The Camera History and Basic Functions

The Camera 
1. In ancient times, Greek and Chinese philosophers found an interesting optical effect. Inside a completely dark room a small hole is made in a wall. Through the hole light is focused and it shines on the other wall. This effect was named the "camera obscura" which means "dark room" in latin.
2. In the 17th century Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens invented optics and high quality lenses. This helped the modern camera come one step closer to being created.
3. The parts of the first modern camera were a glass lens, a dark box, and film.
4. Modern digital cameras and Niepce's cameras both have a glass lens and film.
5. Digital cameras use an electronic sensor called a CCD to capture an image.

Camera Modes
6. On auto the camera will completely control flash and exposure. On program the camera gives you automatic-assist, all you have to do is point and shoot, and you can usually control flash and a few other settings.
7. The portrait mode is used for blurring out the background, the camera will try to use the fastest available lens setting.
8. The sports mode is used to freeze motion, the camera will use the highest shutter speed possible.
9. In manuel mode the photographer must set both the shutter and the aperture mode.

The Half Press
10. You should do a half press on the trigger button because it lets the camera focus so that you can get a better picture, and then you fire (full-press) when you want to take the picture.

Controlling Flash
11. That is the symbol for disabled flash. It is used when you don't want flash at all, the photo can be more dramatic when natural light is used.
12. That is the symbol for auto-flash, it is used automatically if the camera thinks the photo needs more light.

Introduction to Exposure
13. If there is too much light then the picture will be washed out.
14. If there is not enough light and the picture will be too dark.

The Universal Stop
15.  A "stop" is a relative measurement of light, it used in every aspect of photography to show a change in the brightness of the light.
16. If there were two suns instead of one then it would be double the amount of light and it would be +1 stop.
17. If there were 4 suns instead of two then it would be +1 stop because you would be doubling the amount of light.

Shutters and Aperture
18. A longer shutter speed = more light.
19. A shorter shutter speed = less light.
20. The aperture controls larger openings which = more light.
21. You can increase the amount of light by setting smaller F-stop numbers which = larger openings and larger openings = more light.