STUDY MATERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY

MODULE - 1

Media & Entertainment Skills Council

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Advisory, Editorial & Creative Inputs

 Smt. Nidhi Chhibber (IAS), Chairperson, Central Board of

Secondary Education, Delhi

Guidance and Support:

 Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), Central Board

of Secondary Education, Delhi

 Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Director (Academics), Central

Board of Secondary Education, Delhi

 Shri. R. P. Singh, Joint Secretary (Skill Education), Central

Board of Secondary Education, Delhi

Coordinator:

 Smt. Niti Shanker Sharma, Deputy Secretary (Skill

Education), Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi

Content and Design:

 Mr. Gaurav Birla, Head - Standards & QA, Media &

Entertainment Skills Council, Delhi.

 Mrs. Palak Golchha, Chief Creator, Creative Junction,

India

Cover Design:

 Mr. Ritik Kumar, Chief Designer, Ridosk Studios, India

5
 INTRODUCTION TO
PHOTOGRAPHY
Course Content
UNIT 1: Introduction to Photography.............09
UNIT 2: Understanding Mobile
Photography.......................................31
UNIT 3: Art of Photography.............................49
UNIT 4: Practical Photography
Projects and Assignments................81

DUR
SE
AT
COUR

15
ION

HOURS

MARKS DISTRIBUTION: Total 50 marks

(Theory : 15 | Practical : 35)

7 Introduction to Photography
 UNIT- 1
Introduction to Photography

Topics Covered
1.1 Introduction to Photography
1.2 Importance of Photography
1.3 History and Evolution of
Photography?
1.4 Things to Remember
1.5 Practical

1.1 Introduction to Photography

We all are surrounded by images and some of them
keep on moving. To capture or freeze its movement into
one frame and keep it forever as memories to cherish is
known as Photography. We see images daily, be it in
newspapers, magazines, television, or living things around
us, such as people, animals,
plants, or anything we can
see with our eyes. They are
all photographs in some
manner. Although living
things are not on paper, but
similar to images on paper,
they also have dimensions,
color and light.

9 Introduction to Photography
 What is Photography?
Photography is a Greek word made
out of two words, Photo and Graphy,
where Photo means 'light' and
Graphy refers to 'Graphics'.
Photography can be found in various
Let
forms. It can be art for people who the ’s see
wo
are passionate and eager to explore. rd p from
It can be a medium of communication h wh
cam otogr ere
for people who don't know how to read e. aph
y
and write, and it can also be used to
record research data for scientists.
Definition

Image:

C amera is an optical instrument

which is used to capture images.
Let us briefly discuss the working
of basic cameras used a few
decades ago, and look how a real
image is converted into a photo.
, how
Do you know The camera consists of a lens on one
y is done?
photograph end and film on the other. Photography
was done by capturing light rays
emitted from the target image via
lens. These captured light rays are
focused on a light-sensitive material
called film. When the light strikes
the film, a negative image is created
on it. Upon washing this negative
film with special chemicals, the real

Introduction to Photography 10
 Fact: Photography means “Drawing with Light” or “Capturing
with Light”.

image is formed and then transferred on paper. Nowadays,

mobile cameras and DSLRs are used for photography
that generates photos via digital sensors. We will discuss
the working of mobile camera in detail in the next unit.

Definition
Lens: A camera lens is the part of a camera that
directs light to the film.

Film: It is a transparent plastic sheet, with one

side covered with light-sensitive silver
halide crystals, used in photographic
cameras for capturing images.

We can also say that

photography is the text-less
language of communication. It is
communicated through images.
A successful photograph must
contain all the crucial elements,
such as light, subject, emotion,
and composition.

Looking at the photos that

were clicked in the past
displays a sequence of

11 Introduction to Photography
 events in front of our eyes happened at that time.
By looking at one photo, we relive that moment and
also recall the people that were around us in that photo.
Do you think that we can ever go into the past? Practically
not, but by looking at the old photos, we can relive the past
for some time.

There is a well-known saying:

“A picture is worth a thousand words”! Let us understand
this with an example, suppose you want to sell a pen, and
you have advertised it. So how would you convince people
to buy it? You can do it in two ways:

1. By displaying the photo of the pen in it along with a short

description.
2. By describing every characteristic of it without having the
display of pen in it.

Figure 1.1: Advertisement without Figure 1.2: Advertisement with

Pen Image Pen Image

Introduction to Photography 12
Which method do you think is more effective? Yes, of course,
the poster that contains the photo of the pen attracts the
public as by seeing the pen, they can easily recognise what
the advertisement is all about. Visual images are more
appealing than text.

Another historical example is the Tsunami. You must have

read about it in books or magazines. To get an idea about
the event, instead of reading out the whole incident, simply
by looking at the images, you can figure out that tsunami is
all about the big disaster. This is the power and beauty of
a photograph. A single click can give an idea of the whole
incident.

Figure 1.3: Tsunami Waves

13 Introduction to Photography
 What is a Photograph ?
A photograph is a physical form of memory that
emotionally drags us to the past. In other words, a photograph
holds or preserves the moments of the past and presents
us with a realisation of time discontinuity.

Photographs can make us realise a phase shift between the

present and the past, whose key holds a unique meaning.

First Photograph
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, in 1826,
captured the first permanent
photograph in France. The picture
shows the roof of a building lit by Lets
the sun. Pho see Ho
tog w
rap the f
h lo ir
ok st ed

Figure 1.4: “View from the Window at Le Gras” by Joseph Nicephore Niepce

Introduction to Photography 14
 What is the purpose of Photography ?
The purpose of photography depends on a photographer's
vision, i.e., what
he is trying to
perceive. For
example, media
photographers
capture images to
provide a detailed
account of the
actual events. It is
extensively used in
the fashion industry
for the photoshoot
of models. Editorial photography is used to illustrate
articles in magazines, while hobbyist photographers aim
to capture life moments with their families and friends.

Prerequisites for Photography

To start with photography, all you need is a camera, which
can be in a smartphone, an advanced DSLR or a mirrorless
camera. Apart from these, the originality and aesthetics
of an image are crucial factors that should be considered
during photography.

Figure 1.5: Front-side view of a DSLR

15 Introduction to Photography
 Figure 1.6: Front view of Smartphone

What is the need of photography ?

In today's world, the need for a photograph is of utmost
importance because it is one of the ways that connect us
to the past. It is said that "memories fade", so we need
photos and videos to recall them. They connect us to our
past and remind us of people, places, emotions and stories.

Introduction to Photography 16
 Fill in the blanks:

1. Photography means ________________ or

_________________.

2. A picture is worth a ________________ words.

3. In the word photography, photo means _________

and graphy means _________.

4. The first permanent photograph was captured in

the year ______ in France.

5. _________ images are more appealing than text.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

17 Introduction to Photography
 1.2 Importance of Photography
In 1861, Frederick Douglass, an American social
reformer, orator and writer, held a lecture called
"Pictures and Progress". He emphasised that "The
great cheapness and universality of pictures must
exert a powerful though silent influence upon the ideas
and sentiment of present and future generations."

In this chapter, you will learn about the importance of

photography and how photos revolve around us every day.
Photographs are the source of information; for example, you
must have seen photos on advertising hoardings in your city,
safety sign boards, walls, and newspapers and magazines.
With the addition of a photograph in any article, its authenticity
is increased.

Figure 1.7: Magazine Figure 1.8: Advertising Hoarding

These days pictures are as informative as written or printed

words. In fact, in a country like ours, where many people
still cannot read and write, photographs acts as the medium
of learning.

Introduction to Photography 18
Generally, Photographs are seen along with the written
news in newspapers and magazines. Adding photographs
along with news builds trust among readers and also acts
as an Wevidence of the event's happening.

Figure 1.9: Newspaper

In figure 1.9, you can see how the photographs are embedded
with the written article. Each picture in the above figure gives
an idea about the subject of the news.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

19 Introduction to Photography
 Why is photography important in our
society?

Connection to the World:

Photography is a
universal language. It
is a medium to connect
people around the world.
Suppose you have to
describe famous cricketer
Sachin Tendulkar, but
you haven't seen him or
any of his pictures. Will
you be able to develop an
interest in knowing him?
Certainly not, because
you may lose interest
as you cannot exactly
imagine how he look.
So, to recognise such
Figure 1.10: Sachin Tendulkar
famous personalities, (Indian Cricketer)
photography shows its
significance.

Capture History:
"Today's photograph will be tomorrow's history". You
must have heard the name of one of the greatest freedom
fighters of our country, Bhagat Singh. His biography is well
known to us, but we haven't seen him alive. With the help of
photography done at that time, we can see his photos and
more clearly understand his journey. Hence photographs
are one of the keys to making the legends live forever in
the heart of people.

Introduction to Photography 20
 Figure 1.11: Bhagat Singh
(Indian Freedom Fighter)

Research Work:
Photography has shown its significance in research &
discoveries in the fields of biotechnology and space related
researches. Photos are the primary keys to scientific and
space discoveries and advances. Here, photography is used
to gather information and make observations. For example,
images of space, images of cells in biotechnology etc.

Figure 1.12: Image of Earth from space

21 Introduction to Photography
 Figure 1.13: Image of cells in biology

Remembering Past:
It is an incredible feeling to watch our childhood photos.
Isn't it? Photographs take us back to our old memories.
We feel immense happiness looking at those photos. It also
reminds us of people, places, events and emotions.

Introduction to Photography 22
Businesses use photography for marketing:

Most companies rely on

photography to sell their
products. Business industries
use photos for product
exposure as well as marketing.
Photography helps businesses
to grow globally and earn
money. For example, in figure
1.14, A restaurant poster is
there, having multiple photos
of its dishes. This poster helps
in building publicity for the
Figure 1.14: Poster of a
restaurant. restaurant

Another example is the

cosmetic brand that combines
all its products into one frame.
Without photos of its products,
it would be difficult for the
company to convey their
message to their audience.

Figure 1.15: Poster of a

cosmetic brand

For Personal use:

You can do photography to freeze your special moment and

keep it forever as a photograph. Nowadays people are fond

23 Introduction to Photography
 of doing photoshoots for various occasions such as
birthdays, anniversaries, wedding ceremonies etc. Here
comes an option to opt for photography as a career.

Thus, from all the above discussion, it is evident

that photography has become an essential part of
our daily lives.

Fill in the blanks:

1. Frederick Douglass, held a lecture called

___________________.

2. _____________ is a universal language.

3. Today's photograph will be tomorrow's __________.

4. In research work, the significance of photography is

seen in the field of _____________and ___________.

5. In business, most companies rely on photography to

sell their ____________.

Introduction to Photography 24
 1.3 History and Evolution of
Photography
In prehistoric times, when man began to communicate with
each other, they started drawing images on walls and similar
surfaces. The idea of drawing pictures grew from drawing
to painting and finally to photography.

In the early nineteenth century, the technology of

photography was invented that can develop exact copies of
the target scene or image. Hence camera, along with the
film, made photography a reality.

The idea of the camera was discovered before photography.

An Arab physicist named Ibn al-Haytham (965–1039)
described the camera obscura effect in which the device
pinhole camera is used to display the image.

Figure 1.16: Pinhole camera

25 Introduction to Photography
 The light passing through the pinhole creates an
inverted image on the opposite side of the box. Now artists
can create realistic paintings by looking at the image, but
this method still does not form physical photographs.

Figure 1.17: Working of a Pinhole camera

Definition
Pinhole Camera: A pinhole camera, also known as
camera obscura or "dark chamber", is a simple optical imaging
device in the shape of a closed box or chamber.

However, this process is very slow and requires holding

the camera still for a long time. As studied in the previous
section, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce developed the first
photograph in 1826 in France. In pinhole cameras, people
could form photos but not in physical form. They all were

Introduction to Photography 26
in the form of light. To solve this problem, Niepce coated a
pewter plate with asphalt, which grew harder when exposed
to light. By washing the plate with lavender oil, he could
permanently fix the hardened substance on the plate. He
named this process as Heliography.

Figure 1.18: Image of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce

The next artist who contributed to the development

of photography was Louis Daguerre. In 1839, Daguerre
developed the first commercial photographic material;
he named it "Daguerreotype". The first photographic
camera developed for commercial manufacture was a
daguerreotype camera, built by Alphonse Giroux in 1839.
But images made by this camera faded quickly.

27 Introduction to Photography
 Figure 1.19: Louis Daguerre

To overcome the problem of daguerreotype camera, an

American inventor Alexander S. Wolcott in 1840, invented
the the mirror camera that made photographs that did not
fade quickly.

Later in this series, the cameras have enhanced their

photography and with the advancement of technology,
we have reached the era of mobile cameras and DSLRs
where photo is generated by digital sensors and are stored
instantly in digital form inside the device used.

Introduction to Photography 28
 1.4 Things to Remember

Things to
Remember

1. Photo means 'Light' and Graphy means 'Graphics'.

2. An Arab physicist named Ibn al-Haytham (965–1039)
described the camera obscura effect.
3. The first photographic camera developed was a
daguerreotype camera.
4. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce captured the first
permanent photograph, in 1826 in France.
5. Text with photo is more effective and powerful
for the delivery of the message.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

29 Introduction to Photography
 1.5 Practical

Practical: Demonstrate Photo Walk

Photo Walk
A walk to your favourite place with your camera
to take pictures of your interest and make a
story out of it.

~ You can use a mobile phone

camera

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 30
 UNIT- 2
Understanding Mobile
Photography

Topics Covered
2.1 Using a mobile camera
2.2 Parts of a mobile camera
2.3 Understanding and controlling
Exposure.
2.4 Things to Remember
2.5 Practical

2.1 Using a mobile Camera

A mobile camera is a built-in digital camera used to capture
photographs and record videos in a mobile phone. Mobile
means to move freely, and the name 'mobile' in front of
phone comes from here. Mobile phones are portable, i.e.,
we can carry them with us wherever we go. And thus, the
mobile camera is also portable as it is inbuilt inside the
mobile.

The first commercial phone with a color camera was the

Kyocera Visual Phone VP-210, released in Japan in May

31 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Figure 2.1: Image of Kyocera
Visual Phone VP-210

1999. Today with the advancement in technology, with a

simple click, the captured image is immediately turned into
a digital image. And later can be converted into a physical
photo by taking out its print from a printer.

In the previous unit, you have learnt about various ancient

methods to do photography and generate photos out of
them. The photo developed there was in the form of a light
source, chemical film etc. By the end of this chapter, you
will be able to realize the ease of mobile camera.

Let us first understand the basic steps included in

mobile photography:

Primary Requirement: A Mobile phone also called as

smartphone with an inbuilt camera.

Introduction to Photography 32
 1. Take out your mobile phone
2. Open camera application.
3. Decide the camera side you want to
shoot, from back camera to capture
the image infront of you or front
Mobile
Steps to do camera to take selfie.
y
Photograph 4. Focus your object with the desired
lightening and click it.
5. Your work is done. Now open your
phone gallery and watch the photo
you have just clicked.
Definition

Focus: The process of making adjustments to the lens to

get a sharp and clear image. It is the area where
the lens work to highlight an object.

33 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Advantages of using Mobile Camera:

1. Mobile phones are portable, so

it can be carried with us to any
location to capture pictures.
2. It is easy to take photographs
from a smartphone as compared
to a professional camera. Adv
ant
3. The quality of the photo is also Mob ages o
ile C f us
good if you are using a high- ame ing
ra
end phone with good camera
features.
4. Photos can be taken very quickly
by smartphones.
5. You can take selfie from a mobile camera.

Figure 2.2: A boy taking selfie

Introduction to Photography 34
 By now, you have realized how easy it is to take a photo
from a mobile phone, which is very different from ancient
photography methods.

Disadvantages of Mobile Camera:

1. The quality of a photo is low compared to DSLRs

2. It has limited lens options, i.e., you have a fixed lens in
mobile phones whereas there are multiple options for
lenses in DSLR.
3. Zooming may create a low-quality picture.
4. In low lightening, the quality of the image may get reduced.

But due to the ease of quick and easy photography, most of

us use mobile photography in our day-to-day lives.

You have now very well understood the process of using

a mobile camera. Now let us see the working of mobile
phone camera in the next section.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

35 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Lets do some
Fun Activity

Do it Your Yourself:

1. Click a photograph from a mobile camera by

following the steps discussed in the chapter.
2. Click two photographs with one in zoom
mode and other without zoom. Compare the
photographs. Which one is having a clearer
image?

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 36
 2.2 Parts of a mobile Camera
The most essential and necessary feature of a mobile
phone is the camera. This camera is inbuilt into the phone,
providing the ease to take photos easily.

Mobile phone camera consists of the following

components inside it:

Lens: Lens is a collection of multiple transparent materials

made of glass or plastic that bends the light coming from
the image towards the camera sensor.

Figure 2.3: Mobile phone lens

Sensor: The sensor is the part of the camera that actually

'captures' the image. The lens focuses the light emitted
from the image onto the sensor to get a clear picture.

Figure 2.4: Mobile phone sensor

37 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Fact: The sensor is a thin wafer of silicon which turns the light
into electrical signals.

Photography is built on the following three pillars

of exposure:

1. Aperture: An aperture in a mobile phone is a fixed-small

opening that decides how much light will enter through the
lens to the sensor. It is positioned between lens and shutter,
see figure 2.5.

2. Shutter Speed: Shutter speed refers to the duration

the image sensor is exposed to light. In traditional cameras,
while capturing photos, the shutter opens for a fraction
of time, allowing the light rays from the lens to hit the
sensor. Smartphones uses electronic shutter which works
by switching the mobile camera’s sensor on and off for a
fraction of time.

3. ISO: ISO is a system that refers to your camera’s

sensitivity to light. If ISO is high, camera sensor becomes
more sensitive, and the photo gets brighter. If you take a
picture in the same lighting conditions and increase the
ISO value one by one, you’ll produce increasingly brighter
images.

ISP: An ISP or image signal processor is the most crucial

part of a camera. It converts the image signals into a clear
photo.

Introduction to Photography 38
Working of the Mobile camera:

While photographing from a mobile camera, a sequence of

events happen:

1. When you open your mobile phone camera, the aperture

is ready to take in light rays from the image.
2. The aperture of a phone camera is fixed. So, the lens
accumulates the amount of light from the image as per
the size of the aperture.
3. These light signals strike the image sensor of the camera.
4. The image sensor then converts the light signals into
electrical/image signals.
5. Now ISP converts the image signals into a photograph.
This photograph can further be viewed on a mobile
phone.

Figure 2.5: Sequence of events while capturing photo from a Mobile Camera

39 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Lets do some
Fun Activity

True or False:

1. Shutter is present between lens and _______

aperture
2. The aperture of mobile camera is fixed _______

3. Light signals strike the image sensor of

_______
the camera
4. The sensor converts electrical signal to _______
light signals
5. Smartphone uses electronic shutter _______

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 40
 2.3 Understanding and
Controlling Exposure
What is Exposure: The amount of light captured by
a camera sensor is called exposure. Exposure and light
are the two important factors that are responsible for the
brightness or darkness of your photograph.

Fact: Exposure refers to the overall brightness of an image.

Exposure can be basically categorized in two ways,

underexposed and overexposed. For example, in figure 2.6,
the image on the left side is dark, i.e., the image is taken
in low light. Thus, the photo formed will be underexposed.
And therefore, a lot of detailing is missing in the darker part
of the image. Similarly, the right side of image is too much
bright as the image is taken from a brighter side. So, the
image formed will be overexposed. This results in the lack

Figure 2.6: A single image showing different exposures.

41 Understanding Mobile Photography

 of detailing in the whites of the image.

How to manually adjust the exposure while

capturing a photo:

The target is to achieve a perfect photo with correct

exposure.
Before capturing any photograph, the exposure needs to
be adjusted correctly.

Here are a few steps to set correct exposure while

capturing an image:

1. Once you have opened your smartphone camera, it will

show you the live images to capture.
2. You can set appropriate exposure by touching any part
of the image on the screen.
3. A circle or a square box popped up along with the exposure
controlling slider as seen in figure 2.7 and figure 2.8
4. If bright side of image(clouds) is clicked as shown in
figure 2.7, the overall light or brightness is reduced and
this can result to an underexposed image.
5. Whereas if darker side of the screen(trees) is touched
as seen in figure 2.8 then, it will add light to the overall

Figure 2.7: An Under-exposed Image Figure 2.8: An Over-exposed Image

Introduction to Photography 42
 image and this can lead to overexposure of image.
6. So to get a perfect photo, the exposure should be correctly
adjusted. You can adjust the exposure by continuously
touching on the dark and bright area of the image and
moving exposure slider on your screen until a perfect
image is seen and then capture the photo. Figure 2.9,
shows a decent image with correctly adjusted exposure.

Figure 2.9: Original Image

In this way, you can manually adjusts the exposure in the

smartphone camera to get a perfectly exposed photo.

You can also use a

tripod for holding your
mobile camera static in
any desired direction.
This results in a clear
image. Holding the
mobile phone in your
hand while capturing a
photograph may lead to
distortion in your shot

Figure 2.10: Tripod for holding the

camera.

43 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Follo
w
bette the tips
r Ph
Tips to do a better photography: otog for a
raph
y

1. Clean the lenses for crystal clear photos

2. Set the focus to ensure your subject is clear
3. Adjust exposure for perfect brightness levels
4. Use natural light as its free of cost.
5. Focus on one subject.
6. Hold your phone still.
7. Consider buying a mobile tripod.
8. Set your camera app's exposure manually.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 44
 Fill in the blanks:

1. Mobile phones are ___________, therefore can be

carried with us.

2. _____________ is a universal language.

3. Today's photograph will be tomorrow's __________.

4. In research work, the significance of photography is

seen in the field of _____________ and ___________.

5. In business, most companies rely on photography to

sell their ____________.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

45 Understanding Mobile Photography

 2.4 Things to Remember

Things to
Remember

1. The first commercial phone with a color camera

was the Kyocera Visual phone V P-210.
2. Lens is a collection of multiple transparent
materials made of glass or plastic.
3. The sensor is the part of the camera that actually
captures the image.
4. Exposure is the overall brightness or darkness
of a photograph.
5. Shutter speed is the length of time the shutter
of the camera is open, exposing light onto the
camera sensor.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 46
 2.5 Practical

Do i
t you
rself

Activity 1: Demonstrate photography using a

mobile.

Tips: Follow the steps as explained in

the chapter.

Activity 2: Demonstrate the usage of

Opencamera App for complete
camera control.

Tips: Open Camera is a free Camera

application. Install it in your phone
and capture photos by following
appropriate camera controls such
as exposure, focus, shutter speed,
ISO etc.

47 Understanding Mobile Photography

 Activity 3: Demonstrate the understanding of
Exposure.

Tips: Click photos from the mobile phone

and try to adjust the exposure
manually to get a perfect image.

Activity 4: Demonstrate Shutter Speed Control

Tips: To adjust the shutter speed, you need

to be in the manual mode or pro
mode of your mobile camera app.

Change the values of shutter and

capture the moving images such as
ceiling fan when it is switched ON or
any moving vehicle.

Introduction to Photography 48
 UNIT- 3
Art of Photography

Topics Covered
3.1 Introduction to Composition
3.2 Rules of Composition
3.3 Understanding Light and Color
3.4 Understanding basic camera angles
3.5 Things to Remember
3.6 Practical

3.1 Introduction to Composition

Composition is a powerful tool for capturing better
photographs. It is the arrangement of different visual
elements in a piece of art to make it more impressive. It
can be done in paintings, photographs, print or in a play.

The beauty of composition depends on how frequently the

elements interact with each other. A well-composed art is
creatively successful and leaves a positive impact on the
viewers. "You don't take a photograph; you make it"
is well said by an American photographer, Ansel Adams
describes composition in one line.

49 Art of Photography
 Figure 3.1: An example of well Composed Image

In short, composition in a photograph is how each part is

placed in one frame to form a complete photo. The main aim
of composition is to balance the objects (positive spaces)
and negative space. A balance of positive and negative
space creates a decent photograph resulting in a successful
composition.

A good composition is “the strongest way of seeing”, well

said by Edward Weston, one of the best photographers of
all time and a master of composition.

Definition

Negative Space: The area in an image where there are

no objects but acts as a filler between positive spaced objects.

Introduction to Photography 50
A good composition depends on the following factors like:

1. Emotion: Your composition should compliment your

subject. While capturing any image consider two points:
(i) What is the emotion of your main subject. (ii) How you
can arrange the composition that matches to the emotion
of the subject.

2. Structure: A composition should decide the path of the

viewer's eye through the photo. It can vary from people
to people, from which angle they are viewing the image,
but generally, there is one point that attracts most of the
viewers. The structure of the composition contains lines,
shapes, texture etc, that move the eyes of the viewer
towards the main subject.
3. Control: To achieve a well composed image, you can
naturally control the arrangement of the objects present
in your image before capturing it. This can be done by
setting up camera angles, positions and focal length.

Figure 3.2: A composition satisfying the above three factors.

51 Art of Photography
 In figure 3.2, the path of our eyes follows the bridge and
take us to the moon and then the mountains. This is where
the structure in composition is present. Since it is night,
so, the overall emotion of the composition show us a dark
scene. You can also develop these types of compositions
by keeping in mind its basic factors.

Now let us discuss some of the key elements of

composition in photography:

1. Points: The simplest element of composition having

zero dimensions. In figure 3.3, the point is the spot where
two mountains meet one another and directs the viewers
eyes on it.

Figure 3.3: A landscape containing point as the composing element.

2. Lines: A Line connects two different elements of the

photo. Sometimes, lines in a photo are imaginary, but
they still exist. For example, see figure 3.4 the imaginary

Introduction to Photography 52
line that connects the grassland to the sky. Also in figure
3.3, there are slanting lines that divides the sand dunes.

Figure 3.4: Imaginary Line connecting sky and grassland.

3. Shapes: Shapes are the complex elements of

composition. They have the power to attract the attention of
the viewer. Figure 3.5 shows us the composition that drags
our attention to shapes it has.

Figure 3.5: An image showing shape composition.

53 Art of Photography
 4. Space (Positive and Negative): The part of image
that has some object which attracts the viewers is referred
as positive space. Whereas negative space is the empty
space which acts as a filler between the regions of positive
space. In figure 3.6, the tree is in positive space and the
sand near water covers the negative space.

Figure 3.6: A landscape showing positive and negative space.

By now you have very well understood the basic elements

of composition in photography. A photography can have
countless elements of composition. You will learn more
about it in the next module.
Now let us learn about the important rules of
composition in the next chapter. Following these rules can
take your composition to the next level. However, it is said
that rules are meant to be broken, so it is not compulsory
to follow these. They are like guidelines, following which a
good composition can be achieved. But not following them
will not lead to a bad composition.

Introduction to Photography 54
 Fill in the blanks:

1. The main aim of composition is to balance the

objects and _______________ .

2. A good composition is “ __________________

_____________”, well said by Edward Weston.

3. Your ____________ should compliment your

subject.

4. ______________ are the simplest element of

composition having zero dimensions.

5. __________ are meant to be broken.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

55 Art of Photography
 3.2 Rules of Composition
Composition is a pleasing organisation of objects within a
frame. The rules of composition are the guidelines to be
followed while capturing a photo inorder to achieve more
attractive compositions. It is not mandatory to follow the
rules. It depends on you to follow them, or make your own
rule. To make the composition that pleases your eyes should
be the ultimate goal.

There are several guidelines of composition in photography.

Some of the most significant guidelines are the rule of thirds,
leading lines and depth of field.

1. Rule of Thirds:

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that breaks

down an image into nine equal pieces with four gridlines
(two vertical and two horizontal). According to this rule, a
better composition is achieved on placing the main subject
in image along the intersection of gridlines, or on the left
or right of the centre of the frame. The following figures
are shown to make you understand how to draw gridlines.
In figure 3.7 the main object i.e., the sunflower vase is at

Figure 3.7: A composition with rule of third.

Introduction to Photography 56
Figure 3.8: A composition without rule of third.

intersection of the gridlines and towards left of centre.

It is not necessary to every time follow the rule of thirds. But

to get a natural and pleasing photo, it can be followed. From
the figure 3.7 and figure 3.8, you can see the difference in
photography. The one that follows the rule of third is slightly
more appealing than the one that does not follow it.

2. Leading Lines:

These are the lines that

directs the viewer's
eyes to the main subject
through a path. This path
is formed by the leading
lines. Like the rule of
thirds, leading lines
are also a composition
technique that can be
used across all kinds
of photography, from
portraits to landscape
shots. Leading lines can
be anything. They can be
Figure 3.9: Leading Lines.

57 Art of Photography
 roads, bridges or a line of trees that naturally draws the
viewers' attention towards the main object in the image.
Leading lines can be of many types such as: horizontal,
vertical, diagonal, converging and curved. Figure 3.9 shows
almost all types of leading lines. There are converging lines
that takes the viewers eyes from foreground towards the
main object, vertical lines as vertical pillars, horizontal lines
as slabs at the top, diagonal lines from the left-top corner
of the front pillar towards the last pillar that is near to the
main object. So, you can also conclude that there can be
more than one leading line in a composition that is focusing
on a single subject. A detailed study about leading lines is
explained in module 2.

3. Depth of field (DOF): Depth of field refers to the

portions of a photograph that are in sharp focus. An
image can have a Shallow DOF or a Deeper DOF. An
image with a shallow DOF focuses on a specific small
part of the image and keeps the rest of the image as
slightly blurred. For example, in figure 3.10, the flower is
in sharp focus keeping the mountains blur.

Figure 3.10: A composition with Shallow DOF

Introduction to Photography 58
In an image having deep DOF, a large portion of the image is
in sharp focus. Usually these are landscape photography that
keeps the whole image in focus. In figure 3.11, the grasses
in the foreground to the mountains in the background, has
a deep DOF, i.e., they all are clearly visible.

Now you know the basic and important guidelines of

composition in photography. A small exercise is there in
the next section to test your understandability about this.

Figure 3.11: A composition with Deep DOF

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

59 Art of Photography
 Here are few of the images.
Your task is to write down
what rules of composition are
applied in the images. It can be
Test your more than one.
knowledge

Answer: ___________________________ Answer: ___________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

Answer: ___________________________ Answer: ___________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

Introduction to Photography 60
 Fill in the blanks:

1. _______________ is the pleasing organisation of

objects within a frame.
2. The guidelines of compositions are:
___________________, Leading lines and Depth of
field.
3. _____________ can be horizontal, vertical and
curved.
4. Rule of third divides the frame into ________ equal
parts
5. An image can have following Depth of fields: a
_____________ DOF or a ___________ DOF.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

61 Art of Photography
 3.3 Understanding Light And
Color
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it.
Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you
are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”
by George Eastman, founder of Kodak.

Light: Light and color are one of the fundamental elements

of creativity in photography. Light conveys the information
and emotion in an image. And the color of light can vary
depending upon the light sources. Light can be both natural
and artificial which allows us to create different moods and
atmospheres in the image. It ranges from violet through
green to red. While working with light, it is important to keep
white balance in mind.

White balance: White balance determines how accurate

are the colors of your photograph. It balances and corrects
the color temperature in your image and set the image as
neutral.

Color: Colors have a unique quality to connect and interact

with viewers. Colors are classified into two categories: Warm
colors and Cool colors. With the correct implementation of
colors in work, one can invoke certain vibes and emotions
in the viewers.

Color Temperature: Color temperature is a measurement

of the warmth or coolness of light. It is a system that uses
numerical values to measure the color characteristics of a
light source on a spectrum ranging from warm colors to cool
colors. The numerical values are referred to as degrees
Kelvin (K). Higher values are cooler tones such as blue.
Lower values are warmer tones such as orange.

Introduction to Photography 62
A blue sky, for instance, measures 12000 K, whereas a
candle light, however, measures at 1500 K.

Figure 3.12: Kelvin scale to measure color temperature

Definition
Color: A component of light that is separated when it is
reflected off of an object.

Figure 3.13: The before and after of color balancing of the image.

63 Art of Photography
 In figure 3.13, you can clearly see the difference between
the two images. In the first image the colors are not properly
balanced, whereas in second image a proper balance of
color is maintained. It looks more natural and realistic. Thus
it is very important to maintain the white balance and color
temperature in an image.

Lights in Photography

There are many factors that contribute to great photography

but none can compete with light, as without light the image
will be completely black. The presence of light starts the
tour of photography.

Light in photography refers to how the light source is

positioned in relation to your subject. As studied above
there are mainly two types of lights natural light and artificial
light. The position and quality of light can greatly affect
your photo. In module 3, a detailed explanation is done on
how positions of light source affects the photography. But
for now let us understand the two types of lights used in
photography.

Natural Light

Natural light is anything that occurs without human

interference. It can be the sunlight on a bright day, the dull
light created on a cloudy day, and the light of the moon at
night. In natural light photography, it is advisable to capture
the scene at its best in the golden hours of the day.

Now, what is golden hour? It is a period just after sunrise

and shortly before sunset. The light at this time is warm and
soft and satisfies most of the compositions.

Introduction to Photography 64
Artificial Light

Light is the main ingredient in a photograph. Sometimes the

natural light isn’t available at the time of need, so we have
to use artificial light sources. The need for artificial light
arrives when we require some extra light other than natural
light or we require some additional colors in the light or we
want to control the light for creative purposes. Some of the
popular artificial lights used are strobe lights, LED Lights,
flashes, CFL(Compact Fluorescent Light) etc. A detailed
study of these lights will be studied in module 3.

Difference between Natural & Artificial Light:

Natural Light Artificial Light

The light is naturally The light is produced by

produced by the sun and man-made equipments,
moon. such as flash, lights, bulbs
etc.
It is freely available i.e.; it is It is not freely available; you
free of cost. have to purchase it.
Its intensity varies on Its intensity is independent of
different times of the day time and weather conditions.
and on weather conditions.
Amount of light focusing Amount of light can be
on the subject cannot be easily controlled as per the
controlled. requirement.
You cannot change the color Color of the lights can
of light. be changed as per the
requirement
It works best for outdoor It works best for both indoors
photography. and outdoors.

65 Art of Photography
 Figure 3.14: Natural Light Photography

Figure 3.14 shows the photography done in natural light

and figure 3.15 shows indoor photography with artificial
light sources.

Figure 3.15: Artificial Light Photography

Introduction to Photography 66
 Colors in Photography

Color Theory: The art and science of applying colors

in our compositions is referred to as color theory. In color
theory, colors are organized on a color wheel and grouped
into 3 categories: primary colors, secondary colors and
tertiary colors.

Issac newton came up with the concept of the color wheel

in 1666. It is a circle with a color spectrum mapped on
it. The color wheel helps us to understand and apply the
color harmonies in our work. Before learning color wheel,
let us understand the two color mixing models, RGB and
CMYK. The RGB model is the additive color mixing model
that allows you to create colors by mixing red, green and
blue light. Whereas CMYK model or the subtractive color
mixing model subtracts the light from the paper by adding
more color.

RGB CMYK
Figure 3.16: RGB Model Figure 3.17: CMYK Model

In above figures, RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue and
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key or black.

67 Art of Photography
 Fact: • RGB color mode is used for screen displays.
• CMYK color mode is used for printing.

Color Wheel: There

are 12 main colors on the
color wheel. They are: red,
orange, yellow, chartreuse
green, green, spring green,
cyan, azure, blue, violet,
Whee l magenta and rose.
C o l o r

Figure 3.18: Color Wheel.

Introduction to Photography 68
Categories of color wheel:

1. Primary Colors: These colors are also known as

primary RGB colors. R stands for Red, G stands for
green, and B stands for blue. As the name suggests,
these colors are naturally available, and all the remaining
colors in the spectrum are obtained by mixing at least
two of them.

2. Secondary Colors: These colors are obtained by

mixing any two of the primary colors. Yellow, Cyan and
magenta are the secondary colors.

3. Tertiary Colors: Tertiary color is obtained by blending

primary and secondary colors. Orange, chartreuse green,
spring green, azure, violet and rose are tertiary colors.

Types of colors in a color wheel:

The color wheel is divided into warm colors and cool colors.
Warm colors are used to define the feelings of warmth,
such as reds, oranges and yellows. Whereas cool colors
define the feelings of coolness, such as greens, blues and
purples. Figure 3.18 shows the color wheel that describes
the range of warm and cool colors. The white line in the
figure separates the warm colors and cool colors.

Color Scheme: A color scheme is the logical combinations

of color available in color wheel. Certain moods and
emotions can be created through different color schemes.
Let us discuss the various color schemes that are
generated by the combination of colors on a color wheel.

69 Art of Photography
 1. Monochromatic Color Scheme: Monochromatic
color schemes are easy to create because they use
only one base color. Monochromatic artwork can be
done by using the tints, tones or shades of a color.
Figure 3.19 is the example of monochromatic artwork.

Figure 3.19: Monochromatic art.

2. Analogous Color Scheme: It is the combination of

colors that are adjacent to each other in a color wheel.
Two to a maximum of five colors that are adjacent to
each other on a color wheel are utilised in an analogous
color scheme. For example, yellow-green, green, blue-
green, blue and blue-violet forms this color scheme.

3. Complementary Color Scheme: Using two colors

that are exactly opposite to each other in a color wheel.
For example, blue and orange, violet and yellow, red and
green etc.

4. Split Complementary Color Scheme: This color

scheme is formed by the combination of three colors.

Introduction to Photography 70
 Select any color and other two colors are the adjacent
of the complement of the selected color. For example, if
first color is red, then other two colors will be the colors
that are adjacent to green, i.e., blue-green and yellow-
green. And green being the complement of red.

5. Triadic Color Scheme: Three colors are evenly

spaced on a color wheel to form a triadic color scheme.
These color combinations are usually bold and vibrant.
One of the examples is blue, red, yellow.

Characteristics of Color:

1. Hue: It is the purest and brightest form of color. All

primary and secondary colors are considered as 'hues'
2. Saturation: The purity of a color which determines its
relative brightness or dullness.
3. Value: The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
4. Shade: The addition of 'blacks' with any given hue results
in the formation of shade.
5. Tint: The addition of 'whites' with any given hue results
in the formation of tint.
6. Tone: The addition of 'greys' with any given hue results
in the formation of tone.

71 Art of Photography
 Fill in the blanks:

1. Light makes _______________ .

2. Colors are classified into two categories: _______

colors and _______ colors.

3. _______ is a component of light that is separated

when it is reflected off of an object.

4. There are _____ main colors on the color wheel.

5. _______ color mode used for printing.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 72
 3.4 Understanding Basic Camera
Angles
A ngle is the degree at which camera faces the subject.
Camera angle and camera position are composition
techniques, which can make a huge difference in your
photography. It is always better to decide the position
first and then the angle. You can change your photos'
composition based on your camera's position and angle.

Position is the level where you hold the camera.

Combination of position and angle of a camera can result
in an outstanding composition. The only thing you need
to do is to move your camera in different directions and
angles until you get a satisfactory and pleasing image.

Let's discuss the basic camera positions and

angles for photography:

Position: There are three positions in which you can hold

the camera.

1. High Position: In this

position, the camera is held
high by raising your arms
above your eye level to
capture a deep background.
Combining it with a high
camera angle creates better
photography.

Figure 3.20: Camera at High

Position.

73 Art of Photography
 2. Eye-level Position: This
is a standard shooting
position. It gives a realistic
representation of the
image. The position of the
camera is at your eye level.

Figure 3.21: Camera at Eye-level

Position.

3. Low Position: The position of the camera is lower than

your eye level. It is usually combined with low-angle
camera shots to get an impressive shot.

Angles: Similar to positions there are three angles in which

you can hold the camera.

1. High Angle: The angle

of the camera is tilted
downwards towards the
face of the subject. It
results in a descriptive
picture which captures the
surroundings. It is also
referred to as a bird’s eye
view.

Figure 3.22: Camera at High

Angle.

Introduction to Photography 74
2. Eye-level Angle: The camera is held to a height, same
as your eye level, without tilting it. The image shot from
this angle has a sense of stability.

Fact: • High angle shot can make the subject look small
or weak.
• A low-angle shot (LA) has the power to make the
subject look powerful or threatening.
• A neutral shot or eye-level (EL) shot has little to no
psychological effect on the viewer.

3. Low Angle: In this angle, the

camera is projected upwards
at the subject, i.e., shooting
a higher-level subject from a
low angle to create a sense
of depth.

Figure 3.23: Camera at Low

Angle.

75 Art of Photography
 Let us practically look at the photographs shot
from different camera angles:

Figure 3.24: High Angle shot

Figure 3.25: Eye-level Angle shot

Introduction to Photography 76
 Figure 3.26: Low Angle shot

By now, you have understood the basic camera positions

and angles. Figures 3.24, 3.25 and 3.26 shows the images
that were captures by different camera angles.

Figure 3.24 shows a high angle shot, figure 3.25 is an eye-

level shot and figure 3.26 is a low angle shot.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

77 Art of Photography
 3.5 Things to Remember

Things to
Remember

1. composition in a photograph is how each part is

placed in one frame to form a complete photo.
2. Rule of thirds, Leading lines and Depth of field
are the basic composition rules to enhance your
photography.
3. Leading lines can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal,
converging and curved.
4. There are 12 colors in a color wheel. It is divided
into warm colors and cool colors.
5. There are three types of positions and three types
of angles that is implemented in photographing.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Introduction to Photography 78
 3.6 Practical

Do i
t you
rself

Activity 1: Demonstrate usage of rules of

composition in photography

Tips: Capture images from your mobile

camera by keeping in mind the
rules of composition studied in this
unit.

Activity 2: Demonstrate Basic camera angles.

Tips: Capture images from different

angles and positions.

79 Art of Photography
 Activity 3: Demonstrate creation of a photo
story.

Tips: Photo Story: To present a story

with the help of only photographs.

Summary

In this module you have learned about the

process of photography from ancient time to
present. You are now familiar with the working
of mobile camera and how efficiently you can
capture photographs out of it. You can adjust
focal-length, exposure, camera angles to get a
pleasing image. Following the rules of composition
adds a beauty to your captured photographs.
You also have the basic understanding of
color theory. Now you are ready to analyse the
photographs by applying all the techniques you
have learned so far. Let's learn to do critical
analysis of an image in the next unit.

Introduction to Photography 80
 UNIT- 4
Practical Photography:
Projects and Assignments

Topic Covered

4.1 Critical Analysis of Master

photographers' work
4.2 Assignment and Projects

4.1 Critical Analysis of Master

photographers' work

Critical Analysis: Critical analysis is the process of

carefully examining and providing necessary improvement
in someone’s work. The work can be in the form of text and
artworks such as paintings, photographs etc. Evaluating
the work and providing appropriate judgement is known as
critical analysis. It is subjective writing which expresses the
interpretation and analysis of the work done by the artist. A
good critical analysis examines the work in a balanced way
that showcases its positive and negative aspects.

81 Practical Photography
 Steps to do critical analysis:

The first and foremost step to do critical analysis is to

understand the work done by the artist in any piece of art.
For example, if the image you are analysing is from a poem,
then you should know the insights of that poem. Once you
understand the theme and story of the poem, you can start
analysing the picture. Now based on the few points you can
start the analysis of any work.

1. Creating a format: Make small points on your initial

thoughts and suggestions while looking at the photograph.
Then elaborate on your thoughts on the various points
you have noted. Firstly, appreciate the artist in the areas
of positive sides of art and then add your advice to the
parts which are less impressive but in a positive and
constructive manner.

2. Evaluating Technical Components: The technical

Components such as shutter speed, exposure and focal
length of the camera is analysed and suggestions are
provided if anything needs to be changed. By varying
focal lengths and exposure, there can be a different view
of the image. You can suggest the artist, by different
settings of these technical components.

3. Analyse the Composition: This can be done by

applying various rules of compositions like rule of thirds,
leading lines, depth of fields, camera angles and camera
positions. The image should be well balanced by positive
and negative spaces. Analyse the color theory of the
image along with the background.

4. Maintaining a Constructive Tone: The tone of

the suggestions given by you should be positive and
constructive. This is the golden rule which must be kept

Introduction to Photography 82
 in mind while criticizing anyone's work. Always elaborate
on the points you have criticized and provide necessary
opinions in a fair tone as this will help the artist improve
his work in a positive direction.

Here are few examples to do critical analysis

of a photograph/painting:
1.

Figure 4.1: Historic Photograph

In figure 4.1:

1. The texture and design of the image is giving a historic

feel with perfect exposure.
2. Leading lines are directing our eyes towards the main
focus of the image.
3. A transition from shadows to light is beautifully captured.

83 Practical Photography
 4. The composition is well balanced by negative and positive
space.
5. The aesthetic of the image is well maintained.

2.

Figure 4.2: The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse

The Lady of Shalott is an iconic painting by John William

Waterhouse.

In figure 4.2:

1. This is a well composed painting, defining the main

objective of the scene.
2. The lady's face looks pale in color representing her
sadness.
3. The artist used warm color palette across the lady which
supports the depressive mood of the lady.
4. The artist uses natural light to maintain realism of the
scene.
5. The piece of art has appropriate exposure with a blend
of counter shadow.

Introduction to Photography 84
 4.2 Assignments and Projects

Do i
t you
rself
Activity 1: The Alphabet Project

1. The participant should take

26 photographs focusing on 1
Tips: distinctive subject in each one.
2. All 26 subject names should
start with each letter of English
alphabet.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

85 Practical Photography
 Activity 2: The Color Wheel Project

Tips: 1. Participant should take 15-20

photographs
2. The dominant color of the frame
should be different in each of the
photos.
3. Present the photographs in order
of the colors present on a color
wheel

Activity 3: The Number Project

1. The participants should take 10

Tips: photographs
2. Each of the photographs should
represent a number from 1 to 10

Introduction to Photography 86
 Activity 4: Landscape Project

Tips: 1. The participants should take

5 photographs of Landscapes,
urban or nature
2. The photographs should show
different times of the day or
seasons or any other visual
variation.

NOTES: ___________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

87 Practical Photography
 References and Books

References:

1. Wikipedia
2. capturetheatlas.com
3. vectorstock.com

Books:

1. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

2. Collins Complete Photography Course by John Garrett
3. The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Ex-
pression by Bruce Barnbaum

Introduction to Photography 88