Photography is the process of recording pictures using light or related radiation on a light-sensitive surface. The document defines key elements of photography like pattern, symmetry, texture, depth of field, lines, framing, perspective, space, balance, and color. It discusses the history of photography from its origins in the 1830s to modern digital cameras. Important photographers mentioned include Alfred Stieglitz, Felix Nadar, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Principles of composition, simplicity, and dynamic symmetry are also covered.

1. PHOTOGRAPHY
DEFINITIONS, MEDIUM, TYPES AND
HISTORY
PREPARED BY:
ROGER B. TRAJANO

2. PHOTOGRAPHY
• Photography is derived from the Greek words
Fotos – light and graphein - to draw
• It is a method of recording images by the
action of light, or related radiation, on a
sensitive material.

3. ELEMENTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

4. pattern
• There are patterns all around us if we only
learn to see them. Emphasizing and
highlighting these patterns can lead to striking
shots – as can high lighting when patterns are
broken.

6. Symmetry
• A symmetrical shot with strong composition
and a good point of interest can lead to a
striking image – but without the strong point
of interest it can be a little predictable
• Symmetry is when a photograph looks like it
consists of two objects that are mirror images
of each other.

8. Texture
• Images a two dimensional thing yet with the
clever use of ‘texture’ they can come alive and
become almost three dimensional.
• Texture particularly comes into play when
light hits objects at interesting angles.

10. Depth of Field
• Each picture should have only one principal
idea, topic, or center of interest to which the
viewer's eyes are attracted.
• It can isolate a subject from its background
and foreground (when using a shallow depth
of field) or it can put the same subject in
context by revealing it’s surrounds with a
larger depth of field.

14. Lines
• Diagonal, Horizontal, Vertical and Converging
lines all impact images differently and should
be spotted while framing a shot and then
utilized to strengthen it.

16. Framing
• Framing involves identifying an obvious
foreground object close to the camera, with the
main subject of the photograph further away.

20. Perspective
• It is the point of view of the viewer of the
photograph. Different vantage points can
convey different relationships with the objects
depicted in the photograph.

26. Space
• There can be a fine line between filling your
frame with your subject (and creating a nice
sense of intimacy and connection) and also
giving your subject space to breath.

29. Balance
• The positioning with elements in a frame can
leave an image feeling balanced or
unbalanced.
•

33. Color
• The colors in an image and how they are
arranged can make or break a shot.
• Bright colors can add vibrancy, energy and
interest – however in the wrong position they
can also distract viewers of an image away
from focal points.

36. Mediums of Photography
• The SLR (single lens reflex) camera lets
photographers shoot with a handheld camera
with automatic or manual settings. The SLR
camera can have a medium or wide lens,
which makes the viewfinder large.

37. Mediums of Photography
• Digital cameras are a easy to manipulate as a
photography method. This camera technology
allows a photographer to shoot hundred of
pictures without worrying about running out
of film. Instead of light burning on film inside
the camera, light hits a "digital sensor array,"

38. Mediums of Photography
• A pinhole camera uses the same logic as the
original camera obscura, though in smaller
form. While the camera obscura was a large
as a house and needed a mirror, a pinhole
camera just uses a tiny hole and photographic
paper to make a negative image

39. Principles of Photography

40. Principles of Photography
• Photographic composition is the pleasing
arrangement of subject matter elements
within the picture area. Creative
photography depends foremost on the
photographer's ability to see as the camera
sees because a photograph does not
reproduce a scene quite the way we see it.

41. By dividing the
picture area into
thirds, both vertically
and horizontally, can
usually create a
feeling of balance to
the composition
Principles of Photography

42. • The principle of dynamic
symmetry is a similar
idea. By drawing or
imagining a diagonal line
from one corner to an
opposite corner. A
second line perpendicular
to the first from a third
corner. The intersections
of the lines are the
location for the center of
interest.

43. Principles of Photography
• Simplicity is the key to most good pictures.
There are several things to be considered
when we discuss simplicity. First, select a
subject that lends itself to a simple
arrangement;

44. Principles of Photography
• Select different viewpoints or camera angles.
View the scene through the camera
viewfinder. Evaluate each view and angle

45. Principles of Photography
• The last point of simplicity-tell only one
story. Ensure there is only enough material in
the picture to convey one single idea.
• Do not allow the scene to be cluttered with
confusing elements and lines that detract from
the primary point of the picture

46. History of Photography

47. • An art form invented in 1830s.
• Today, photography is the largest growing
hobby in the world with the hardware alone
creating a multi-billion dollar industry.

48. • The instrument that people used for
processing pictures was called the Camera
Obscura (which is Latin for the Dark Room)
and it was around for a few centuries before
photography came along.

51. • Camera Obscura was invented around 13-14th
centuries, however there is a manuscript by
an Arabian scholar Hassan ibn Hassan dated
10th century that describes the principles on
which camera obscura works and on which
analogue photography is based today

53. • The first photo picture was taken in 1825 by a
French inventor Joseph Niepce. It depicts a
view from the window at Le Gras.

55. • The process of using camera obscura looked
very strange and frightening for the people at
those times and the Giovanni Battista had to
drop the idea after he was arrested and
prosecuted on a charge of sorcery.

57. • 1839 Sir John Herschel came up with a way of
making the first glass negative as opposed to
metal. The same year he coined the term
Photography deriving from the Greek “fos”
meaning light and “grafo” – to write

58. • The mass use of cameras began with
Eastman’s Kodak’s camera in 1888 with the
slogan “You press the button, we do the rest”.
• In 1901 the Kodak Brownie was introduced,
becoming the first commercial camera in the
market

60. Known Photographers
• Alfred Stieglitz - an American photographer
and a promoter for modern art. Many believe
it is Stieglitz who made photography as art
what it is today. His work with the
photography was revolutionary for how he
portrayed still life and what he brought into
photo portraits.

61. • Felix Nadar (a pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix
Tournachon) was a French caricaturist,
journalist and – once photography emerged –
became a photographer. He is most famous
for pioneering the use of artificial lightning in
photography
• He was known for depicting many famous
people including Jule Verne, Alexander
Dumas, Peter Kropotkin and George Sand.

62. • Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French
photographer who is believed to be the father
of photojournalism. Cartier-Bresson is most
famous for creating the “street photography”
style of photojournalism

77. •THE END
•THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING…