PHOTOGRAPHY 1
Michael Yurgeles, Instructor
Lecture 3






PRINCIPLES of DESIGN
35mm CAMERA PARTS
THE CAMERA LENS
THE SHUTTER
FILM EXPOSURE
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK:
ANSEL ADAMS
HOMEWORK DUE TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH:
One example of a PRINCIPLE of DESIGN
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
 Balance
Visual equilibrium- can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
 Proportion
The relative size and scale of the various elements in a
design.
Elliott Erwitt.
New York City, 1974.
 Rhythm
Timed movement through space. Can be linear, repetitive,
alternating, or gradated.
Piet Mondrian. Broadway Boogie-Woogie
 Emphasis
The point of focus, or interruption.
William Oberhardt
 Unity
The coherence of the whole, the sense that all of the parts
are working together to achieve a common result; a
harmony of all the parts. Often carried out via pattern.
Form follows function.
Vincent Van Gogh. Starry Night over the Rhone.
The 35 mm CAMERA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_camera
Leica 1. 1925 Utilized 35mm film stock from the film
industry.
Nikon F. 1959. First “system” camera.
Basic parts of the 35 mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera:
A. BODY
B. LENS
C. LENS ELEMENTS
D. FOCUSING RING
E. DIAPHRAGM
F. APERTURE RING OR BUTTON
G. MIRROR
H. VIEWING SCREEN
I. PENTAPRISM
J. METERING CELL
K. VIEWFINDER EYEPIECE
L. SHUTTER
M. FILM
N. FILM ADVANCE LEVER
O. SHUTTER-SPEED DIAL OR BUTTON
P. SHUTTER RELEASE
Q. HOT SHOE
R. REWIND MECHANISM
S. FILM CASSETTE
Not shown: REWIND RELEASE BUTTON
The Camera Lens
Lenses control of affect :

focus

film exposure

angle of view

depth of field
Manual Focus vs. Autofocus
Fixed Focal Length vs. Zoom
Focal Lengths:
“Normal” lens for 35mm format camera is 50mm. This is
make the image about in the same proportion as your eye sees
the scene.
Wide Angle lenses are below 50mm in focal length. Common
fixed wide angle lenses are 35mm, 28mm and 24mm.
Telephoto lenses are above 50mm in focal length. Common
fixed telephoto lenses are 85mm, 135mm, and 210mm.
The angle of view DECREASES as the focal length
INCREASES.
APERTURE
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that
lets light into the camera body, and thus onto the film.
Although some lenses have a fixed aperture, most have a
range of apertures.
The size of the aperture is measured by an f-stop number.
The f-stop number is counter-intuitive. The HIGHER the fstop number, the SMALLER the aperture. You could think
about the f-stop as a fraction of the lens diaphragm (iris) at its
widest opening. For example f/8 as 1/8 of the maximum
amount of light possible.
Note: this is a simplification of the actual mathematics.
For you optical physics fans the focal length of the lens is
determined by the diameter of the aperture to arrive at the fstop.
Whole F-Stops
Each stop lets in twice as much light as the next higher
number.
Effect on Depth of Field:
The higher the f-stop (smaller the aperture), the more is in
focus. Note: f-64 Group
Ansel Adams
Elliott Erwitt. California, 1955.