Stills camera

During one lesson, we had to take some pictures with a still camera. A still camera is the type of camera that is used to take still photographs.
When we had this camera it was our job to try out the camera and to get good pictures. Most of the pictures we took, where people. I think this was important because than we could try out different things with the camera, playing with light, photograph people from a low angel or high angel etc. We also zoomed so we could decide which objects we wanted to involve in our pictures we thought were important etc.

Here are two examples of working with still cameras and there effects.

This picture here is a close up. This subject takes up the whole frame. The close up is mostly used to show for example peoples emotion.

This picture is an extreme wide shot. This shot is mostly used as an establishing shot.
This shot is also very useful, so that the audience get a clearer idea of environment.

Camera Operation

This guide explains the function of controls commonly found on digital SLR cameras. It is based on a Canon SLR. Other brand SLR's have analogous controls but may refer to them by different names. A point and shoot camera does not have all of the manual controls mentioned here but may have some of them, or may have simplified or automated versions.
Manual Controls
ApertureControls aperture width with smaller f-stop values representing a wider aperture.
Shutter SpeedManually controls the shutter speed.
Exposure CompensationAlters the exposure setting set by the camera. The exposure can be increased for a lighter image or decreased for a darker image.
Automatic Exposure BracketingWhen this is turned on, the camera captures three images when you take a shot: One with the default exposure automatically determined by the camera, one with increased exposure, and one with decreased exposure, so that you can select the one that looks the best.
Image QualityThis sets the resolution of the image saved by the camera to the memory card. The example camera has three image quality choices: 8.2 mp (megapixel), 4.3 mp, and 2.0 mp. For the best image, shoot with the highest image quality. This is recommended if you have a large enough memory card capacity. The size of the image can be reuced later with image editing software. If your memory card capacity is limited, or the photos will be converted into lower quality images for use on the internet, then the lower quality settings may be used. SLR cameras also allow the image format to be set to jpeg or RAW or both.
ISO speedThis setting increases or decreases the sensitivity of the image sensor. If you are shooting in dim light, you may want to adjust this control to a higher ISO setting for greater sensor sensitivity to light. In bright light, you may adjust it to a lower value to prevent noise.
White BalanceNormally, you should try the camera's Automatic White Balance (AWB) setting first. If this does not result in natural looking colors then the manual white balance setting may be used. To use the white balance setting, you shoot a white object then indicate to the camera that this is "white" and it will adjust the way it records colors accordingly. Read your camera instructions to learn the operation of this control.
Color TemperatureThis setting gives you even greater control over the white balance. You can choose from range of overall colour temperature settings.
White Balance CorrectionThis setting allows you to set each component of the color temperature (red, green, blue) independently so that the ratio of colors in the overall white balance setting is changed. This setting is useful when using color compensating filters.
White Balance BracketingWith this setting on, the camera records three images when you take a shot: One with the default color temperature (automatic white balance), one with a higher color temperature, and one with a lower color temperature, so that you can select the one that looks the best. This is handy with indoor lighting.
Color SpaceThis changes the range of reproducible colors from sRGB to Adobe RGB. Set to sRGB by default. No need to change this unless you have a reason.
Autofocus Point SelectionSLR cameras commonly have seven or more autofocus points that you can choose from if you wish the focus point to be different from the one chosen by automatic autofocus.
Metering ModeYour camera may have the following three light metering modes:
EvaluativeThis is the normal mode, suitable if there is not a large difference between subject and background brightness.
PartialEffective when the background is much brighter than the subject.
Centerweighted AverageThe metering is weighted at the center and then averaged for the entire scene.

Drive ModeThis can be set to single shot mode or continuous (burst) mode which takes multiple shots per second depending on the setting


COMPOSITION:

Photography brings a visual language that is universal in understanding. We must then understand its vocabulary which consists of shapes, textures, patterns, lines, colours, shade of light to dark and sharp to blurry images. Just as we must learn to arrange words in a coherent order in order to make sense when we write or speak, so too must we put visual elements together in an organized manner if our photographs are to convey their meaning clearly and vividly.
Composition means arrangement: the orderly putting together of parts to make a unified whole; composition through a personal, intuitive act. However, there are basic principles that govern the way visual elements behave and interact when you combine them inside the four borders of a photograph. Once we have sharpened our vision and grasped these basic ideas of principles, then we will have the potential for making our photographs.

The rule of thirds:

If we see a picture, we look at it exactly as we are reading. If we have a close up for example on the eyes, we would immediately look first of all at the eyes. One of the most popular 'rules' in photography is the Rule of Thirds. It is also popular amongst artists. It works like this:Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. You place important elements of your composition where these lines intersect.
As well as using the intersections you can arrange areas into bands occupying a third or place things along the imaginary lines. As you can see it is fairly simple to implement. Good places to put things; third of the way up, third of the way in from the left, you get the idea. Duff places to put things; right in the middle, right at the top, right at the bottom, away in the corner. Using the Rule of Thirds helps produce nicely balanced easy on the eye pictures. Also, as you have to position things relative to the edges of the frame it helps get rid of ' tiny subject surrounded by vast empty space' syndrome.