Photography: the art or process of producing images by capturing light on

a sensitive surface

The word "photography" derives from the Greek and means, literally, “light writing”

The human eye

Camera ObscuraLatin for “darkroom”

• an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings • one of the inventions that led to photography • the earliest ones were the size of an entire room

Camera ObscuraLatin for “darkroom”

• consists of a box or room with a hole in one side, light from an external scene passes through the hole and strikes a surface inside where it is reproduced, upside-down.

Camera Obscura• Aristotle (around 330 BC)understood the optical principle of the camera

obscura. He viewed the crescent shape of a partially eclipsed sun projected on the ground through the holes in a sieve, and the gaps between leaves of a plane tree

Camera Obscura• In the 16th Century, camera obscuras became an invaluable aid to artists

who used them to create drawings with perfect perspective and accurate detail. Portable camera obscuras were made for this purpose.

• It functioned much like a modern camera, except there was no way at this time to record the image short of manually tracing it.

Camera Obscura• In Victorian times, much larger public camera obscuras became popular

seaside attractions, where spying on courting couples became a popular pastime.

Camera ObscuraAbelardo Morell

• He sets up room-size camera obscuras and then photographs the results.

Camera ObscuraAbelardo Morell

• He sets up room-size camera obscuras and then photographs the results.

Pinhole camera

Pinhole cameraA Pinhole Camera is a camera without a lens

Pinhole cameraThe light producing the image passes through a small hole (the aperture) In order to produce a reasonably clear

image, the aperture has to be a tiny pinhole on the order of 0.5 mm. or less

ApertureIn optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light is admitted

ShutterIn photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or paper.

Picture made with fast shutter speed

ShutterIn photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or paper.

Picture made with slow shutter speed

Exposure

An Exposure takes place when light strikes film or sensitized paper.

There are three variables that control exposure:

1. The size of the lens opening (aperture)

2. The duration of the exposure time (shutter speed)

3.The amount of light illuminating the subject.

Proper ExposureWhen a photograph is properly exposed, like this landscape by Ansel Adams, there is detail in every area of the scene.

Overexposure

When too much light strikes your film or sensitized paper, the result is called an overexposure.

Notice the lack of Highlights (white areas) and “blocked up” shadows.

Underexposure

When too little light strikes your film or sensitized paper, the result is called an underexposure.

Notice the lack of shadows and “blown out” highlights

Pinhole PhotographersJo Babcock

She has built more than 150 different cameras out of a great variety of found materials including a Volkswagen van.

Pinhole PhotographersJo Babcock

Pinhole PhotographersJo Babcock

Pinhole PhotographersJo Babcock

Pinhole PhotographersShelia Boccine

She does pinhole portraits and even weddings.

Pinhole PhotographersShelia Boccine

Pinhole PhotographersMartha Casanave

Pinhole PhotographersMartha Casanave

Pinhole PhotographersChris Keeney

Pinhole PhotographersChris Keeney