The Beginner's Guide to Photography

1. Explain the “camera obscura” effect. How is it achieved? The effect came to be known as the "camera obscura" which is Latin for "dark room". This was the first camera. The hole acted like a lens, focusing and projecting light onto the wall of the dark chamber.

2. What invention during the 17th Century helped man get a step closer to creating the modern camera?In the 17th century, the modern camera came one step closer when Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens perfected the understanding of optics and the process of making high quality glass lenses

3. What were the parts of the first modern camera invented by Niepce? A glass lens, a dark box, and film. 

4.What do modern digital cameras have in common with Niepce’s camera?Light passes through the lens, into the camera, and exposes the film. And guess what? The end result is still a photograph.

5. What do digital cameras use to capture an image?A digital camera is still composed of a lens, a dark box, and film.

6. What is the difference between the Auto Mode and the Program mode?

Auto The camera will completely control flash and exposure. On most cameras this is labelled "auto", on others simply "A". Some cameras only have (P)program.

Program automatic-assist, just point and shoot. Unlike full auto mode, you can usually control flash and a few other camera settings.

7. What is the Portrait mode used for? How does it work?. To attempt to blur out the background, camera will try to use the fastest available lens setting (aperture).

8.What is the Sports mode used for? (not just sports) How does it work? To freeze motion, camera will use the highest shutter speed possible.

9. Why should you do a half press on the trigger button?A half-press will tell the camera that you're almost ready to take a shot and to be prepared.

10. What does this symbol mean? No flash. There are many cases where you may not want flash at all. The mood of the photograph can sometimes be more dramatic when the natural light is used.

11.What does this symbol mean?In most camera modes, Auto-flash is enabled by default and will automatically fire if the camera thinks it needs more light.

12. What happens to your photo if there is too much light? Too much light and the picture will be washed out. 

13. What happens to your photo if there is not enough light?Not enough light and the picture will be too dark

14. What is a “stop.” The term "stop" is used in every aspect of photography to represent a relative change in the brightness of light.

15. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are two sons instead of one? 4

16. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are four sons instead of two? +3 

17. What affect does a longer shutter speed of have?Longer shutter speeds = more light

18. What affect does a shorter shutter speed have?Shorter shutter speeds = less light

19. What does the aperture control?You can control the aperture by setting the "Aperture Opening", also known as an F-Stop.

moving from f16 to f8 is: moving from f16 to f8 is: 

20. When adjusting the aperture, how can you increase the amount of light? Moving from f16 to f8 is :

Two stops brighter.