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Many picture takers know little or
nothing of photographic technique, but expect miracles from the camera.
These people are usually disappointed. Even though their equipment may
be complex and expensive, the pictures produces by it are somehow
mediocre at best. Apologies for one thing or another always seem
necessary when they show their photographs to others. Often these
people have no inkling of where the difficulties may lie. Haven’t they
purchase the best camera available? Don’t they always (well, almost
always) remember to focus? Then what’s wrong? Why their pictures so
often either disappointments or outright disasters?
The problem is that control of the image has been left largely to the
camera or else ignored altogether. Such novices are either unwilling or
unable to exercise most of that control themselves. Often their
equipment is more sophisticated than their ability to handle it.
However, many of these people can be helped greatly by an understanding
of the various ways a photographic image is controlled.
The basic principle to keep in mind is that a camera can’t think for
you. It can’t sense your point of view or your feelings about a
subject. It can’t determine what you want emphasized or played down. It
doesn’t know what you consider important, or beautiful or meaningful.
Only you know these things, and you can bring them to life in pictures
if you know how to control all the factors. Selecting the subject,
arranging the setting and background, adjusting the lighting, and
determining the camera position are controls that can be employed even
before lenses and cameras are involved. Other controls may include
choice of cameras, filter selection, and type of camera support.
Finally, those controls directly related to the camera can regulate
image size, sharpness, angle of view, perspective, depth of field and
exposure. All these factors work together to manipulate the image to
your requirements. |