Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Components of Photography xii
Who Should Read This Book? xvi
About this Book xvi
Chapter 1 Basic Concepts in Photography 1
Understanding Exposure 2
Camera Metering 10
Understanding Depth of Field 14
Summary 17
Chapter 2 Digital Image Characteristics 19
Understanding Bit Depth 20
Digital Camera Sensors 22
Image Histograms 26
Image Noise 34
Summary 41
Chapter 3 Understanding Camera Lenses 43
How Lenses Work 44
Using Wide-Angle Lenses 55
Using Telephoto Lenses 63
Summary 71
Chapter 4 Camera Types and Tripods 73
Choosing a Camera Type 74
Camera Tripods 83
Summary 89
Chapter 5 Lens Filters 91
Understanding Lens Filters 92
UV and Haze Filters 93
Color Filters 93
Problems with Using Lens Filters 94
Choosing a Filter Size 95
Polarizing Filters 95
Neutral Density Filters 104
Graduated Neutral Density Filters 111
Summary 121
Chapter 6 Using Flash to Enhance Subject Illumination 123
How Flash Affects Subject Appearance 124
Controlling Your Flash Exposure 131
Summary 141
Chapter 7 Working With Natural Light and Weather 143
How Time of Day and Clouds Affect Light 144
Components of Illumination 144
Fog, Mist, and Haze 154
Summary 163
Chapter 8 Introduction to Portrait Lighting 165
Using a Single Light Source 166
Fill Lighting 175
Summary 181
Chapter 9 Other Shooting Techniques 183
Reducing Camera Shake 184
Using Shutter Speed Creatively 188
Understanding Auto Focus 196
Understanding Composition 202
Summary 207
Appendix: Cleaning Camera Sensors 209
Other Potential Dust Repositories 212
How to Locate Sensor Dust 213
Best Practices for Keeping Your Sensor Clean 214
Sensor-Cleaning Methods 214
How to Clean Your Sensor 217
Alternatives to Cleaning Sensors Yourself 218
Index xi
