activities during the crash course.

1. MC310
Basic Photography
An Introduction
Mass Communications
Department
Ateneo de Davao University

2. Assignment
• http://eliab.tripod.com/photo
• Basicphoto.blogspot.com
– Just What is a Camera?
– The Equipment: Basic Camera Primer
– Brace Yourself: Steadying You and Your Gear
for Sharper Photos

3. Expecta(ons
• What motivated you to enroll this
course?
• What do you expect to learn from
this course?
• What are you worries in taking up
this course?

4. Basic Photography Class
•
•
•
•
•
•
Basic indoor and outdoor photography
Major survey of camera parts
Care and Safety: Tips on Camera First-Aid
Film Speed and ISO/ASA
Shutter Speed and Aperture
Light Meter, Lighting and Photocomposition

5. Basic Photography Sessions
• Four Weeks @ three (3) hours per week
• Crash Course for AdDU Staff and
Faculty
• Inclusion: lectures, workshops and
actual photoshoot/ presentation of
photos
• Earn a Basic Photography Certificate at
the end of Program

6. Coverage
•
•
•
•
•
Basic Indoor and Outdoor Photography
Major survey of camera parts
Care and Safety: Tips on Camera First-Aid
Film Speed and Aperture
Light Meter, Lighting and
Photocomposition

7. Basic
Equipment
• Basic Equipment: SLR or DLSR Camera
– Camera Body (with battery pack/ strap)
– Lens (at least a lens kit and cap)
– Camera Bag
– Tripod (optional)
– Flash (optional)
– Reflector (can be DYI)

8. Other
Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
Reading Materials
Exercises
Photo and Photo Exhibit/ Presentation
Photoshoot Activities in cluster/ group
Practical Examination

9. Point-and-Shoot Cameras
— Fixed Focus: generally five
feet (5 ft.) to infinity
— Fixed shutter speed:
typically 1/125th of a
second
— Fixed aperture: f/9.0
— Good only for outdoor
situations
— Secret of success is in the
film speed

10. Digital P/S Cameras
— Digital
P/S
a.k.a.
PhD
(push
here,
dummy)
— Features
include
op=cal
and
digital
zoom
— Movie
Mode
— Special
Image
Effects

11. Direct Optical Viewfinder
Camera with Direct Optical Viewfinder: In lens shutter
cameras, the viewfinder is separate from the camera lens. It
shows approximately the same image as the image on the film.
Digital PS may have indirect Optical Viewfinder.

12. Indirect Optical Viewfinder
Single
Lens
Reflex
(SLR)
Camera

13. Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)
Camera
— Use
of
pentaprism
— Manual
SeKngs
for
— Film
Speed
— ShuLer
Speed
— Aperture
— Interchangeable
lenses
— Faster
frame
rates,
less
shuLer
lag
and
faster
autofocus
system
— Larger
zoom
ranges
and
beLer
op=cs

14. Basic Camera Parts

15. Cross Section

16. Front View

17. Front View

18. Back View

19. Top View

20. Base View

21. Lens

22. Lens
Distance
Scale
Aperture/Distance
Scale
Index
Focusing
Ring
Aperture
Ring
Aperture
Direct
Readout
(ADR)
Scale
Aperture
Value

23. Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)
Camera

24. Basic Digital Camera Parts
1. Body of the Camera
1. Body - Made of high grade plastic or metal, this
holds all the other parts together as well as provide
protection to the delicate internal parts of the camera.

25. Basic Digital Camera Parts
2. Lens
2.
Lens
–
“Lens
Assembly”,
-­‐ -­‐
consists
of
several
layers
of
lenses
of
varying
proper=es
-­‐ providing
zoom,
focusing,
and
distor=on
correc=on
-­‐ mechanically
interconnected
and
adjustment
is
controlled
electronically
by
the
camera's
body

26. Basic Digital Camera Parts
3. Shutter Release Button
3. Shutter Release Button - This is the "trigger" of the
camera. In most cameras, a half-press activates and
locks the auto-focus, and a full press initiates the
image capturing process.

27. Basic Digital Camera Parts
4. Mode Dial
4. Mode Dial - Contains several symbols (slightly
different on various camera models), this dial allows
you to select a shooting mode, automatic or manual or
a choice between one of the pre-defined settings.

28. 5. Viewfinder
5. Viewfinder - A small viewing window; shows the image that
the camera's imaging sensor sees; an optical view finder, which
shows the actual image in front of the camera through a peep
hole or through mirrors, or an electronic view finder which is
simply a small LCD display

29. Basic Digital Camera Parts
6. Aperture Ring
6. Aperture Ring - Found around the old manual lens
of SLR camera this is used to select an aperture
opening. In modern lenses, the aperture is controlled
electronically through the body

30. Basic Digital Camera Parts
7. Focusing Ring
7. Focusing Ring - This can also be found around the
lens of a DSLR camera. This is turned to manually
focus the lens.

31. 8. LCD Display
8. LCD Display - In some compact cameras this acts as the
viewfinder. This is a small screen (usually 1.8" diagonally or
bigger) at the back of the camera which can be used for framing
or for reviewing the recorded pictures.

32. Basic Digital Camera Parts
9. Flash
9. Flash - Built-in on the body of most compact and
some DSLR cameras this can either be fixed or flip
type, it provides an instantaneous burst of bright light
to illuminate a poorly lit scene

33. 10. Control Buttons
10. Control Buttons - Usually includes a set of directional keys
and a few other buttons to activate certain functions and menus,
this is used to let users interact with the camera's computer
system.

34. 11. Power Switch
11. Power Switch - Turns On or Off the camera. This may also
contain a Record / Play Mode selector on some cameras.

35. 12. Zoom Control
12. Zoom Control - Usually marked with W and T, which stands
for "Wide" and "Tele" respectively, this is used to control the
camera's lenses to zoom-in or zoom-out. For DSLR cameras, the
zoom is usually controlled by a zoom ring in the lens.

36. 13. Battery Compartment
13. Battery Compartment - Holds the batteries. Depending on
the camera model, this varies in size and shape.

37. 14. Memory Card Slot
14. Memory Card Slot - This is where expansion memory cards
are inserted. The proper position of the card are often indicated.
A mechanical catch usually holds the card in place and a spring
helps it eject

38. 15. Flash Mount (Hot-Shoe)
15. Flash Mount (Hot-Shoe) - Standard holder with contact
plates for optional Flash accessory.

39. 16 Diopter Adjustment
16. Diopter Adjuster - Usually
available in mid to high end subcompact cameras and DSLRs
located besides the viewfinder. This
varies the focal length of the lens in
the viewfinder to make even people
wearing eyeglasses to see clearly
through it even without the
eyeglasses.

40. 17. Tripod Mount
17. Tripod Mount - Here is where your standard Tripod or
Monopod is attached for added stability.

41. 18. Light Meter
Light
meters:
• known
as
exposure
meters
• measure
how
much
light
is
available
in
the
environment
• to
find
out
how
long
the
camera
should
open
the
shuLer
for.
• complex
piece
of
equipment
which
considers
your
film
speed,
aperture
and
shuLer
speed.
•
All
of
this
informa=on
is
used
to
calculate
the
exposure
seKng

42. Light Meter in the DSLR
Viewfinder
with
Light
Meter/
Exposure
Index
Digital
Display

43. Light Meter: Standard Exposure

44. Exposure Level Indicator

45. Underexposed or Overexposed