a how-to book by
Ernest H. Robl
Please Note: The entire work from which the following material is excerpted is protected by copyright. None of the content may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the copyright owner.
Copyright © 1998 Ernest H. Robl, All Rights Reserved
| What about digital? Though this book was produced before quality digital cameras were widely available at reasonable prices, almost all of the content is equally applicable to digital photography as it is to film photography. The focus of the book is on thinking about the content of your photographs, and what you want to communicate with your photos. Equipment is only a secondary factor. |
Preface
Why this book
When you can't find a book that explains everything the way you want it explained, the only other option is to write it yourself.
Chapter / Session 1 [Available as a sample chapter on this site]
GETTING ACQUAINTED I.: Teaching
Photography is no more about equipment than writing is about using a word processor. Photography is about seeing and imagining—and being able to preserve the things we have seen or imagined. Most of all, photography is a means of sharing and remembering.
Chapter / Session 2
GETTING ACQUAINTED II.: Learning
What it's all about—at least as far as this workshop goes—and a look at a few of the things we're not going to cover. The equipment may change, but the basics of photography don't. And, we begin with our homework projects.
Chapter / Session 3 [Available as a sample chapter on this site]
LIGHT I.: Seeing
Photography means writing with light. Without light, there's no photography. It's as simple as that. But it's also complicated in that we need to be able to understand the characteristics of light that can affect our photographs. And, for that, you may have to learn to see all over again.
Chapter / Session 4
LIGHT II.: Quantity and Quality
Light doesn't exist by itself. What our camera and film record is how existing light interacts with our subject, and how that light in turn interacts with the characteristics of our film.
Chapter / Session 5
THE CAMERA: Our Basic Tool
A look at the difference between mechanical and electronic cameras—and why, when you're making a purchase, you're not just buying a camera—you're buying into a system.
Chapter / Session 6
WRITING IT DOWN: Learning What Works And What Doesn't
We write everything down. Everything. The subject we shot; the date and time of day; the type of film; the exposure that the meter recommended—and the exposure(s) we actually shot. Why? How else can we learn from our results?
Chapter / Session 7
SHARPNESS: Difficult Choices
If everyone could produce sharp photos, the almost everyone could produce great photos. But sharpness usually isn't easy. And sometimes it isn't even easy to define.
Chapter / Session 8
THE CASE FOR CASES: Good News, Bad News
The good news is that it appears that half of the photo industry is preoccupied with producing and marketing cases for your photo gear. The bad news is they still haven't gotten it right. (A Chapter / Session on camera cases? Yes, because while a good case may not make a great photo for you, the lack of such a case may keep you from making that photo.)
Chapter / Session 9
SUBJECT MATTER AND TRUTH: The Big Lies
You know about the big lies. Did you know that they include the one about photographs never lying? We look at manipulating existing situations and whether a given slice of time is really representative of anything.
Chapter / Session 10
COMPOSITION, CONTEXT AND STYLE: Rules? What Rules?
Rules are meant to be broken. But, to break them, you need to understand them—and why they came to be in the first place.
Chapter / Session 11
PORTRAITS: People in Front of Your Camera
What's the single most important ingredient in a portrait photograph? No, it's not the choice of equipment, film or lighting—and it has little to do with the choice of location. Portrait photography is not about using makeup or selecting the right clothing or background. At its most elemental level, portrait photography is about trust.
Chapter / Session 12
ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING: Less Is More
What are some of the worst kinds of lighting? A small point source. A light close to the axis of your picture-taking lens. Light with the color balance of harsh noon-time sun. Guess what? You've just described the basic photographic flash unit. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can do something about all of these factors.
Chapter / Session 13
GETTING CLOSE: And Other Things to Know About Lenses
Lenses are more than just pieces of glass, metal and plastic. They're what holds some of the magic of photography. And, they may not work just the way you think they do.
Chapter / Session 14
TRAVEL AND LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY: A State of Mind More Than a Matter of Distance
Once you understand that the way most of us travel is not conducive to good travel photography, the rest is easy—well, sort of.
Chapter / Session 15
BUSINESS: Photography for Love or Money?
What's the most important aspect of doing photography for money? No, it's not talent or equipment. It's repeatability.
Chapter / Session 16
DEDICATION: It's Not What You Know, But How You Use It
Why do some photographers come up with better photos, day in and day out? Is it because they're smarter than we are? Is it because they know so much more than we do? Is it because their equipment is so much better than ours?
Chapter / Session 17
PHOTOGRAPHIC ETHICS: A Few Words About the Prime Directive
In making photographs we interact with other people. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves what it's like to be on the other side of the lens—and that photographic ethics is in the details of these dealings and not necessarily in the big issues that we read about in the news media.
Chapter / Session 18
GADGETS: Can You Live Without Them?
Do you really need all that stuff that they advertise in the photo magazines? Perhaps a better questions is, "Do you really want to get along without some of these items?" (A quick look at things that make your life easier, photographically—many of which you will not find at a photo store.)
Chapter / Session 19
TROUBLES: We've got troubles ...
In photography, all sorts of things can go wrong. Here we try to head off some of the more common ones and to diagnose others that may come up.
Chapter / Session 20
PAYING FORWARD: Sharing
You're never too old to learn—or to pass along what you've learned to someone else. Photography gives you lots of things to share: Don't forget to share the fun of making photos.
Postscript
Questionnaire
Glossary
Bibliography
Return to introductory page for
Getting
Serious About Photography.
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