THROUGH THE EYE OF THE CAMERA: LEARNING TO SEE AND SEEING TO LEARN
Purpose: To see the changes in film exposure in relation to Aperture (the Lens) and Shutter Speed (the Camera).
Objective: Change the Aperture of the lens without changing the shutter speed on the camera.
Background / Context
Part 1: The Lens
The camera helps us see that shapes, colors, sizes, and meanings change with viewpoint, light quality, distance, and intent. The lens of the camera is what you see through. The lens itself has a circle-shaped opening in a lens (a hole, really) through which light passes to strike the film. This know as the Aperture, which is the variable opening produced by the iris diaphragm through which light passes to the film plane. The Aperture’s iris diaphragm is adjustable, enabling it to be made wider or narrower, thereby letting in more or less light. The Aperture openings are measured in f/stops, which are notched on a ring of the lens (Figure 1).
The size of the Aperture is expressed as a number, like “8” or “11”, and is expressed like this: f / 8 or f / 11. These numbers are found at the rear of the Lens (Figure 1). The smaller the Aperture number, the opening of the Iris becomes wider to let in more light, much like you own eye. Conversely, the larger the Aperture number, the smaller the Iris becomes and less light comes through.
Part 2: The Camera
The camera coordinates the Aperture setting with the Shutter Speed. The Shutter Speed is how fast the camera's shutters open and determines how long the film is exposed. The Shutter Speed is represented by fractions of one second: 1/2, 1/4, 1/15. 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, etcetera (Figure 3).
Shutter Speeds
Aperture No.s
Exposure Meter
The Shutter Speed dial is either a knob on the top of the camera, or, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
Film Speed or ASA / ISO
The ASA (American Standards Association) and the ISO (International Standards Organization) is the number that represents the film's sensitivity to light. A higher ISO number indicates the film is more sensitive and requires less light for a proper exposure. This is adjusted (Figure 3) either on the Shutter Speed knob or through camera’s LCD.
Taking the “Normal” Picture
Aperture and Shutter Speed should be within a given light situation to take a “Normal” picture. This is done through an Exposure Meter. The Exposure Meter is a device used for measuring light, usually called a “Light Meter”. There are different ways in which this is illustrated within the camera.
Figure 4 is an example of what you would see through the Viewfinder of the camera.
Aperture No.s
Shutter Speeds
You will see the f-stop numbers, the Shutter Speeds, and or tic marks with a plus (+) or minus (-) sign on either side of a scale. This changes in different modes: authomatic, aperture priority, shutter priority, flash, etc. When the camera is set on Manual Mode, you will manipulate both the Aperture and the Shutter Speed in order to take that Normal picture. The Exposure Meter will tell you what the light situation is in a given environment. You must adjust either the Aperture and or the Shutter Speed.
Developing Your Skills
Your assignment is to discover how the Aperture and the Shutter Speed affect the exposure of the negative and the outcome of the photo image. You will be using a roll of Daylight Film that has an ASA/ISO of 100 or 125 with 24 exposures.
Follow these Steps
1. Prepare to develop the roll of film in the next class. You will then make a Proof Sheet from the negatives.
2. For this assignment only, place your camera on full Automatic.
3. For Automatic Cameras, you will make sure that the Camera Dial is placed on “Auto” or whatever is designated as the “automatic mode”. The Lens will be put on “AF”.
4. For Manual Cameras, place the Camera Dial on the Red Colored Shutter Speed Number. Put the Lens Dial on “AE” or whatever Shutter Speed is suppose to match the Red Colored Shutter Speed Number. In most cases, 1/125 is the shutter speed, or sometimes it is 1/60.
5. Shoot whatever subject matter you want. Have the film ready to be developed by next class.
Objective: Change the Aperture of the lens without changing the shutter speed on the camera.
Background / Context
Part 1: The Lens
The camera helps us see that shapes, colors, sizes, and meanings change with viewpoint, light quality, distance, and intent. The lens of the camera is what you see through. The lens itself has a circle-shaped opening in a lens (a hole, really) through which light passes to strike the film. This know as the Aperture, which is the variable opening produced by the iris diaphragm through which light passes to the film plane. The Aperture’s iris diaphragm is adjustable, enabling it to be made wider or narrower, thereby letting in more or less light. The Aperture openings are measured in f/stops, which are notched on a ring of the lens (Figure 1).
The size of the Aperture is expressed as a number, like “8” or “11”, and is expressed like this: f / 8 or f / 11. These numbers are found at the rear of the Lens (Figure 1). The smaller the Aperture number, the opening of the Iris becomes wider to let in more light, much like you own eye. Conversely, the larger the Aperture number, the smaller the Iris becomes and less light comes through.Part 2: The Camera
The camera coordinates the Aperture setting with the Shutter Speed. The Shutter Speed is how fast the camera's shutters open and determines how long the film is exposed. The Shutter Speed is represented by fractions of one second: 1/2, 1/4, 1/15. 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, etcetera (Figure 3).
Shutter Speeds
Aperture No.s
Exposure Meter
The Shutter Speed dial is either a knob on the top of the camera, or, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
Film Speed or ASA / ISO
The ASA (American Standards Association) and the ISO (International Standards Organization) is the number that represents the film's sensitivity to light. A higher ISO number indicates the film is more sensitive and requires less light for a proper exposure. This is adjusted (Figure 3) either on the Shutter Speed knob or through camera’s LCD.
Taking the “Normal” Picture
Aperture and Shutter Speed should be within a given light situation to take a “Normal” picture. This is done through an Exposure Meter. The Exposure Meter is a device used for measuring light, usually called a “Light Meter”. There are different ways in which this is illustrated within the camera.
Figure 4 is an example of what you would see through the Viewfinder of the camera.
Aperture No.s
Shutter Speeds
You will see the f-stop numbers, the Shutter Speeds, and or tic marks with a plus (+) or minus (-) sign on either side of a scale. This changes in different modes: authomatic, aperture priority, shutter priority, flash, etc. When the camera is set on Manual Mode, you will manipulate both the Aperture and the Shutter Speed in order to take that Normal picture. The Exposure Meter will tell you what the light situation is in a given environment. You must adjust either the Aperture and or the Shutter Speed.
Developing Your Skills
Your assignment is to discover how the Aperture and the Shutter Speed affect the exposure of the negative and the outcome of the photo image. You will be using a roll of Daylight Film that has an ASA/ISO of 100 or 125 with 24 exposures.
Follow these Steps
1. Prepare to develop the roll of film in the next class. You will then make a Proof Sheet from the negatives.
2. For this assignment only, place your camera on full Automatic.
3. For Automatic Cameras, you will make sure that the Camera Dial is placed on “Auto” or whatever is designated as the “automatic mode”. The Lens will be put on “AF”.
4. For Manual Cameras, place the Camera Dial on the Red Colored Shutter Speed Number. Put the Lens Dial on “AE” or whatever Shutter Speed is suppose to match the Red Colored Shutter Speed Number. In most cases, 1/125 is the shutter speed, or sometimes it is 1/60.
5. Shoot whatever subject matter you want. Have the film ready to be developed by next class.