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LUCRARE DE ATESTAT
LIMBA ENGLEZĂ

MAYBE ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT

PHOTOGRAPHY

Candidat: Ionașcu Radu Mihai

Clasa a XII-a E
Științe Sociale
Bilingv limba Engleză
Profesor coordonator: Nicoleta Ilona Terescenco

Sesiunea mai 2021

 Table of Contents:
I. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………… 3
II. THE EVOLUTION OF PHOTOGHRAPHY THROUGH DIFFFERENT
DECADES ……………………………………………………………………….. 4
III. HOW DOES A CAMERA WORK IN OUR DAYS ………………………… 6
IV. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY…………………………... 8
 Landscape……………………………………………………………….. 8
 Fashion………………………………………………………………….. 9
 Fine Art………………………………………………………………… 10
 Portraiture……………………………………………………………… 10
 Wildlife………………………………………………………………… 11
 Wedding………………………………………………………………... 11
 Macro……………………………………………………………………12
 Photojournalism…………………………………………………………12
 Architectural…………………………………………………………….13
 Black and White………………………………………………………...13

V. HOW TO TELL A STORY WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS……………….14

VI. CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………. 16
VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………..17

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 I. Introduction
MOTTO: “A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into” - Ansel Adams

The subject of this paper is photography and its inexistent boundaries, as

well as some history about photography. I am a young man passionate about
photography, because I simply love the idea of capturing a certain point in
existence and making it eternal. I love composing different contexts, telling a story
with the objects and people I photograph, as well as understanding the way a
camera works. I really hope I can make a career out of this passion even though I
am aware of the fact that this goal is quite hard to reach.
I am going to focus on different aspects of photography such as some
history, the components of a camera and how they work, as well as how to tell
stories and find innovative ideas. I intend to let you know as much as I can about
photography because I think most of the people don’t know anything about this
form of so called “art”. Most of us just glance at photos and don’t really get into
the meaning and the message a photograph tries to send. Through this paper I am
going to take you in a trip from which I hope you will get to learn some useful
information.
Photography in particular has arguably been one of the most revolutionary
additions to the advancement of human artistic expression since the days of the
Renaissance when great artisans gave us names for the Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles. And yet, seldom do we reflect on just how fantastically the evolution of
the photographic medium has progressed in our modern time. Our condition as
humans (debatable) often numbs us to just how fortunate we are as photographers
to reap the benefits of over two centuries of influence and knowledge passed down
by those who have clicked the shutter before us. This slip mindedness is
completely
unintentional and comes all too often from an affliction of convenience.
And yet, seldom do we reflect on just how fantastically the evolution of the
photographic medium has progressed in our modern time. Our condition as
humans

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(debatable) often numbs us to just how fortunate we are as photographers to reap
the benefits of over two centuries of influence and knowledge passed down by
those who have clicked the shutter before us. This slip mindedness is completely
unintentional and comes all too often from an affliction of convenience.
Our cell phones are now packing image making tools that surpass the
technology of most digital cameras from fifteen years ago. I chose the words for
that last sentence very carefully. Notice I said “tools” instead of “ability”. Can we
honestly say that having more refined tools of the trade makes us more capable of
consistently producing better photographs? To what end are we heading? What
comes next?

II. THE EVOLUTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGH

DIFFERENT DECADES

Until... about 190 years ago, when Joseph Nicephore Niepce took what is
thought to be the oldest remaining snapshot from the window of his estate in Le
Gras, Burgundy, France. In a moment, we'll go over Joe in greater depth. However,
the origins of photography can be traced back much further... much, much, much
further. It's a different millennium we're talking about.

Let me pause for a moment to acknowledge that, as with many monumental

discoveries and inventions, there have been protests and controversies surrounding
some of the events that will be recounted here. Nonetheless, I will always do my
best to mention all parties involved in order to give credit where credit is due.

It all started in China, most likely with a frighteningly simple device known as a
"camera obscura." Its name derives from Latin and means "dark chamber". We can
find references to this device as far back as the fourth century BCE. A camera
obscura is a box of virtually any size with a small diameter hole in one side that
allows light to pass through.

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 As simple as that may sound, the principle of the camera obscura is still present
in every camera in use today. Light enters a light-proof device (the camera) via an
opening (lens, aperture) and produces an image. The only thing that has changed is
the shape of the light-proof devices and how the image is recorded.

Let's go back about 2,200 years. It's around 1826, and we're back with Joseph
Nicephore Niepce. He's looking out his window, about to take a photograph... or,
more precisely, a heliograph.

This was around the time Niepce took what is thought to be the oldest surviving
photograph from a window on his estate in Le Gras, Burgundy, France. Mr. Niepce
created a small piece of polished pewter that he then coated with a bitumen and
lavender oil solution. Bitumen is a naturally occurring asphalt that is also known as
Judean Bitumen, which is known to be sensitive to light.
As a result, the polished pewter with bitumen emulsion remained in Joe's
camera obscura for an unknown amount of time, ranging from eight hours to
several days. This is what happened as a result:

The discovery that by applying mercury fumes to the exposed silver plate, he
could actually make the "latent" image visible on the plate, thus reducing the
lengthy exposure times of previous methods, was the major innovation of
Daguerre's process. Exposures could now be measured in minutes rather than days.
Daguerre's method of developing silver iodide emulsed plates with mercury vapor

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was known as Daguerreotype. These instructions were then published as a free gift
to the world on August 19th, 1839.

It is the year 1925. Photography was still the domain of medium and large
format cameras at the time. The Kodak Box Brownie was the most popular
portable camera of the time. The Brownie was a fantastic advancement because it
provided users with an inexpensive and convenient alternative to large and bulky
plate cameras.

Digital. Yes, it is time to discuss the world of digital photography. We will

disregard the earlier introduction of digital imaging in terms of digital copying,
analog-electronic cameras, and most prototypes.

After ten or fifteen years of stewing, the digital camera revolution has landed us
here in the present. We wade knee-deep through swamps of the latest cameras,
lenses, and whatever else we can conjure up. Imagine Niepce's reaction if he
witnessed the ease with which photographs are now taken on the street. There will
be no more bulky camera obscuras.
The next stage of photography's evolution may not be a change in the way we
create images. Instead, it's possible that the next unseen horizon will come from
how we share those images with the rest of the world or store them for ourselves. If
a photograph does indeed capture a memory, what good is that memory unless it
can be recalled in a more tangible way? Looking back through the history of
photography, hasn't each subsequent advancement worked to make the photograph
more qualitative, lasting, and real?

III. HOW DOES A CAMERA WORK IN OUR DAYS

Many people believe that digital cameras must use a radically different method
of capturing images because they do not use film and produce images as data files.
In most ways, your family film camera and that power-hungry, battery-draining
digital camera you got for Christmas are eerily similar.

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 A film camera has a shutter that opens for a predetermined amount of time
(usually a fraction of a second), admitting light into the camera's body through at
least one lens. (Of course, that lens can be adjusted to focus on objects at different
distances, or different lenses can be added.)

The main distinction between these two types of cameras is the method they use
to record the incoming light. As an example:

A film camera retains the image by using a strip of light-sensitive celluloid

coated with silver halide. The film must then be developed, and the resulting
negatives and positives can be used to make copies of the photograph (usually on
photographic paper).
A digital camera, on the other hand, records the incoming pattern of light using
a grid (or an array) of photosensors. When an incoming light strikes a sensor, it
generates an electrical current. Because the amount of current returned varies with
the amount of light, the electronic innards of your digital camera can combine the
various current levels into a composite pattern of data that represents the incoming
light — in other words, an image in the form of a binary file.

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 If you've read any of my other books on CD/DVD recording, photography, or
scanning, you're already familiar with binary, which is the universal language of
computers. Although your eyes cannot see any image among all those ones and
zeros, your computer can display them as a photograph — and print the image.

How did the image file end up on your computer? That's a great question; no
one wants to carry a PC around just to take a picture. Most digital cameras save the
image file until you transfer (download) it to your computer; however, other digital
cameras (and many smartphones) can now wirelessly transfer photos to your PC or
even Facebook!

Different types of cameras employ various methods for storing image files:

RAM cards (the most common storage method) are removable memory cards
that function similarly to the memory modules found in a USB flash drive. Some
memory cards are proprietary, but others can be used in netbooks, smartphones,
and tablet PCs. CompactFlash, SmartMedia, and Memory Stick cards are the most
common types of media, with storage capacities ranging from 512MB to 128GB.
When the card is full of images, you can either download them (presumably to
your PC) or eject it and "reload" with a spare, empty card.

Hard drives: Yes, you read that correctly — some cameras have onboard hard
drives, while others use tiny removable hard drives the size of RAM cards. These
little beauties, of course, can easily store hundreds of gigabytes of your images.

IV. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

There is a truly wide range of domains in which photography is found. Here are
some of the most important ones:

1) Landscape

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Large expanses of space, large lands, or the entire world are featured in this type of
photography. These images are intended to highlight nature's grand scale (and
sometimes vast expanses of man-made features).

2) Fashion Photography
A type of photography that focuses on fashion and clothing, often with
professional female models. Fashion magazines such as Elle, Vogue, and Vanity
Fair have entire industries devoted to it.

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3) Fine Art
Photography, which is based on a photographer's artistic or subjective vision, as
opposed to representational photography (such as photojournalism), which
accounts for unaltered reality.

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 4) Portraiture photography 
It is concerned with capturing the mood, personality, and expression of a person or
group of people. The face is usually the focal point, though a half- or full-body
zoom is occasionally used.

5) Wildlife
Photography that captures animals in their natural habitat. Photographing animals
can be difficult because a photographer must not only be technically proficient, but
they must also approach animals without being detected.

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6) Wedding
Wedding photographers use a variety of photography styles to cover weddings.
Macro, portrait, photojournalistic, fine art, fashion, landscape, and action/sports
photography are all required for complete wedding coverage.

7) Macro
Extreme close-up shots of small objects are a type of photography. As a result, the
subjects can appear much larger than life size.

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 8) Photojournalism
Photographs that capture an event or story as it unfolds. The photographer must
maintain fidelity to reality, as well as be honest and impartial in telling the story.

9) Architectural 
Photography that captures the feeling of being in a built environment. It is about
portraying aesthetically pleasing buildings and structures.

10) Black & White 

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Photography, which includes images in black and white, shades of gray, and whose
appeal stems from the style's monochromatic nature.

V. HOW TO TELL A STORY WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

As a people and culture photographer, I spend a lot of time thinking

about how to tell stories with my images – how to convey emotions and
narratives in a few simple frames.

Beginners frequently fail to consider the storytelling aspect of

photography, which is fine. When you're first starting out, it's critical to
concentrate on lighting, composition, and camera settings. But, once
you've mastered those key concepts, what's the next logical step? How
do you keep people interested for more than a few seconds?

In order to tell a story in a single frame, include small details. Assume

your task is to tell a person's story. A parent, perhaps, or even yourself.
How would you go about it?

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 A typical portrait would not tell the entire story. A person's full
story is often revealed in the details: a photograph of their desk, travel
books strewn across a bedroom floor, a close-up of their hands dirty
from gardening, a wide-angle portrait of them surrounded by a few of
their favorite things. So, the next time you photograph someone, try to
include small details that add to their personality.

In a series of shots, aim for variety. You must capture a variety of

images of a single situation. Whether you want to photograph a camel
market in India, a farmers' market in a Chicago suburb, or your niece's
birthday party, one type of photo will not tell the entire story.

Instead, you'll need portraits, wide-angle shots, high-angle shots,

low-angle shots, action shots, zoomed-in details, and more. When all of
these perspectives are combined, they tell the entire story.

Emotions play an important role in storytelling. People and faces

are essential for capturing emotions. Emotion can also be communicated
through body language, so capturing entire bodies can be useful at times.

Make a shot list ahead of time. Why not make a shot list before
heading out into your hometown for some street photography or to the
Eiffel Tower for some vacation photography? I'm referring to specific
shot ideas, angles you want to try, and people you might want to include
in the frame. Investigate the types of shots taken by other photographers
at your destination. Seek out new perspectives that will result in unique
storytelling even in well-known locations.

Make use of narrative structure. What is the structure of a

traditional novel or film? Because novels and films are stories, they have

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beginnings, middles, and ends. You can do the same thing with your
photographs! If you're just getting started with a series of storytelling
photographs, try creating a chronological narrative. It is by no means the
only or even the most recommended narrative structure to use, but it is a
fun and simple way to practice.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

Photography developed a lot through time, starting for a simple

discovery, now reaching an inimaginable level of complexity. A simple
box transformed into a high-tech device that can capture incredible
images.
Of course, the level of understanding the mechanics behind these new
devices grew as well. The process of the light going through the lens and
hitting a sensor is the result of the hard work that was put in by multiple
inventors. It is among the most important steps when taking up
photography, because you need to understand how a camera works in
order to take photos.
Once you learn the basics, it’s time to get going and take pictures.
Pictures that can be integrated in different chategories. You are the one
who decides if you want to do wedding photography or sports
photography. You should choose to shoot whatever suits you the best, in
this regard.

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 We may not forget that sometimes, we want to tell stories with our
photos. Every photographer wants to get in the mind of the one who sees
a photo he took. The internet is full of information that you can use in
order to achieve this goal. The motto of this paper says that “A
photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into”, which resembles
the reality quite well. Most of us refuse to think about the real meaning
of the photos we see everyday. Maybe one day, we will find something
that would change our lifes. Photography is much more interesting than
we may think.

VII. Bibliography:

 http://www.photographydealers.com/wp-
content/uploads/Newsletters/History-of-Photograph-A-Message-from-
Santa-Fe-April-17-2020.pdf

 https://monoskop.org/images/7/79/Benjamin_Walter_1931_1972_A_Shor
t_History_of_Photography.pdf

 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-
3873/128/961/035001/meta

 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-30541-5_25

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 https://books.google.ro/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=j9wlnBewvBUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&d
q=photographers&

 https://contrastly.com/the-evolution-of-photography/

 https://www.dummies.com/computers/pcs/how-does-a-digital-camera-
work/

 https://photographycourse.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/high-
fashion-photography-700x487.jpg

 http://famous-photographers.com/types-of-photography/

 https://digital-photography-school.com/8-tips-storytelling-images/

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