Photography 101

Basic camera functions

Power: The reason the camera is on and functioning and shows how much of it is left 1

Date and Time: Allows you to create a date analogue of your images

Menu navigation: Allows the user to explore the camera settings without too much difficulty

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Image Format and Size
The File Format determines the quality and size of the picture you take6. You can
go into the setting called “image size” or “recording mode” to change it.

JPEG: Highly compressed images with a reduced number of pixels.

RAW: Higher quality images with more pixels.

RAW JPEG 5
4
White balance operations
White balance removes the unrealistic colours from photographs and makes white
objects actually white.6

7
 F-mode and shutter speed settings
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F-mode: It provides you with an indication of how much light is coming through the
image sensor. The larger the lens opening, the lower the “f-stop” number8

Shutter speed settings: You can change the shutter speed

to determine the exposure to light and motion blur an image

will have. There are various modes on the camera to

configure the amount of control over the shutter speed you

have such as Auto, P and Subject-Programm Autoexposure

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 Camera drive modes
Camera drive modes are the different settings you can control for when
you press the shutter button. There are different modes:9
11

-Multiple: This mode allows you to take continuous pictures as long as

you have your finger on the shutter button.

-Remote: This mode works when you plug in a wire (or wireless) device
that allows you to trigger the shutter button.

-Delayed: This mode allows you to have a picture taken after a few
seconds to decrease blurriness.10 12
Camera flash
Flash allows you to have more control over the lighting in a darker area. It can also
help freeze the motion of active subjects.

Built in Flash: It is integrated in the camera and can be fully automatic.

Portable Flash: Can be attached to the body of the camera.
Studio Strobes: Can be carried around and give a wider radius of
lighting.

*Note: Red eyes in pictures occur when a bright light flashes onto a 14

pupil that has been dilated in low-light. To reduce this you can fire a
few flashes before taking a picture.
 How to attach and
remove a lens
Basic lens control
Different types of lenses: 16

- Prime: They are not interchangeable, but they offer better optical quality and are
lighter.
- Zoom: They are interchangeable and allow the user to get close-up shots of a
subject without having to move.
Focus: It changes the blur of the image.
- Autofocus: Relies on the contrast of the subject and has a hard time doing
close-ups.
When using a lens, you have got the option to use the automatic setting (meaning that
everything is set by the camera) or the manual setting (meaning that you set all the
options yourself).6
 Citations
1, Photography, Unit 2, Lesson 02

2, Oosterhoff, Dawn. “Quick Tip: Set the Date and Time in Your Camera.” Photo & Video Envato Tuts+, Envato Tuts, 12 Dec. 2015,
https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-set-the-date-and-time-in-your-camera--cms-25502.

3, Geekanoids, director. Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR Camera - Part 3 - Menu System Tour, 6 Mar. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_5kGBlbug.

4,Sawalich, William. “Setting Image Size and Quality in-Camera.” Digital Photo Magazine, 14 Nov. 2019,
https://www.dpmag.com/how-to/tip-of-the-week/setting-image-size-and-quality-in-camera/.

5, Sekulik, Namanja. “Raw vs JPEG Explained.” RAW VS JPEG EXPLAINED, 2 Oct. 2019, https://www.ejezeta.cl/2019/10/02/raw-vs-jpeg-explained/.

6, Photography, Unit 2, Lesson 01

7, Reyher, Marshall. “Camera White Balance: What Is It & Why Is It Important?” Reyher Photo, 2017, https://reyherphoto.com/understanding-camera-white-balance/.

8, Geekanoids, director. Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR Camera - Part 3 - Menu System Tour, Geekaniods, 6 Mar. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_5kGBlbug.

9,Zacharias, Antony. “Camera Drive Modes Explained to Help Your Photography.” AntonyZ Photography, 19 Feb. 2021,
https://antonyz.com/camera-drive-modes/#:~:text=%20Camera%20Drive%20Modes%20%201%20Single%20Shot,a%20set%20time%20after%20pressing%20the...%20More%20.

10, Mansurov, Nasim. “How to Use Exposure Delay Mode on Nikon Dslrs.” Photography Life, 11 Feb. 2018, https://photographylife.com/exposure-delay-mode.

11, Digital, Discover. “Single vs. Continuous – Camera Drive Modes Explained.” Discover Digital Photography, 9 Sept. 2012,
https://www.discoverdigitalphotography.com/2012/single-vs-continuous-camera-drive-modes-explained/.
12, FixThePhoto.com, Tata Rossi. “15 Stop Motion Photography Tips.” FixThePhoto.com, 3 Oct. 2021, https://fixthephoto.com/stop-motion-photography-tips.html.
13,Photography, Unit 2, Lesson 04
14Timms, Ashley. “Lume Cube Waterproof Portable Flash.” Gadget Flow, Gadget Flow, 8 Jan. 2018, https://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/lume-cube-waterproof-portable-flash/.
15, Elizarov, Viktor. “F-Stop Chart Infographic - Aperture in Photography CheatSheet • Phototraces.” PhotoTraces, 10 Oct. 2020, https://www.phototraces.com/photography-tips/f-stop-chart/.
16, Film , Camera Lens, director. HOW TO ATTACH AND REMOVE CANON NFD LENS, 16 Jan. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY200AVulOY. Accessed 2021.