BackgroundMost people know what a photograph is but how does a photograph differ from other forms of representations? Can that difference be articulated? In a way a photograph is nothing more than data visualization. Think about how light reflects off objects and enters the lens of a camera where the light is converted to data, that is then reproduced on hard copy or on a display screen. Photos are two dimension portrayals. Is it the same as the referent? ...no. It is only a two dimensional portrayal, it does not have the same attributes as the referent. For instance, the photo does not contain three dimensional information, it only simulates three dimensional representations by capturing information like, specular highlights, reflections, depth of field and shadows. All of those attributes trick the perceptual system into thinking there are three dimensions to the portrayal.
Framing the shotA photograph contains a lot of information and is arguably closer to the referent than other forms (e.g. a line drawing . Does that make it better? A photograph can capture a single frame of the perceptual field at a given instant in time with much of the detail associated with that perception. Indeed photographs have been used as powerful tools by the popular press as persuasive forms of communication.
Illustrators and artists tend to add what they want to a representation. Photographers tend to not have that luxury - they are confined by what is the field of view. However, even with photographs, information is lost. For instance, photographers tend to subtract by leaving information out of a field of view. Of course in some circumstances photographers can manipulate the environment but often they don't have that option.
Consider carefully what is and what is not in the field of view. Consider the following criteria to determine aspects of the representation to use in a photograph:
Portraits
Landscape shots
Composition; how a scene is framed communicates meaning. |
PurposePhotographs are useful in communicating details, a rich understanding and tone of the subject.
Decisive Moment
In photography there is a moment in time when everything comes together to communicate a message (work done by Cartier Bresson a French photographer). It is that moment that you are looking for to take the shot when light, subject, background, angles and composition are at their best.
This is why it is best to "work the shot", taking multiple photos until you get the one that is best. Most photographs are throw aways.
work the shot LightingThe use of lights is a way to focus the attention of the viewer, add atmosphere and tone to a scene. The brightness and color of the light can play a role in telling the story. Considering lighting is key to good photographs.
See the following section for more on:
Depth of FieldDepth of field determines what is in focus and what is not. For instance, a shallow depth of field can help focus the attention on the subject. This is a achieved by using a low aperture (F-stop) setting and then having as much depth in the scene as you can. Telephoto settings help with this as well. Even a cheap point and shoot camera can achieve this if you have enough separation between the subject and the background, see the Figure below as an example:
For a more detailed description of camera settings and equipment, see the following section:
ResourcesPhotographic Links:
The following links provide additional insights into the role of photographs on visual understanding.
U of L Library Resources Tutorials
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References
Long, Ben. (2011). Foundations of photography: Composition. Lynda.com. Retrieved from http://www.lynda.com/Photography-Photo-Assignments-tutorials/Foundations-of-Photography-Composition/
Rieber, L.P. (1994). Computers, graphics, and learning. Madison, Wisconsin: Brown & Benchmark
Rieber, L.P. (1994). Computers, graphics, and learning. Madison, Wisconsin: Brown & Benchmark