Introductory Visual Arts: Art Media and Techniques Photography Film vs Digital Pinhole BlackWhite Color Darkroom Development Editing Photojournalism Documentary Portrait Landscape Macro Aerial Drone

What It Is

Photography is a visual art form that captures images using light-sensitive materials or digital sensors. Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) is a well-known example of black-and-white landscape photography. Understanding photography matters for making and analyzing art because it involves technical skills, aesthetic choices, and the ability to convey meaning through images.

Key Terms & Techniques

• Film vs Digital: Film photography uses light-sensitive film, while digital photography uses a digital sensor to capture images.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) was shot on film.
• Pinhole: A simple camera that uses a small hole to focus light onto a surface.
  • Example: The first pinhole camera was created by Chinese philosopher Mozi in the 5th century BCE.
• Black/White: Photography that uses only shades of gray, without color.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Monolith, the Face of Half Dome" (1927) is a classic example of black-and-white landscape photography.
• Color: Photography that uses a range of colors to create an image.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Clearing Winter Storm" (1937) is a color photograph that showcases the beauty of the American West.
• Darkroom: A room where photographic prints are developed and processed.
  • Example: The darkroom is where Ansel Adams developed his famous black-and-white prints.
• Development: The process of creating a photographic print from a negative or digital file.
  • Example: Development involves exposing the print to light, then treating it with chemicals to reveal the image.
• Editing: The process of manipulating a photographic image to enhance its aesthetic appeal.
  • Example: Adobe Photoshop is a popular editing software used by photographers and artists.
• Photojournalism: Photography that tells a news story or conveys a message.
  • Example: Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" (1936) is a famous example of photojournalism.
• Documentary: Photography that documents a place, event, or culture.
  • Example: Walker Evans' "American Photographs" (1938) is a classic example of documentary photography.
• Portrait: Photography that focuses on a person's likeness or personality.
  • Example: Richard Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants" (1955) is a famous portrait photograph.
• Landscape: Photography that captures a natural scene or environment.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) is a classic example of landscape photography.
• Macro: Photography that captures a small subject in extreme detail.
  • Example: The macro lens is used to capture the intricate details of a flower or insect.
• Aerial: Photography that captures a scene from an elevated perspective.
  • Example: The aerial photograph is used to capture the landscape from a bird's-eye view.
• Drone: A remote-controlled aircraft that captures aerial photographs and videos.
  • Example: Drones are used in photography and filmmaking to capture unique perspectives.
• Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor or film.
  • Example: Exposure is controlled by adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
• Aperture: The size of the camera's aperture, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
  • Example: A large aperture (small f-stop number) allows more light to enter the lens.
• Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera's shutter is open, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
  • Example: A fast shutter speed (short duration) is used to freeze motion.
• ISO: The camera's sensitivity to light, which affects the image's noise and grain.
  • Example: A high ISO (sensitivity) is used in low-light conditions.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: All photography is digital.
• Correction: Photography has been around for centuries, and film photography is still used today.
• Misunderstanding: Aerial photography is the same as drone photography.
• Correction: Aerial photography refers to any photography captured from an elevated perspective, while drone photography specifically uses a remote-controlled aircraft.
• Misunderstanding: Photojournalism is the same as documentary photography.
• Correction: While both genres involve documenting reality, photojournalism focuses on telling a news story or conveying a message, while documentary photography focuses on documenting a place, event, or culture.

Quick Identification

1. Describe a photograph that captures a person's likeness or personality. What is the concept? Answer: Portrait. Reason: A portrait photograph focuses on a person's likeness or personality.
2. Describe a photograph that captures a natural scene or environment. What is the concept? Answer: Landscape. Reason: A landscape photograph captures a natural scene or environment.
3. Describe a photograph that captures a small subject in extreme detail. What is the concept? Answer: Macro. Reason: A macro photograph captures a small subject in extreme detail.

Last‑Minute Revision

⚠️ Ansel Adams was a master of black-and-white landscape photography.
⚠️ The first pinhole camera was created by Chinese philosopher Mozi in the 5th century BCE.
⚠️ Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" (1936) is a famous example of photojournalism.
⚠️ Walker Evans' "American Photographs" (1938) is a classic example of documentary photography.
⚠️ Richard Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants" (1955) is a famous portrait photograph.
⚠️ The darkroom is where photographic prints are developed and processed.
⚠️ Development involves exposing the print to light, then treating it with chemicals to reveal the image.
⚠️ Editing is the process of manipulating a photographic image to enhance its aesthetic appeal.
⚠️ Adobe Photoshop is a popular editing software used by photographers and artists.
⚠️ Aerial photography refers to any photography captured from an elevated perspective.
⚠️ Drone photography specifically uses a remote-controlled aircraft.
⚠️ Exposure is controlled by adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
⚠️ Aperture is the size of the camera's aperture, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
⚠️ Shutter speed is the length of time the camera's shutter is open, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
⚠️ ISO is the camera's sensitivity to light, which affects the image's noise and grain.