Overview

Photography (Greek photos “light” + graphé “drawing”) is drawing with light. It democratized art. Before the camera, only the rich could have a portrait. Now, everyone has a camera in their pocket.

Core Idea

The core idea is Capture. Freezing a moment in time.

Formal Definition

The process of recording images on a light-sensitive medium (film or sensor).

  • Exposure Triangle:
    • Aperture: How wide the hole is (Depth of Field).
    • Shutter Speed: How long the hole is open (Motion Blur).
    • ISO: How sensitive the sensor is (Noise).

Intuition

  • The Eye: The camera is a mechanical eye. Lens = Cornea/Lens. Aperture = Iris. Sensor = Retina.
  • The Frame: Photography is about what you exclude. You choose what to put in the box.

Examples

  • Ansel Adams: Landscape photography. Mastering the technical to capture the sublime.
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson: The “Decisive Moment.” Street photography.
  • Dorothea Lange: Documentary photography. “Migrant Mother.”

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: A better camera takes better pictures.
    • Correction: A good chef can cook a great meal on a cheap stove. It’s about the eye, not the gear.
  • Misconception: Photos don’t lie.
    • Correction: Photos are always an interpretation. Cropping, angle, and editing can completely change the meaning.

Applications

  • Journalism: Bearing witness.
  • Science: Astrophotography, microscopy.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Manipulation: Photoshop and Deepfakes.

Further Reading

  • On Photography by Susan Sontag