Photography assignments.

PHOTOGRAPHY Practical Assignments With Field-Works

2009
Submitted by:
Leela Ghimire
Bachelor III Year
Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus
Kathmandu,
Nepal.

Roll No: 210

Symbol No:
Submitted to: Tribhuvan University

Central Department of Journalism and Mass-Communication

Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Kathmandu Nepal
Photography
The word Photography is derived from a Greek word. And it is a composition of two different words Photo and Graphy. Photo means Light and Graphy means to sketch. By this we come to the conclusion that photography is to sketch a picture with the help of photo or the Light. It signifies the importance the Light in photography.
Camera is the first most useful apparatus for photography. By camera we mean a small compact and a light proof box, with a lens in the front, a viewfinder in the rear and finally a film box in the middle. This is a general sketch of a modern camera but this itself is not a sufficient idea about camera and neither it was so easy to define and invent. It took years and centuries to develop a compact and sophisticated camera we carry today.
History of Photography and Camera
The shape, size and technology used in the camera were always changing within a long span of time and human creativity. From the initiation of human civilization humans were interested in pictures. We can find many proofs of these pictures craved in the stones and walls of caves in Stone Age. After the discovery of color many colors were used to make picture beautiful and attractive. Fig: 1. Images of different animal Carved on the walls of Caves in ancient Stone Age
Before 19th century photography was a wonderful subject for humans. Later within 21st century it established an inseparable relationship with the human art, culture and civilization.
Facts and Revolution regarding the development of Photography and camera
1. The concept of photography theory was developed in China around 5th century but the practical use of photography was carried out by a Greek Philosopher Aristotle some Two thousand and Four hundred years ago. For this purpose a big darkroom with a small hole was used. The light was passed from the small hole which clearly showed the reflection of the out side image on the opposite wall.
2. The sketch of camera was designed by Italian painter Leonardo Da Vinci in 1519.
Fig.2. An outline of Camera Obscura from 17th century

3. Later in 1958 Italian scientist and Writer Giovanni Battista Della Porta defined the process of creating image of an object with the help of Light. He invented a tool for this purpose and named it Camera Obscura. This means a darkened Room.
Fig.3. Camera Obscura

4. In 1950 Cardano used a Bi-convex Lens in Camera Obscura.
5. Daniel Barbaro in 1968 developed a diaphragm which helped in sketching an image with a clear background.
6. After the invention of mirror Johann strum in 1678 used the mirror inclined to 45 degree in the upper top part of a room to reflect the light and create image.
7. German scientist and Professor Johanan Heinrich Schulze discovered the fact about the silver nitrate in 1727. He found that the solution of silver nitrate turning into black was because of light but not heat.
8. In 1788 Thomas Wedgwood studied the different characteristics of light and experimented with the Silver Chloride and Nitrate to create the permanent image of object on a plate but was unsuccessful.
9. Joseph Nicephore Niepse successfully created a permanent image on a plate with the help of Bitumen and Silver Chloride. This is considered the first photography in the history.
Fig.4. Joseph Nicephore Niepse, Louis Jaques Mande Daguerre and George Eastman

10. And in 1935 Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre initiated a process of creating a permanent image by exposing a Copper Plate plated with Silver Iodide from a Camera Obscura and developing with mercury vapor. This technology helped to reduce the long exposing hours to 20 minutes. Daguerre later developed a camera with a lens in the front and a film box in the rear part of a box. Again in 1837 he was successful to make permanent image of any object with the help of Sodium Chloride (NaCl).
11. After the invention of Photosensitive Chemicals, different types of Lenses were developed later 1840s.
12. British photographer F. Scott Archer later in 1852 developed a Wet Collodian Process for developing and taking pictures. This technology was far easier and faster than the Daguerre process. In this process a glass plate was plated with the solution of Alcohol and Nitrocellulose. And this plate was dipped into Silver Nitrate and this plate again was fixed into the light proof box inside the camera and exposed, which created a latent image. Different types of chemicals were used to make the image permanent.

Fig.5.First photo developed by Wet Collodian process invented by F. Scott Archer

13. George Eastman was the first man to develop a professional box camera. He developed it in 1888. He too developed a film roll which can take more than hundred different pictures. That film was a photosensitive plastic roll which was taken to the laboratory after it was exposed.
14. Eastman developed a paper negative in 1884 and a Camera that captures images in a flexible film roll using Celluloid, Gilletine and Silver Halide Emulsion.
15. He named that camera 'Kodak'. In 1900 he again developed a small box camera that cost just 1 US dollar. He developed a 16 mm slide film in 1923.
16. Lumex Brothers developed color photography in 1907.


Photography in Nepal
The history of photography dates back to the Rana regime. The Regime of Chandra Sumsher was considered as the first history of Nepalese photography. Photography was supposed to enter Nepal from Britain. It is believed that the first Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur in his visit to Europe brought the first Photo taking Camera.
Clarence Comyn Taylor was the first foreign to shoot photographs in Nepal, in his visit to Nepal in 1863. Later in 1863 many foreign photographers came to Nepal and took the photographs of Nepalese statue, Palace and many other Portraits. Dumber Sumsher, brother of The Rana Prime Minister Bir Sumsher is the first photographer of Nepal. He got chance to learn photography in 1870 and opened a studio inside the royal palace.
The studio opened and operated by the then Managing Director of Gorkha Patra Sansthan Bisnu Dhoj Joshi is considered the first photo studio of Nepal. It was a Grand Studio. Joshi was the private photographer of King Tribhuvan. Bakhat Bahadur Chitrakar first published a book related to photography in 2043 BS. He learnt photography in Bangalore in 1956 and in America in 1965. Mr. D.B Thapa too is a renowned figure in Nepal in the field of professional Photography. He established a modern photography studio Photo Concern in 1960. The first daily newspaper Gorkhapatra published its first Photo in 1984.


Fig.6.First Photo published in Gorkhapatra in Baisakh 13, 1984. Gorkhapatra is the first National Daily Newspaper of Nepal.


Different types of Cameras from then to Now


Fig.7. An outline of a Pinhole type Camera Fig.8.Brownie Box Camera


Fig.9.Cartridge Loading Camera Fig.10.Folding Camera


Fig.11.Polaroid Instant Camera Fig.12.Twin Lens Reflex Camera

Fig.13.View Camera Fig.14.Still Camera (Floppy Disc)

Fig.15. Stereoscopic Camera Fig.16 Nikon Compact Camera

Parts of Camera
Fig.17. Description of parts of a Camera
Different parts of a Camera and their work
1. Aperture: It is a small hole inside the lens which controls the intensity of light that passes through the lens to the photosensitive plate or Negative.
Fig.18. Aperture
2. Shutter: It is a door like internal part of a camera which controls the amount of light that passes through the lens to the film or light sensitive material inside the camera.
3. Lens: It is a front part of a camera with a transparent glass from which light passes into the camera. There are various types of lenses with different focal Lengths such as Zoom lens, Tele lens, Wide angle lens, Normal angle lens, Narrow angle lens, Meniscus lens Tele-converter lens, Macro and Micro lens and Fish Eye Lens etc. Various types of lenses are used for various purposes.

Fig.19.Various types of lenses with different focal lengths.
4. Shutter Release Button: It is a button which lets the shutter release after pressing.
5. Focusing Ring: It is a rotating ring on the lens which helps in focusing the object lying within different distance.
6. Battery chamber: it holds the battery and can be changed as par the need.
7. Finder Eyepiece: The object is viewed through this glass piece to focus and compose.
8. Stop-Down Button: This button helps in controlling the aperture or f-number.
9. Lens Release Button: This button is pressed while the lens needs to be separated from the camera body in order to replace it with other lens with different focal length.
10. Film Advance Lever: It is a small piece of lever like part which helps to push the film a little forward.
11. Frame Counter: It shows and calculates the number of exposed film. When all the film is exposed the counter can again be set to its initial number zero.
12. Hot shoe: It is a small button to connect an external flash kit.
Some technical words related with photography
1. Exposure: To shoot or take a photo means to create a virtual image of an object into the photo sensitive plate or paper inside a camera. We can control the light that will expose the photo sensitive material. Therefore exposure is the reaction of light into the light sensitive material within a definite time. Exposure depends upon time and the intensity of light. It can be shown as: E=It ('E' means exposure, 'I' is the illumination of light and't' means time).
2. Shutter Speed: Shutter is a door like part of a camera. It is light but firm and strong. It is either situated in side the body of a camera or within the lens. It helps in controlling the light coming through the lens to the light sensitive film. It can either be automatic or manual. There are different numbers like 1,2,4,8,15,30,60,125,250,500,1000,2000 and 4000 in the shutter speed dial along with the letters 'A' and' B'. 'A' refers to Auto while 'B' refers to Bulb Mode which helps in taking pictures at night. These numbers are ratio per second i.e. 1sec/1, 1sec/2, 1sec/4, 1sec/8 and etc. So increase in the value of number leads to the decreasing of shutter speed. The difference between the two numbers is considered a stop like, 1-2, 250-500. But 30-500 is 3 stop.
3. Film speed: Film speed is defined as the speed the photo sensitive film takes to react with the light. There is a great importance of film speed in photography. The higher the film speed better to use the film in low light. Film speed is measured in ISO (international Standard Organization). This unit is derived from the relation of ASA (American Standard Association/ DIN (Deutsche Industrie Normen).
4. Aperture: It is a small hole inside the lens which controls the intensity of light that passes through the lens to the photosensitive plate or negative. More light we need bigger we can make the aperture or visa-a vis. There are numbers encoded in the aperture ring as 1,1.4,2,2.8,4,5.6,11,16,22,32. These are known as f number scale. The difference between one numbers to other number is an f-stop. Diameter of the Aperture= Focal Length of lens (f)/Aperture number (f no.)
The greater the f number the smaller the aperture and visa-a-vis.
Modern Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR)
Fig.20. Digital SLR Camera and its Exterior Parts
Camera Carrying Bag
Fig.21. Camera Carrying Bag.
Field work on out-door Photography (Digital Color)

Fig.22. Buddha Stupa, Kathmandu (Landscape)

Characteristics of the Photo:
Exposure Time: 1/250 sec.
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55mm
F-Number: F/9
Camera Model: Nikon D40
Exposure Program: Manual
Flash Mod: No flash



Low Light Photography
Fig. 23. Swyombhunath, Kathmandu (Landscape). Camera was placed on the wall rather than on a stand.

Characteristics of the Photo:
Exposure Time: 5 sec.
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 200mm
F-Number: F/5.6
Camera Model: Nikon D40
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Compensation: +2.3 step
Flash Mode: No flash

High Shutter Speed Photo
Fig.24. Statue on a hunt. Kathmandu (Landscape)

Characteristics of the Photo:
Exposure Time: 1/1600 sec.
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 200mm
F-Number: F/5.6
Camera Model: Nikon D40
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Compensation: +1 step
Flash Mode: No flash

Black and White Photo (Landscape)






Fig.25. Landscape photograph taken on daylight without flash
Characteristics of the Photo:
Exposure Time: 1/125 sec.
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55mm
F-Number: F/11
Exposure Program: Manual
Flash Mode: No flash









Fig.26. 15 Seconds of time exposure in developing.


Fig.27.Low Light Photo. A scene from a drama performed at Gurukul Kathmandu.
Characteristics: Flash Mode: No flash, Focal Length: 122mm, F-number: F/5, Exposure time: 1/30 sec., ISO: 400, Exposure Program: Manual, Exposure compensation: 0 step, Camera: Nikon D40.
Portrait Photo
Fig.28. A portrait photo of an upcoming model.
Characteristics: Flash Mode: External Flash, Focal Length: 40mm, F-number: F/5.6, Exposure time: 1/200 sec., ISO: 400, Exposure Program: Manual, Exposure compensation: 0 step, Camera: Nikon D40.
Photos Published in Naya Patrika National Daily (2nd Feb.2009 and 1st Nov.2008)


Fig.29. Bhawani Rana (Entrepreneur) and Sandeep Kumar KC (Wine Specialist).

Characteristics: (BR) Flash Mode: External Flash, Focal Length: 28mm, F-number: F/5, Exposure time: 1/125 sec., ISO: 400, Exposure Program: Manual, Exposure compensation: 0 step, Camera: Nikon D40.
Characteristics: (SKKC) Flash Mode: External Flash, Focal Length: 55mm, F-number: F/5.6, Exposure time: 1/30 sec., ISO: 400, Exposure Program: Manual, Exposure compensation: 0 step, Camera: Nikon D40.




Processing in the Darkroom
Darkroom
After a photo is taken by the camera the remaining process of developing or washing of the film, printing and enlarging is carried out in a special kind of light proof room known as Darkroom.
Fig.30. An outline of a well equipped and managed Darkroom
Apparatus used in the Darkroom Fig.31. Instruments used in the darkroom for film developing process.

Film Developing Process
Every necessary tool like scissors, developing tank, should be kept on the right place. The room should be darkened and the film carefully taken out from the cassette. Cut the inclined end of the film with the scissor.

Roll the film in the spiral carefully. The film should not stick. Cut the remaining end of the film and separate it from the cassette.



After rolling the film in the spiral place the spiral with the film into the developing tank and close the lid tightly.

Now pour the developing chemical or the developer in the tank. Time must be calculated regarding the capacity of the developer to react with the film.



The tank should be shaken every 20 seconds. When the time elapses the developer must be separated from the film and the film has to be washed with the stop bath. After the film washed from the stop bath that should be separated too and fixture must be poured in the tank to fix the developed film in the negative.
After a certain time the fixture too must be separated and the film should be taken out from the tank.


The spiral with the film should be washed in the running clean water for some time. The water should not be fast running.




After the film is washed with the water it must be hanged in the air free from dust and smoke. After the film gets dry it is then ready for printing.



Chemicals and amount required to prepare Developer
Metol: 1.0gms, Hydroquinone: 4.0gms, Sodium Sulphide: 10.0gms, Sodium Carbonate: 22.5gms, Potassium Bromide: 0.63gms and Water: 1litre.
Chemicals and required to prepare Fixture
Sodium Thiosulphate Crystal (Hypo): 400gms
Potassium Metabisulphide: 25gms
Water: 1litre
Chemical Reaction: Na2S2O3 + 2AgBr = 2NaBr + Ag2S2O3
Sodium Thiosulphate + Silver Bromide = Sodium Bromide + Silver Thiosulphate
Chemicals and amount required to make Stop Bath
Acetic Acid: 200mg
Acetic acid +Water: 1 Litre
Potassium Metabisulphide + Water: 1 Litre


Photo Printing and its Process
Printing
Photo printing means to create a permanent image of an object on a photo sensitive paper. There we prepare a positive photo from a negative or a film developed from the previous process. There are different types of black and white printing papers. The chemicals coated on the paper are different in both the black and white and color papers.


Fig.32. Apparatus for photo printing.

Photo Printing Process

Place the developed film roll or the negative on a negative holder and attach it to the enlarger.


Switch off the bright light of the darkroom and use safe light and the light of enlarger.


The shadow of the negative is seen on the Printing Easel through the negative holder with the light from the Enlarger. Focus the image on the Easel with the help of Up and Down ring of the enlarger.



Place the red filter on the lens. This will prevent the printing paper from the white light of the enlarger. Remember, red light is the safe light. Now place the printing paper on the Easel and remove the red filter and expose the printing paper with the white bright light from the enlarger. The time of expose depends upon the room temperature, reactivity of the printing paper and the contrast of the negative. Evaluate time as par the need for a better printing. The more you are experienced the easier will be the time calculation while exposing.
The exposed printing paper then must be dipped into the developing chemical or the developer and stirred. We have to observe the forming image in the paper while stirring.

The developed paper now should be plunged into the stop bath for washing the developer.



After washing in the stop bath the developed and washed paper should be dipped into the fixture which will help to fix the image of the object permanently. After fixing the printed photo must be placed for drying in a dust and smoke proof place.





Enlarger
Fig.33. Enlarger and its Different Parts.
Contact Print
Fig.34. Contact print is carried out to measure the quality of photographs all at a time before printing.
Digital Darkroom
The pictures taken by a digital camera are easily transferable into the computer with the help of cables and other wireless medium. The pictures can be composed and edited in the computer with the help of different types of modern software. For this purpose no dark room is needed. Printing can be done by the highly modern printing machines with the help of computer. So computer itself is a digital darkroom.
Photo Journalism
Words are great tools for story telling. But sometimes they can't describe or set the mood of the scene well enough. Sometimes they don't provide the necessary movement. They may need help from pictures. In fact, pictures sometimes tell stories better than words. Seasoned writers know that pictures can be central device foe r explaining and clarifying, in part because audiences have learned to depend on pictures to help them understand.
Good photographs can enhance the publications in numerous ways. They are the means by which a newspaper, a magazine or a yearbook can show readers what is happening as well as tell them. Photographs humanize a publication. They enable readers to see how people involved in news and sports events felt reacted. Pictures also enable a publication to establish its own look or identity
Functions of Photographs
Photographs fulfill some major functions. They capture attention, provide information, provide entertainment, establish links with readers, act as a layout device, and help establish an identity.
Reference: A Photography Book by Sarad Rai (2061 B.S.), Journalism Today by Donald L.Ferguson and Jim Patten.