Questionnaire #1

(week 2)

1. What is the earliest reference of photography?

The earliest photographic references dates back to 330BC by the great Greek Philosopher Aristotle. He wrote about the suns image being projected through a hole (aperture) contained in a dark chamber, to allow sunlight to pass through.

2. Who created the first camera obscura?

The word Camera Obscura deconstructed in Latin = dark chamber. Camera being "vaulted chamber" and Obscura means "dark". It was one of the first inventions that led us to photography as we know it and was a popular tool for early painters/artists.

There are several references to the early use and understanding of the principles behind using a camera obscura. Such people include the famous Greek philosopher and mathematician  Aristotle, and Chinese philosopher Mo-Ti and the infamous Leonardo de Vinci. All of whom described the principles behind the device in their documented studies.

3. Draw a diagram showing how a pin-hole camera works.
Rays of light travel in straight lines, so when traveling through an opening (human eye or camera lens) it will appear upside-down on the focal plain.

An example of how the pinhole camera works.

Another example of how light travels through an opening.

- We actually "see" upside-down through our eyes - our brain makes everything "look" right - 

4. Who was the person responsible for the first permanent camera image.

The first permanent photograph is referenced to 1862, to Joseph Nicephore Niepce who used a camera obscura to photograph a view from a window.

5. What are two ways to control the amount of exposure of a photograph?

The two primary ways to control exposure of a photograph are:

Shutter-speed (how long the film/digital sensor is exposed to light).

Aperture (how much light passes is allowed to pass through a lens onto the film/digital sensor).

6. Name two shutter types and briefly explain how they operate.

The two primary styles of shutter are:

Focal Plane Shutter -  this style of shutter is positioned in front of the focal plain within the camera body. In other words it operates in front of the digital image sensor (or film). It works by opening one curtain to begin an exposure and then closes another curtain to end  the exposure. The front curtain opens first, moving across the plane of the sensor until it is fully open. Then, after the sensor has been left exposed for the desired amount of time, the rear curtain begins to follow it, gradually covering the sensor until it is completely concealed.

Diaghram Shutter - A diaphram shutter or leaf shutter consists of a mechanism with a number of pivoting metal leaves. It allows light onto the sensor according to the set aperture (diameter opening) within the lens for the required time to make the exposure.

7. What is an f-stop?

An f-stop relates to the open diameter within a lens that lets light into your camera. Strangely though a smaller number (i.e. f/2.8) means a big open diameter and a big number (f/22) means a very small diameter. Older camera lenses used to display the aperture values as a manual adjustment ring on the lens itself, whereas most modern cameras allow you to adjust the value in-camera thanks to advancement in technology and electronics.

8. What is an f-number?

An f-number is a number/ratio relating to the open diameter of a lens. This affects focal length or "depth of field" as it is commonly known.

9. What does exposure mean?

Exposure is described as an amount of light allowed to fall onto a photographic medium (film or digital sensor) - the camera is then the capture device used to record the result.

10. If exposure = time x intensity, what does time stand for and what does intensity stand for? (hint look at question 5)
Time stands for - shutter-speed
Intesity stands for - aperture.














D.