Still Photography

1. Still Photography
“The art or process of producing images by
the action of radiant energy and especially
light on a sensitive surface (such as film or
an optical sensor).”

2. Lens
Iris
Shutter
Image Sensor The Imaging Chain

3. Snapping a Picture
● You adjust the lens of the camera to focus the light bouncing off the subject.
The iris controls the amount of light passing through the lens.
● When you press the shutter release, the shutter opens for the amount of time
you’ve set, allowing the light to hit an image sensor that records the image.

4. Lens
Integrated
optical system
made up of one
or more
individual
elements of
ground glass or
molded plastic

5. Lenses
Prime Lenses Zoom Lenses
● Have a single focal
length
● Also called fixed focal-
length lenses
● Can be adjusted to
any focal length
within a set optical
range
● Also called variable
focal-length lens.

6. Iris
Adjustable plastic
or metal
diaphragm that
regulates the
amount of light
striking the image
sensor

7. Shutter
A movable
curtain, plate, or
other device that
controls the
amount of time
the image sensor
is exposed to
light.
Click image to play video

8. Image Sensor
Captures light
and converts it
into a digital
signal.

9. The Exposure Triangle
There are three factors that you must consider when manually exposing your
photographs. If you change one, it affects the other two settings.
ISO
Shutter Speed Aperture

10. ● How sensitive the digital sensor is to light.
● A higher number is a “faster” ISO as it is more sensitive to light than a lower
number.
● HOWEVER, there is a tradeoff when using faster ISO. Though it allows you to
take a picture with less light, the end result will look grainier.
ISO Speed

12. ● Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter is open when you
take a picture.
● The longer the shutter is open, the more light that reaches the
digital sensor.
● A fast shutter speed can capture action, while a shutter speed
slower than 1/60th of a second will produce blur if any part of
your subject is moving.
Shutter Speed

13. Click image to play video

14. Slow Shutter Speed

15. Fast Shutter Speed

16. Aperture (f-stop)
Controls the amount of light
passing through the
camera lens. The size of
the opening is measured in
f-stops.
Smaller f-stop = larger
opening
Each f-stop lets in ½ the
amount of light as the
number below it, and twice
as much light as the
number above it.
Affects depth of field.

17. Depth of Field
● Refers to the amount of picture that is in focus.
○ Shallow depth of field has a small range of focus
○ Larger depth of field has a wide range of focus
● Is determined partly by the aperture setting.
○ The smaller the aperture, the larger the depth of field.

18. Small f-stop = Shallow Depth of Field

19. Large f-stop = Deep Depth of Field

20. Click image to play video

21. Exposure
Triangle Cheat
Sheet

22. Overexposed
Why might the
photo be
overexposed?
Aperture is open too
wide
Shutter is open too
long
ISO is too fast
OR any combination of
the above

23. Underexposed
Why might the
photo be
underexposed?
Aperture is not open
wide enough
Shutter is not open
long enough
ISO is too slow
OR any combination of
the above

24. Correct Exposure