GTKYC - Getting to Know Your Camera Module Overview

Getting to Know Your Camera Module Overview

Introduction

In this module you’ll get a practical understanding of how all cameras work by creating your own pinhole camera! 

Module Key Terms

1. Focal Length: Distance between the optical center of the lens and the focal plane (where the image is recorded on a sensor, film, or photographic paper).
2. Focal Plane: The plane or surface on which a focused lens forms a sharp image.
3. Focal Distance: The distance between the camera and the subject.
4. Aperture: The size of the lens opening through which light passes. 
5. Depth of Field: The area between the nearest and farthest points from the camera that are acceptably sharp in an image. 
6. Shutter: A mechanism that opens and closes to admit light into a camera for a measured length of time. 
7. Lens: A piece or several pieces of optical glass shaped to focus an image of a subject. 

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

Focal Length: In this lesson, you will explore focal length and how it affects photographs. 

Making a Pinhole Camera: Create your own pinhole camera!

Alternative Paper Processing: With some basic household items we'll create our own photographic developer and fixer.

Taking Photos: Put your knowledge to work and create!  Set up your darkroom, take photos, and process them.

By the end of this module you will gain a practical understanding of how all cameras work and how focal length affects photographs. You will create your own camera with two different focal lengths and take two versions of the same photograph. You’ll create your own darkroom and process your own photographs!

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