Fundamental

Photographic
Techniques for Travel
Photography
Discussion
of Basic Technical
Elements

Prof. Jan Paulo Malamug

1
 The Exposure
Triangle
EXPOSURE TRIANGLE

comprises aperture, shutter speed,

and ISO. These three camera and
lens controls work together to
regulate the amount of light that
makes it to the light-sensitive
surface (aperture and shutter
speed) and the sensitivity of that
surface (film or digital ISO).
is the length of time light is allowed to hit the sensor. It is
measured in seconds. Shutter speed is probably the
 easiest of the exposure triangle sides to understand. To
double the amount of light, we need to double the length
of the exposure. For example, moving from a shutter
speed of 1⁄60 s to 1⁄30 s will add a stop of light because the
shutter will remain open twice as long. Changing from a
shutter speed of 1s to 1/8 s will decrease the exposure by
three stops. Why? From 1s to 1⁄2 s is one stop. Then 1⁄2 s
to 1⁄4 s is another stop. Finally, 1⁄4 s to 1⁄8 s is a further
halving of the time the shutter remains open or the third
stop.

SHUTTER SPEED
Shutter Speed Scale
refers to the size of the circular hole in the lens that lets in
light. The bigger the hole, the more light that reaches the
sensor. In fact, each time you double the area of that
opening, you double the amount of light or increase the
exposure by one stop. On the other hand, if you half the
area of the opening, you half the amount of light hitting
 the sensor. And you guessed it; that will decrease the
exposure by one stop.

APPERTURE
Aperture Scale
The final variable in the exposure triangle is ISO. You can
think of ISO as the sensitivity of the digital sensor
(although it is a lot more complicated than that). Higher
values of ISO mean that the sensor does not need to
collect as much light to make a correct exposure. Low ISO
values mean that the sensor will have to gather more
light to make the exposure.
 ISO
ISO Scale
1
Understanding the
photographic attributes of
various focal length lenses
FOCAL LENGTH

is the distance (measured in

millimeters) between the point of
convergence of your lens and the
sensor or film recording the image.
The focal length of your film or
digital camera lens dictates how
much of the scene your camera will
 be able to capture. Smaller numbers
have a wider angle of view and
show more of the scene, while larger
numbers have a narrower angle of

view and show less.

Focal length impacts the look and quality of a
photograph in several ways:

are called wide-angle with long focal lengths are

Field of view lenses because they allow called telephoto lenses,
Depth of Field
you to get a wider field of and have a smaller field of
Shorter focal length lenses view in one image. Lenses view. Lenses with long focal
lengths tend to have a “expands” perspective,
shallow depth of field,
Perspective giving the appearance of
blurriness and reduction in
image quality that occurs from
which means they can more space between the the vibration of pressing down
focus in on Focal length can also elements in your photo. the shutter release. When using
small objects (even change the perspective and
faraway ones) at scale of your Image Shake a lens with a long focal length
and tight perspective, your lens
specific distances. images. A lens with a and camera are more sensitive
shorter focal length Image shake is the to the slightest motion.

FOCAL LENGTH
of Camera Lens
The focal length of a lens
is determined when the lens is
focused at infinity. Lens focal length
tells us the angle of view— how
much of the scene will be captured
—and the magnification— how large
individual elements will be. The
longer the focal length, the narrower
the angle of view and the higher the
magnification.
Focal Length Lens

1
Interpreting space through
controlling depth of field
DEPTH OF FIELD

For many cameras, depth of field

(DOF) is the distance between the
nearest and the farthest objects that
are in acceptably sharp focus in an
image. The depth of field can be
calculated based on focal length,
distance to subject, the acceptable
circle of
confusion size, and aperture. A
particular depth of field may be
chosen for technical or artistic
purposes. Limitations of depth of
field can sometimes be overcome
 with various techniques/equipment.

Focal Length Lens

1
Interpreting time through
various shutter speeds
(showing/stopping action)
SHUTTER SPEED
Every camera has a physical shutter, like a
curtain, that opens and closes to expose the
sensor to the light coming in through your lens
when you press the shutter button. The length of
time that this shutter is open is called the shutter
speed and also sometimes referred to as
‘exposure time’. Shutter speed is one of the three
sides of our exposure triangle, along with aperture
and ISO, that allow us to control the brightness of
our image. We can select a fast shutter speed
that freezes any action in a photo, or we can
select a slow shutter speed that introduces
‘motion blur’ to any moving objects within our
image.
Assignment:
Take 3 photographs exemplifying
each of the following:

• Shallow depth of field – broad

depth of field
• Fast shutter speed
• Slow shutter speed