Digital Envisions

The benefit of single lens reflex (SLR cameras) is that the photographer is able to see through the view finder exactly what is going to be the end result. This was not possible with a camera that was made before the SLR was invented.

Before the development of digital technology, photographic images were captured on film. Film was either black and white or color. It was extracted from the camera in a darkroom and then ‘developed’ using chemicals. Negatives were placed in a device called an enlarger, which transferred the developed image onto paper. The exposed paper was placed in a series of trays containing chemicals to produce a positive image.

Camera film was produced in different sizes or formats, the most common of which were 35 mm and 120 mm, although larger format sizes were manufactured. Large formats produce better resolution and are mostly used to make portraits. The large format made it possible to enlarge the images to a greater extent before they started to look grainy.

Fast film came in handy for sports or other action shots. It enabled more rapid shutter speeds. Slower films were reserved for more stationary subject. Slow films are more prone to distortion due to shaking and so a tripod is recruited for these films. Color film has a high speed.

Another parameter that can be adjusted is the F-stop. This determines the diameter of the aperture of the shutter. A large F-stop had a small diameter, and vice versa. It determined the depth of field. A large F-stop of, say 22, had a small or shallow depth of field. This meant that everything in the picture was equally in focus. A small F-stop has a large depth of field. This meant that only part of the picture was in sharp focus and the rest was less focused.

It is a popular belief that color photographs are always better than those in black and white. This is not always true. Black and white photographs can be very artistic. Subjects that look good this way are outdoor landscapes or subjects with intriguing, repetitive patterns. Monochrome is particularly good when photographing shadows. A large format will give high resolution.

Photographing high fashion models or sports (football, surfing, water skiing, motor racing), where the subject is in constant motion, require a high F-stop and rapid shutter speeds using fast film produce the best results. As regards what format to use, 35 mm is more portable while larger formats will give high resolution.

Portraits tend to be shot in a studio where the subject can sit or stand quietly. Here a large format, tripod and long shutter speed gives the best result. Photographing animals or children, for whom it is impossible to sit still, requires a faster shutter speed to avoid blurring the subject. When taking pictures of buildings, a tripod, slow shutter speed and large format produce the optimum results.

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