Jansen-Emma


 * What is important about focus? How do you get good focus in a digital slr photograph? **

In order to have a strong focus, you must have a steady shot. This means holding the camera as still as possible or using a tripod so that it is sturdy. The distance between your shot and the camera plays a role in focus as well because if you are too close to your object, the shot will not focus. A good thing to remember is that you should stay about an arms length away from the object in order to get a strong, focused, clear shot. There is also a manual focus you can use on the cameras to get the type of shot you want.


 * Explain in your own words what depth of field is and why it's important to understand when shooting photos.**

Depth of field deals with what part of the shot is in focus. It refers to the range of distance that appears sharp in a photograph, and it varies depending on aperture and focusing distance. This is an important aspect to understand when taking photographs because it helps you understand how to focus more on either the foreground or background correctly.


 * What is the exposure triangle and why is it important to making quality photos?**

The exposure triangle deals with three components when playing with exposure. First you have ISO which is the measure of a camera's sensitivity to light. Then you have aperture which deals with the size of the opening of the lens when taking a picture. Finally, there is the shutter speed which is the amount of time the shutter is open. This is important to understand because all of these three elements work together, so if you change one then the rest are affected as well thus changing the exposure and the quality of your photo since exposure is the amount of light in the photo. Poor exposure can create a dull and unclear image.


 * What are the 5 compositional techniques we use in photography?**

-Leading Lines: directs the viewers eyes into image creating principle of movement -Rule of Thirds: divides the image into thirds vertically and horizontally. Where the thirds interest are areas of most interest -Fill the Frame: subjects fill the frame and may even extend off the frame -Level Horizon: when taking landscape, cityscapes use a level horizon and not a slanting one -Framing: use elements such as trees to from the subject


 * Which lighting techniques come from natural sources and which come from artificial? When would you use one vs another?**

Natural sources of light come from both outside and inside sources. Outside sources are sunlight, moonlight, and firelight. Inside sources are firelight from candles or fires and available light coming through windows or glass. Artificial sources of light include a flash on a camera, light from a room, studio lights such as spotlights/strobe lights,computer screens, and bounce lighting. Depending on the mood of the shot you want to capture and the location of the shot will affect what light sources you use.


 * In terms of lighting what kinds of light sources do you already have experience shooting photos with? Explain.**

Though I don't have much experience with shooting photos like we will in this class, I have been able to deal with both sunlight, a flash from a camera, and light from a room. This is only from taking pictures at special events/ family outings such as Thanksgiving and Homecoming in order to look back on them in the future; sort of a remembrance of memories. I have always understood that basics of light and how it can affect the quality of the image, but this has fully helped me understand specifics that will get me an even stronger shot