Understanding Photography

Understanding Photography

by Sean T. McHugh
Released December 2018
Publisher(s): No Starch Press
ISBN: 9781593278946

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Book description

Learn the core concepts and techniques you need to know to take better photos, from choosing the best lens for your stylistic goals to selecting the right camera settings for different lighting conditions.

With clear explanations and highly visual examples, Sean T. McHugh takes you from basic concepts like exposure and depth of field to more advanced topics, such as how camera lenses and sensors capture light to produce images. You’ll learn not only which camera settings to use in different situations but also the reasons why.

Learn how to:

• Choose lenses that give greater control over perspective
• Minimize image noise by understanding how digital sensors work
• Get the exposure you want even in fog, mist, or haze
• Improve hand-held shots by mastering shutter speed and autofocus
• Use tripods, lens filters, and flash to enhance image capture

Whether you want to understand digital photography at a deeper level or simply want to take better photos, Understanding Photography will help you get the most out of your camera.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. CONTENTS
  6. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  8. INTRODUCTION
    1. COMPONENTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
    2. WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
    3. ABOUT THIS BOOK
  9. CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    1. UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE
    2. CAMERA METERING
    3. UNDERSTANDING DEPTH OF FIELD
    4. SUMMARY
  10. CHAPTER 2: DIGITAL IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS
    1. UNDERSTANDING BIT DEPTH
    2. DIGITAL CAMERA SENSORS
    3. IMAGE HISTOGRAMS
    4. IMAGE NOISE
    5. SUMMARY
  11. CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING CAMERA LENSES
    1. HOW LENSES WORK
    2. USING WIDE-ANGLE LENSES
    3. USING TELEPHOTO LENSES
    4. SUMMARY
  12. CHAPTER 4: CAMERA TYPES AND TRIPODS
    1. CHOOSING A CAMERA TYPE
    2. CAMERA TRIPODS
    3. SUMMARY
  13. CHAPTER 5: LENS FILTERS
    1. UNDERSTANDING LENS FILTERS
    2. UV AND HAZE FILTERS
    3. COLOR FILTERS
    4. PROBLEMS WITH USING LENS FILTERS
    5. CHOOSING A FILTER SIZE
    6. POLARIZING FILTERS
    7. NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS
    8. GRADUATED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS
    9. SUMMARY
  14. CHAPTER 6: USING FLASH TO ENHANCE SUBJECT ILLUMINATION
    1. HOW FLASH AFFECTS SUBJECT APPEARANCE
    2. CONTROLLING YOUR FLASH EXPOSURE
    3. SUMMARY
  15. CHAPTER 7: WORKING WITH NATURAL LIGHT AND WEATHER
    1. HOW TIME OF DAY AND CLOUDS AFFECT LIGHT
    2. COMPONENTS OF ILLUMINATION
    3. FOG, MIST, AND HAZE
    4. SUMMARY
  16. CHAPTER 8: INTRODUCTION TO PORTRAIT LIGHTING
    1. USING A SINGLE LIGHT SOURCE
    2. FILL LIGHTING
    3. SUMMARY
  17. CHAPTER 9: OTHER SHOOTING TECHNIQUES
    1. REDUCING CAMERA SHAKE
    2. USING SHUTTER SPEED CREATIVELY
    3. UNDERSTANDING AUTOFOCUS
    4. UNDERSTANDING COMPOSITION
    5. SUMMARY
  18. APPENDIX: CLEANING CAMERA SENSORS
    1. OTHER POTENTIAL DUST REPOSITORIES
    2. HOW TO LOCATE SENSOR DUST
    3. BEST PRACTICES FOR KEEPING YOUR SENSOR CLEAN
    4. SENSOR-CLEANING METHODS
    5. HOW TO CLEAN YOUR SENSOR
    6. ALTERNATIVES TO CLEANING SENSORS YOURSELF
  19. INDEX

Product information

  • Title: Understanding Photography
  • Author(s): Sean T. McHugh
  • Release date: December 2018
  • Publisher(s): No Starch Press
  • ISBN: 9781593278946