Still Photography

Abstract

Camera still imaging is the use of a lighttight device that holds a light‐sensitive detector and permits controlled exposure to light by using a lens that has diaphragm control and a shutter, a device that controls the length of exposure. Controlled exposure is simply taken as an amount of light during a continuous period of time that produces a desired amount of density on the film after development. The desired amount of exposure is typically determined by either experimental methods know as sensitometry or through trial and error. The shutter range for exposure can be between several hours and 1/8000th of a second, excluding the use of a stroboscopic flash that permits exposure times shorter than a millionth of a second. The image has a size or format of standard dimensions: 16‐mm (subminiature), 35‐mm(miniature), and 60‐mm (medium format). These are commonly referred to as roll film formats. Four inches by five inches, 5 × 7 inches, and 8 × 10 inches are three standard sheet film sizes. A view camera, monorail camera, or folding type is used to expose each sheet one at a time. Folding type, technical cameras that have a baseboard can be single sheet exposure or can adapt to a roll film back of reduced dimensions. All current camera systems can either replace their film detectors with digital detectors or themselves are replaced entirely by a digital version. The nature of current still photography can be seen in its applied aspects: Documentary, reportage, scientific recording, commercial/ advertising, and fine art shooting are the primary realms of the professional photographer. In each activity, care is given to the materials, equipment, and processes by which a specific end is achieved. Scientific and technical photographers use the photographic process as a data collection tool where accuracy in time and space is of paramount importance. Photography for the commercial, documentary, and fine arts photographers has never been an objective and simple recording of an event or subject. This type of photography has as much purpose and artifice as commercial/advertising shooting. The visual selling of product by imagery designed to elicit an emotional response has been an integral part of advertising for more than 100 years. The psychology of photography has remained relatively the same during this time, albeit photocriticism has had many incarnations, but the technology that has made photography the tool it is has changed very rapidly and innovatively during the last century. The current digital evolution in photography will further advance the tools available and alter the way images are captured and displayed.