Photography Basics

Photography is the art and science of creating images by recording light, either electronically using digital sensors or chemically using film.

Photography comes from Greek roots 'phos' (light) and 'graphé' (drawing), meaning 'drawing with light'.

The exposure triangle consists of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, which together control the brightness and quality of an image.

A camera is a light-tight device that captures images by focusing light onto a sensor or film through a lens.

Analog photography uses film to chemically record light, while digital photography uses electronic sensors to capture and store images as data files.

Common beginner cameras include point-and-shoot compacts, smartphone cameras, mirrorless cameras, and entry-level DSLRs.

A DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) uses a mirror and optical viewfinder to show the exact scene seen by the lens before capture.

A mirrorless camera lacks a mirror, using an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen to preview the image in real-time.

The sensor converts light into electrical signals, creating a digital image; larger sensors like full-frame capture more light and detail.

The shutter is a mechanism that controls the duration of light exposure to the sensor, determining motion blur.

The viewfinder allows the photographer to compose the shot and see focus; it can be optical in DSLRs or electronic in mirrorless cameras.

The lens focuses light rays onto the sensor or film to form a sharp image, with different focal lengths affecting field of view.