104133 - PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

The subject of Photographic Equipment and Techniques responds to a subject that faces on the one hand, the knowledge of the photographic material at the level of principle of operation, parameters and characteristics, and on the other, the use of the same to apply to the photographic fact , introducing the techniques that make it possible.

The other important aspect is the analysis of images where the student sees the application of the learned technique.

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

• Explain and solve the technical needs of fundamental photographic situations.
• Use Interior and Exterior Lighting Techniques to determine and control expressive, formal and technical quality.
• Define and acquire digital photographic images, selecting and composing their content to achieve certain expressive values.
• Have a high capacity for analysis of the photographic image, especially the press, which should allow the student to know the tools needed to do so.

The course consists of four hours a week of theoretical and practical classes. Classroom work will be based on classes where the teacher will explain the concepts of theory, accompanied by multiple examples. Both individual and collective experimentation through exercises are proposed.

Each technical parameter explained theoretically in class, (shutter, aperture, focal length, sensitivity, flash), is followed by a session of analysis of contemporary images, especially related to the photographic pages of large presses.

The activities of a practical nature will be carried out in the laboratory and / or in previously defined and / or agreed outdoor areas. At the beginning of the practical sessions, there will be a brief theoretical explanation of its specifications, while the exercises, although the necessary tools will be given to be able to solve them, it is expected that the student / to be carried out outside the scheduled hours, these being those previously conceived within the framework of the hours of autonomous learning.

Additional learning activities are also proposed, such as the visualization of audiovisual material in order to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the subject.

1 THE CAMERA

1.1 The Viewfinder.

1.2 The Shutter. Priority to Exposure Time.

1.3 The Diaphragm. The Depth of Field. Priority in the Opening.

1.4 The Focus System.

1.5 The Image Sensor.

1.6 Photometer and Exposimeter: EXHIBITION:

1.6.1 Reading the Light: Basic Photometry.

1.6.2 Measurement Systems.

1.6.3 Exposure Compensation.

2 THE OBJECTIVE:

2.1 Constructive Details and Optical Considerations: Aberrations and Corrections.

2.2 Focal Distance. FOV. Amplification Factor. Brightness.

2.3 Classification of Objectives.

2.4 Singular Objectives.

2.4.1 Reflectors, Tilt & Shift, Macro.

2.4.2 Focal Multipliers. Macro Alternatives (Approach Lenses, Inverter Rings).

3 OTHER EQUIPMENT

3.1 The Flash.

3.1.1 Description, parameters (GN and Sync Speed) and types.

3.1.2 Photographic Techniques with Flash: Fill Flash, Synchronization at 1ª and 2ª Cortineta, Slow and High Speed.

3.2 Basic Filters: UV, PL, ND. IR photography.

3.3 Singular Devices: Triggers, Intervalometers, Umbrellas, Tripods and Monopods.

3.4 Singular Cameras: Mirrorless, Stereoscopic, Lomography ...

ACTIVITY 1: PRACTICE 1: SHUTTER PRIORITIES and OPENING (2 Sessions) (10%)

SESSION 1: He experimented with the use of speed as a method of photographic acquisition. In particular, a pool of photos will be shot with Mode S. inside and / or outside the TCM building to obtain the following 3 photographs to be delivered:

• F1: Freezing of a motif.
• F2: Capture the wake of a moving motif.
• F3: Capture and compose two motifs (one frozen and the other moving).

SESSION 2: It will shoot with Exposure Mode A (Aperture), in order to experience its potential for depth of field control. The discourse of practice is used to introduce the concept and experimentation of Hyperfocal. In particular, a pool of photographs will be taken inside and / or outside the TCM building until the following 2 photographs are obtained:

• F1: Isolated reason with respect to the fund through a low DOF (Importance of the chosen fund at the compositional level will be taken into account).
• F2: Scene with a high DOF. (HFD treatment).

ACTIVITY 2: PRACTICE 2: CONTROL OF EXPOSURE AND FOCAL DISTANCE (2 Sessions) (10%)

SESSION 1: Identification of the measurement modes of the camera to be used (methodology: Visual inspection of menus and / or technical characteristics of the online manufacturer). You will experiment with measurement modes as a tool to calculate the correct exposure of a scene.

The following photo pool is requested:

• Scene 1: Forced backlit motif at the compositional level.
• Scene 2: Demo of an underexposed, overexposed and correctly exposed motif.

SESSION 2: It will be shot with several lenses and / or Zoom lens equipped with a wide multiplication factor, in order to exploit the benefits of the camera's optics and its photographic resources, mainly those related to the DF (Reason vs. background and treatment of perspective, mainly).

In particular, a set of photographs will be taken until two demos formed by 3 photographs each where a motif appears (Object and person -portrait-).

It will be necessary that the reason for each one of the two series, maintains the same proportion in the picture.

• F1a and F1b: Acquired with a FL << 50mm.
• F2a and F2b: Acquired with a FL = 50mm.
• F3a and F3b: Acquired with an FL >> 50mm.

ACTIVITY 3: EXERCISE A1 (10%)

There will be a pool of photographs experimenting with advanced techniques for controlling the exposure time previously introduced in the theoretical sessions. In particular we will work with the techniques of sweeping and ligth painting.

The student must submit the following set of 4 photographs accompanied by an Explanatory Report that incorporates a short explanation of each of the photographs submitted. (intentions, location, etc.).

• F1. A photograph acquired with the Sweeping Technique.
• F2: A night photograph with the presence of points of light.
• F3. A photograph acquired with the Ligth Painting Technique.
• F4: Composition of a static motif with a dynamic one.

ACTIVITY 4: EXERCISE A2 (10%)

You will experiment with the different Flash techniques built into most integrated flashes, ie Fill-in, Rear and Slow to get the following battery of photos:

• F1: Backlight pattern and corrected with fill in mode.
• F2 Motif synchronized to the 2ª curtain. (Optionally, a second photograph with a new motif synchronized in the 1ª curtain may be presented).
• Composite photograph with the Slow function.

The student must also attach an explanatory report that incorporates a short explanation of each of the photographs submitted. (intentions, location, etc.).

ACTIVITY 5: TEST EXAM (30%)

The test exam consists of 20 questions, with four possible answers each and a single possible solution (which can be Correct or False, depending on the wording of the question). Incorrect Answers subtract 25% from a correct answer.

The exam will take place without notes, on a day and time set by the head of studies at the beginning of the course. This activity is recoverable.

ACTIVITY 6: EXAMINATION OF PROBLEMS (30%)

The Problem exam will consist of two problems: one for Equipment and a second for Photographic Techniques. The exam will take place without notes, on a day and time set by the head of studies at the beginning of the course. This activity is recoverable.

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The final grade will be the weighted average of the grades of the assessable activities mentioned.

• Practices (individual): 20% (5% x4)

• Exercises (in pairs): 20% (10% x2)

• Exam: 60% (Test: 40% + analysis: 10% + problems: 10%)

To weigh in with the internships and exercises, you must pass the exam with a minimum grade of 5.

Recovery: You will need to take the recovery exam. 

In the case of repeating the subject, the student will be able to validate practices and exercises, if they have passed the mark of 5. 

Subject notes in pdf.

FREEMAN, Michael, The Photographer's Eye. Blume Photography, 2009.

LANGFORD, Photography Step by Step. Torsen Hermann Blume, 1994.

ADAMS, Ansel, The Chamber. Omnicon, 2002.

SZAROWSKI, John, The photographer's eye. The Factory, 2007.