Composition

You will use a B&W SLR film camera for this project. You might have already heard of SLR’s when people discuss digital cameras.

SLR - Single Lens Reflex The fundamental principal of SLR type camera is the TTL (Through-The-Lens) mechanism. TTL means that the scene is viewed, focused and metered directly through the lens as shown in the diagram below. Incoming light is reflected by a “reflex“ mirror towards pentaprism. You see what the lens sees. Before Digital cameras had screens so that you could compose images in ‘real time’, SLR cameras were the only camera that would give you the picture that you saw through the viewfinder. Other cameras would have a slight horizontal error due to the viewfinder being located in another place to the lens, and therefore having a different viewing angle.

You will explore your surroundings, looking for interesting compositions for photographs. You will be looking for interesting forms, shapes, textures and tones.

The aim is not to produce traditional portraits or landscapes. Instead you will be using the camera’s viewfinder, and looking at the way shapes and forms are placed within the composition, and how they might touch or cross the boundaries of the edge of the frame. Your images may be recognisable as people or objects, or could be simply abstract patterns.

Look for interesting colours and textures, and differences in light and shade. Interesting lines from man made and natural forms can also make a striking composition.

The Rule Of Thirds Simple compositional rules like the “rule of thirds” can be used easily to good effect. Simply put, this rule encourages placement of the main subject in a picture at the intersection of imaginary lines dividing the picture into thirds. It is at these intersections that the human eye naturally falls upon when viewing pictures. Many top-rated photos show their subjects using this “rule of thirds”.

What you need to do: Objectives: A series of photographs. A contact sheet. A record of you experiences (including research) in your sketchbook / journal (20 pages). Research on at least three renowned (published and have contributed to the history of Photography) Photographers Deadline: The duration of this activity will be four weeks. Research: Photographers that you could research may include: Ansel Adams, Bill Brandt, Edouard- Denis Baldus, John Coplans, Willard Van Dyke, Angus McBean, Germaine Krall. You could research compositional techniques such as the rule of thirds.

How to use an SLR camera On most 35mm SLR cameras, the lens can be removed and changed for others, such as wide angle, and telephoto. The shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted manually, although many cameras now have automatic settings available. Most modern cameras also have built in exposure meters (also called light meters). Key: 1.Frame counter. Shows the amount of exposures taken 2.Shutter release. Used to take an exposure 3.Shutter / film speed dial. Used to adjust shutter speed / film speed 4.Film advance. Used to advance (wind on) the film 5.Hot shoe for flash. A flash can be attached here 6.Film rewind. Used to rewind the film 7.Aperture scale. Used to adjust the aperture (This also affects the depth of field) 8.Depth of field scale. Used in conjunction with the focusing scale to show depth of field 9.Focusing scale. Used to adjust the focus (This also affects the depth of field) 10/Flash cable socket. Used to attach an external flash 11.Lens. The lens can be protected with a lens cap, and should be kept clean 12.Self timer. Can be used to take delayed action exposures Different camera manufacturers put controls in different places- this diagram is a rough guide only.

The viewfinder KEY: 1.Split screen and micro prism rangefinders and focusing aids. 2.Needle display exposure meter. 3.Digital display exposure meter. 4.Digital display exposure meter. There are two different types of viewfinder displays shown above. This is what you might see when you look through the viewfinder. The top display is from an older camera, which has a needle display exposure meter. The bottom display uses a digital format. These displays indicate whether there is enough light to take an exposure and the digital display also indicates what aperture should be used. Common to both displays are the split screen, and micro prism rangefinders. These can be used to focus the camera. The split screen rangefinder indicates that the camera is focused when both semi circles show alignment. The outer micro prism rangefinder indicates that the camera is focused by showing a grainy pattern when the camera is out of focus. What’s that stuff I see in the viewfinder? You need to make sure that there is enough light for your photograph.