Composition Basics

This section describes the basic ways to compile a photo. In dealing with composition we are talking about what is seen in the scene. Such as a animal, flowers, mountains, people. It can also deal with colors, lines, shapes, and sizes. Color can play a big role in composition when dealing with soft and hard colors and brightness. Certain colors can bring out a image that you may want to stand out. Placement of objects is also important because having a focus center will help draw the viewer in to the photo. You can also do thirds instead of have a focus center. You can also have a theme that will give your scene a fullness to it, capturing it as a whole.

Illuminating the scene

In this section light is the topic and it can come in many different forms. Lighting is another key that can really help capture a scene. There are different times that are better for capturing some scenes. Such as overcast light, frontlight, sidelight, backlight, and twilight. These terms are set as to where the sun is in direction of either you or in the sky. The best times to shoot are early morning or in the evening(twilight) because the light is softer and different colors are displayed giving scenes a different image that you may not capture during the daytime.

Aperture and Shutter Speed

This section is probably one of the hardest concepts to grasp. For this section i will try to explain in my own terms to as what they are. I will start with shutter speed. Shutter speed is pretty much what it sounds like. It is the amount of time it takes for the shutter of the lens to open and close. The faster the shutter speed the less light aloud in and the darker the picture will be. The slower the shutter speed the more light aloud and the brighter the picture. Aperture is the depth to field. Meaning that it is how much of the lens is used. It can be opened wide to gain more area yet the detail will be a little hazy or it can be closed somewhat and then you gain more detail and lose some area. It takes time to master these two features of a camera but once you gain the concept you can take some amazing photos that really capture a scene.

Exposure

In the exposure section we learn that exposure is the total amount of light allowed into the image during the time of taking a photograph. So when talking about an exposure it refers to what is called a shutter cycle, meaning how much light is allowed in during the time it takes the shutter to open and close.

Logistics in the field

Logistics in the field section tells us how to transport, access, and protect our equipment while being in the field. This section is important because if we can manage our equipment easily the more time and fun we can have while taking photos. Some of the things mentioned is a photo vest which is great for having easy access to gear, while being comfortable moving around. Extra film or memory cards depending on what you are shooting with. Have a means of communication in case of an emergency. For person preference it is recommended to take a brimmed hat, pepper spray, compass, lighter, knife, and waders. So in other terms a small survival kit. It is also important to stay dry and keep your equipment dry. While staying dry is important staying warm may be more important. Dress in layers!!!

Landscape Optics

The landscape optics section stresses the importance of lenses and how lenses are a key factor of how scenes are recorded. There are a couple important points to remember for lenses. A lens should have a high quality image at small apertures, should accept the same filter size, have well-designed zoom lenses, and the should focus internally. It also covers different types of lenses such as normal, wide-angle, telephoto, and tilt/shift lenses. No one lens is better than the other it is just a matter of what type of photographs you are deciding to shoot determines the type of lens you would want to consider.

Camera Systems

This section tells us of how the digital camera has taken over the photography world today. It talks about the ease of using digital camera's compared to film camera's. Digital camera's have all the settings at hand and can be changed in a matter of a second. This section also talks about camera formats as well, such as the most popular 35mm to medium and large formatting. Large formats are great for landscapes, while medium format is great for detail and 35mm is just an all around format. Towards the end we discuss tripods and that stabilization is a key factor while choosing a tripod that fits you.