Compositional Techniques

Question 1

List as many compositional techniques as you can

Answer 1

Rule of Thirds
Viewpoint - worm’s eye, eye level, bird’s eye
Negative Space
Leading Lines
Framing
Camera Angle
Focal Point
Symmetry/Asymmetry
Scale, Proportion
Foreground, Middleground, Background,

Question 2

List the 7 visual elements

Answer 2

Colour
Shape
Pattern
Texture
Tone
Form
Line

Question 3

List any additional equipment you could use to support taking a photo

Answer 3

Tripod
Remote Shutter Release
Filters - Neutral Density Filter, Polarising
Light Meter
Lighting - built in flash, fill in flash - flash gun, continuous lighting,
Light modifiers - reflectors, diffusers
Lenses - zoom, telephoto, portrait, standard, macro, wide angle, fisheye
Lens Hood
Studio Backdrops

Question 4

List camera modes and pre sets

Answer 4

Automatic
Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority
Manual
Programme
Auto Set - Sports, Landscape, Portrait, Macro

Question 5

What does aperture priority mean?

Answer 5

A semi-automatic camera mode that allows YOU to control the aperture, while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve the correct exposure

Question 6

What does shutter priority mean?

Answer 6

A semi-automatic camera mode that allows YOU to control the shutter speed, while the camera automatically adjusts the aperture to achieve the correct exposure

Question 7

What does manual setting mean?

Answer 7

Gives you complete control over your camera’s settings, allowing you to independently adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed

Question 8

What does automatic setting mean?

Answer 8

The simplest camera setting where the camera takes complete control of all exposure settings, including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, according to the lighting conditions you are shooting in

Question 9

What will a macro preset do when taking a photo?

Answer 9

Optimizes the camera for close-up photography.
This mode typically adjusts settings for close up focus, smaller f-stop numbers to create a shallower depth of field, ensuring more of the subject is in focus

Question 10

What will a landscape preset do when taking a photo?

Answer 10

Optimizes the camera for capturing scenic landscapes.
This mode will adjust aperture by selecting smaller apertures (higher f-number) for larger depths of fields, ensuring that both the foreground and background are sharp and in focus.

Question 11

What will a portrait preset do when taking a photo?

Answer 11

Optimizes the camera for taking portraits.
This preset typically prioritises a shallow depth of field to blur the background, drawing attention to the subject.

Question 12

What will a sports preset do when taking a photo?

Answer 12

Optimizes the camera for action photography.
The sport pre set mode will automatically select faster shutter speed settings to capture fast moving subject matters.

Question 13

What does Programme setting mean on semi-automatic settings (creative settings)?

Answer 13

The camera automatically chooses the best combination of aperture and shutter speed for the lighting conditions you are shooting in. The photographer will adjust other settings like ISO, white balance, and the focus mode.

Question 14

What does PPI stand for?

Answer 14

Pixels per inch

Question 15

What sort of image would you select a 300 PPI resolution for?

Answer 15

High quality prints, magazines and professional photographs

Question 16

What sort of image would you select a 72 PPi resolution for?

Answer 16

Digitally displayed images like phones or computer screen images that don’t need to be as detailed with smaller file sizes so they can load more quickly

Question 17

When would a 150 PPI be a suitable resolution to use?

Answer 17

Basic printing such as flyers or posters viewed from a distance

Question 18

Explain what specular reflection is?

Answer 18

Specular reflection is when light rays strike a smooth surface and bounce off in a predictable, parallel direction.

Question 19

Explain what diffused reflection is?

Answer 19

A diffused reflection is when incident light is reflected off a rough/uneven surface and the reflected light is scattered in different directions.

Question 20

Explain what refraction is?

Answer 20

Refraction in photography refers to photos that capture a refraction effect, where light is bent in glass, water, or some other surface to make a subject appear very large, very small, or otherwise distorted.

Question 21

How would you identify soft light?

Answer 21

Soft, undefined shadows, more subtle changes from light to shade.

Question 22

How would you identify hard light?

Answer 22

Hard light is often created by a harsh bright light, strong contrast of areas of light and dark defined shadows

Question 23

Name the technique - light is set up behind the subject and facing the photographer. This exposes the outline or rim of the subject, highlighting the contours and creating a dramatic and mysterious effect.

Answer 23

Rim Lighting

Question 24

Name the technique - shooting into the light. Literally translated from french as against the day. It is often a technique used in the golden hour. It is essentially backlighting that will emphasise lines, shapes, textures and silhouettes and can create some stunning effects.

Answer 24

Contre Jour

Question 25

Name the style of photography - the image has a very light toned/coloured background with lots of very light and some mid tones. There will be very little contrast. It can create a light, uplifting mood to an image.

Answer 25

High Key

Question 26

Name the style of photography - the image has a very dark background with lots of dark tone and some areas of highlight. There will be high contrast between the mostly dark tones and the few light tones. This can create a much darker, moodier mood. Think drama, mystery, tension.

Answer 26

Low Key

Question 27

White balance impacts what in photography?

Answer 27

Colour cast

Question 28

Name the lens - an ultra wide angle lens which produces visual distortion

Answer 28

Fisheye lens

Question 29

Name all the white balance presets and what light type it is.

Answer 29

Incandescent (Tungsten) - domestic lighting (more of a blue hue) Fluorescent - lit by fluorescent or some LED lights Sunny (Daylight) - natural sunlight Cloudy - cloudy or overcast conditions Shade - when shooting in shaded areas or during golden hour Custom - neutral white card in your lighting conditions

Question 30

What is a histogram?

Answer 30

A graph that shows the different tones within a photograph

Question 31

How do we read a histogram?

Answer 31

Light on the right......

Question 32

What technique does this describe? A miniature effect that makes photo subjects look much smaller than in real life with an almost toy-like, dreamy effect. Usually it has a blurring on the top and bottom of the image, contrasting with the main subject in the centre of the photo that is in sharp focus.

Answer 32

Tilting

Question 33

What technique does this describe? Aims to capture a moving object while moving your camera along with it, preferably at the same speed. The moving subject should be sharp and the background has motion blur.

Answer 33

Panning

Question 34

What technique does this describe? A technique that involves focusing in and out while you take a photo (using a slower shutter speed), causing the shot to blur from the centre outwards, as if the scene is “bursting” towards you.

Answer 34

Zooming

Question 35

Explain focal length

Answer 35

The lower the focal length number, the more you will see in your image (less zoomed in) Anything below 35mm would be considered a short focal length The higher the focal length number, the less you will see in your image (more zoomed in) Anything above 55mm would be considered a large focal length

Question 36

Standard lens in mm

Answer 36

18-55mm

Question 37

Explain what a wide angle lens is/do?

Answer 37

Wide angle lens refers to a lens which has a focal length smaller than a normal standard lens and allows the camera to capture more of the scene, it gives you wider field of view

Question 39

Name the lens type - long focus lens which allows you to take photographs of subjects which are far away

Answer 39

Telephoto or Tele zoom lens

Question 40

Name the lens type - focus extremely close to your subject matter so that it appears larger than what it is.

Answer 40

Macro lens

Question 41

Name the lens type - a lens with a fixed focal length, will create a shallow depth of field while creating sharp focus for subjects in foreground

Answer 41

Prime/portrait lens

Question 42

What is auto bracketing?

Answer 42

This is a setting on the camera which takes multiple shots of the same subject using different exposure settings on the camera, to give the photographer image choice without slowing the process of taking photos.

Question 43

Explain what exposure value (EV) is and why it is useful.

Answer 43

You can change EV from -5 (decrease exposure) to +5 (increase exposure). Handy in certain lighting conditions, such as backlit subjects or scenes with lower lighting. It essentially overrides the camera's automatic exposure settings, giving you more control over the final result

Question 44

Name the type of focus; focuses the lens continuously making it good for tracking moving subjects by continually adjusting the focus.

Answer 44

Auto-focus-continuous (AF-C)

Question 45

Name the type of focus; The camera focuses on a single point selected by the photographer. It is best for stationary subjects.

Answer 45

Auto-focus-single (AF-S)

Question 46

Name the definition; a feature found in most cameras that automatically adjusts the lens' focus to achieve a sharp image.

Answer 46

Autofocus faster & easier than manual setting, can help to avoid camera shake

Question 47

Name the type of focus; the camera will automatically determine which mode is most appropriate for the situation you are photographing, and can move between modes depending on whether a stationary or moving object is being photographed.

Answer 47

Automatic Autofocus AF-A

Question 48

Name the type of focus; when you have total control over where the camera is focusing

Answer 48

Manual focus

Question 49

When can autofocus be an issue?

Answer 49

The AF system can sometimes be fooled into focusing on the wrong part of an image. A typical example would be either focusing on the background of an image rather than the foreground or vice versa.

Question 50

What does a polarizing filter do?

Answer 50

Adds depth to an image by increasing the saturation of colour and reducing reflections. They darken skies and make colours more vibrant. They eliminate glare.

Question 51

What does a UV filter do?

Answer 51

Reduce the amount of ultraviolet light. Reduces haze and increases contrast.

Question 52

What does a neutral density filter do?

Answer 52

Reduces the light entering the lens, like sunglasses. By reducing the intensity of incoming light, this filter allows you to shoot with slower shutter speeds without overexposing your image.

Question 53

If you wanted to soften harsh light what piece of equipment could you use?

Answer 53

Diffuser

Question 54

If you wanted to bounce light back on to your subject what piece of equipment would you use?

Answer 54

Reflector

Question 55

Name the three sides to the Exposure Triangle.

Answer 55

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO