Sam Wormley's Digital Photography

Digital Photography - Advanced dSLR http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP2/Week1.html EFFECTS OF APERTURE This image by Robert Harrington was made using a large aperture. Photographers pay a lot of money for large aperture lenses of high optical quality. Exploring the Out-Of-Focus http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bokeh.shtml "Photographers know that one of the characteristics that separates photographic imaging from drawing or painting is the matter of focus". "The lens introduces an opportunity for selectivity in image-making, portraying objects in the near field and background with a special kind of de-emphasis: out of focus. Observant photographers have noticed that not all lenses are created equal: large aperture lenses show strong out-of-focus effects while small-aperture lenses lead simply to a softening of the image. And even among lenses of equal focal length and aperture, there are differences. The Japanese apparently refer to the quality of the out-of-focus image as 'bokeh'. What is bokeh, and why are lenses different from one another"? More background on Aperture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number Understanding aperture -- and how it can help your photography http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/aperture.html This graphic compares the aperture ranges of several telephoto lenses used on single lens reflex (SLR) cameras and the aperture ranges of two popular point and shoot cameras, Canon A620 and Fuji E900, zoomed to the telephoto end. Selecting the Sharpest Aperture http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/f-stops.htm "Most lenses are their sharpest from two stops below maximum to about f/8". However, there are exceptions! For example, several of Canon's Super Telephoto Lenses, each costing thousands of dollars, is sharpest at and near its maximum aperture. The Canon EF 300mm F2.8 L IS USM and EF 500mm F4 L IS USM come to mind. How to read MTF Characteristics MTF.pdf http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mtf.htm ASSIGNMENT No.1-1 - Choose one of your lenses, make exposures at all (whole step) apertures, critically examine and determine the aperture of greatest sharpness for that lens. A tripod will make this much easier. Be prepared to share your results (at least verbally) in class next week. Stuff you already know -- What are Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO? http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/shutteraperture.htm http://www.brayackmedia.com/lesson2.html The Science of Photography - Controlling the Image http://www.ted.photographer.org.uk/photoscience_control.htm ASSIGNMENT No.1-2 - Make sure you review the effects of Shutter Speed, Aperture (and ISO) as it relates to exposure. You should know this stuff cold. Please bring any questions you have to class next week. You are encouraged to email your instructor with questions between classes. Why Your Camera Does Not Matter - by Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm "...it's entirely an artist's eye, patience and skill that makes an image and not his tools. Even Ansel Adams said 'The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it'." "Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE." --Ernst Haas Why Your Camera Does Matter! Even though the point and shoot digital cameras can make excellent images, they don't really have the creative control via available aperture as do SLR cameras. ASSIGNMENT No.1-3 - Document the "bokeh" at maximum aperture and at f/5.6 on the same subject and same perspective with each of your lenses on your dSLR camera. Be prepared to share your results (at least verbally) in class next week. Comparisons [of three Canon lenses] for Portrait and Available-Light Photography Applications http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/85_100_135/index.htm Nikon vs. Canon http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm "Nikon and Canon are as good as each other. Each are multi-billion dollar optical companies who have been making some of the world's best optics for numerous consumer, military and industrial applications for decades and decades". "Nikon and Canon compete so heavily against each other that if one really were better or worse they would have gone out of business long ago". "Year to year one usually has an edge on the other. They tend to leapfrog each other back and forth". Canon EOS dSLR (and film) Cameras and Lenses http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP2/Canon.html http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/index.html http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=140 Canon Camera Manuals http://www.canon.com.au/support/manuals.aspx Canon Camera Image Examples http://tinyurl.com/qwrt9 http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon Canon Lenses - Canon EF Camera Lens Information & Recommendations http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/ Canon Digital Learning Center - Travels to the Edge http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/travels/index.jsp Canon Cameras (Point & Shoot) - Making Comparisons http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113 Nikon dSLR Camera Manuals http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP2/Nikon_Manuals.html Nikon Lenses http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP2/Nikon_Lenses.html Nikon Camera Image Examples http://www.pbase.com/cameras/nikon PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIALS http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm http://www.geofflawrence.com/photography_tutorials.htm Basic Photography: A Set of Exercises http://teeksaphoto.org/Writing/BasicPhotoExercises.html BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS Ansel Adams The Camera Publisher: Bulfinch (June 1, 1995) ISBN-10: 0821221841 Leslie D Stroebel, Hollis Todd & Richard Zakia Visual concepts for photographers Publisher: Focal Press (1980) ISBN-10: 0240510259 Beaumont Newhall History of Photography: From 1839 to the Present (Paperback) Publisher: Bulfinch; Revised edition (October 30, 1982) ISBN-10: 0870703811 SOME PHOTO MAGAZINES RECOMMENDATIONS PHOTO Techniques http://www.phototechmag.com/ Photographer's Forum http://www.serbin.com/Photo_Forum/ Aperture http://www.aperture.org/ swormley1@mchsi.com