Digital Photography Honor

Arts & Crafts

Requirements

1. Explain the following:
   • The principles of construction and how a digital camera works
   • The effect of light on the image sensor and the main differences between CCD and CMOS
   • How are color images created from the sensor image? Explain at least 2 ways in which this capture and conversion of colors is done
   • What the camera lens does and what focal length means

   Answer: 1) Principles of construction and operation: the digital camera is basically made up of a lens (objective), an image sensor (CCD or CMOS), an image processor, and a storage medium. The light coming from the scene passes through the lens and reaches the sensor, which converts the light into an electrical signal; the processor transforms this signal into a digital image recorded on the memory card. 2) Effect of light on the sensor and the difference between CCD and CMOS: when light hits the sensor, the photons release electrical charges in each photosite (pixel), and the intensity of the charge corresponds to the brightness captured. The CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) transfers the charge from each pixel to a single converter, producing high-quality, low-noise images, but it consumes more energy and is more expensive. The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) does the conversion inside each pixel, is cheaper, consumes less energy, and is faster, being today the standard in most cameras. 3) How color images are created (at least 2 ways): the sensor itself captures only the intensity of light (shades of gray); that is why a color filter is used. Way 1 (Bayer filter): a matrix of red, green, and blue (RGB) filters is placed over the pixels and the processor calculates (interpolation/demosaicing) the final color of each point. Way 2 (three-layer Foveon sensor): the sensor captures the three colors stacked in layers at the same point, recording R, G, and B without interpolation. (There is also the three-sensor 3CCD system, which splits the light through a prism to separate sensors for each color.) 4) Function of the lens and focal length: the lens gathers and concentrates the light, projecting a sharp, focused image onto the sensor. The focal length is the distance (in mm) between the optical center of the lens and the sensor when the object is in focus at infinity; it determines the angle of view and the magnification: short focal length = wide angle (captures more of the scene), long focal length = telephoto (brings closer/magnifies the object, zoom). — Foveon X3 (Sigma) uses 3 silicon layers for colors (similar to film); Bayer (Canon, Nikon, Sony) is 50% green + 25% red + 25% blue by interpolation. Focal length: 18 mm = wide angle, 50 mm = normal, 200 mm = telephoto. CCD was the standard until 2010; today almost everything is CMOS due to its cost and low energy consumption.

2. How are the aperture of the diaphragm and the shutter speed related?

   Answer: The diaphragm (f-stop aperture) controls how much light enters (f/1.4 = a lot of light and shallow depth; f/22 = little light and wide depth). The shutter sets the exposure time (1/1000 s = freezes movement; 1 s = trails). The wider the diaphragm is open, the shorter the shutter time needed for a correct photo. — The two form the 'exposure triangle' together with ISO; each 'stop' of difference doubles or halves the light — f/2.8 → f/4 cuts the light in half, and 1/125 s → 1/250 s also cuts it in half. Photographers compensate for aperture with speed to keep the exposure constant but change the depth or movement.

3. Describe and explain the relationship between pixels, resolution, and image size.

   Answer: Pixel: the smallest colored unit of an image. Resolution: the total number of pixels (e.g., 24 megapixels = 24 million); higher resolution = more detail and larger printing. Image size: measured in pixels (width × height, e.g., 6000×4000) or in MB (disk space). The higher the resolution, the larger the digital file. — For photo-quality printing, the rule is 300 dpi (dots per inch) — a 10×15 cm photo printed needs about 4 megapixels; 300 dpi on A3 (29×42 cm) requires ~25 megapixels. Professional cameras today have 45-100 megapixels, smartphones 12-50 megapixels — quality also grows with the size of the sensor.

4. What are the two types of digital image compression?

   Answer: Two types of compression: (1) lossy — discards imperceptible data to reduce size (JPEG, WebP), produces small files but with quality reduced when reopened several times; (2) lossless — preserves 100% of the data (PNG, RAW, TIFF), larger files but with full quality kept intact. — Lossy compression uses psychovisual tricks (discarding details the eye does not perceive) — JPEG is the classic example, saving it several times gradually degrades quality; lossless is preferred for master files and finishing (RAW from pro cameras, TIFF for printing). WebP and AVIF combine high compression with good quality.

5. Name and describe 3 common image formats.

   Answer: Three formats: JPEG (.jpg) — lossy compressed, the standard for web photos and printing (~1MB), the most used format worldwide; PNG — lossless, supports transparency (logos, graphics), colorless backgrounds; RAW (NEF, CR2, ARW) — a raw format without processing, maximum quality for professional editing. Each one for a different use. — JPEG (1992, Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the dominant format (90% of the world's photos); PNG (1996) replaces GIF for transparent graphics; RAW captures all the data from the sensor before the camera's processing, allowing for maximum correction in post-production in programs such as Lightroom and Capture One.

6. List the main uses of photography.

   Answer: Main uses: (1) leisure/memories (family, trips, events); (2) professional (journalism, photo shoots, weddings, e-commerce products); (3) science (microscopy, astronomy, medicine); (4) art (artistic photography); (5) historical/documentary record; (6) marketing and advertising; (7) security and surveillance. — Photography emerged in 1826 (Niépce, the first known photograph) and expanded its functions: today 1.7 trillion photos are taken per year (5 billion/day on smartphones); scientific uses include astronomy (the Hubble Space Telescope), forensics (crime scenes), and medicine (ultrasound, MRI) — multiple applications cover almost all of modern human activity.

7. Take photos illustrating at least 8 of the following techniques. Use images for a comparison illustration:
   • Framing
   • Camera stability
   • Direction of lighting - front, side, or back
   • Quality of light - sunlight, shade, and time of day
   • Rule of thirds
   • Angle - eye level, high, and low
   • Horizontal leveling
   • Distance from the subject - filling the frame
   • Use of guide lines
   • Light exposure - underexposed, overexposed, and correctly exposed
   • Use of flash - proper distance and attention to reflective objects

   Answer: You must take at least 8 photos demonstrating techniques and compare them with wrong photos: framing, stability, light direction, light quality, the rule of thirds, angles (high/low/eye level), horizontal leveling, distance from the subject (filling the frame), guide lines, correct exposure, and use of the flash. — Rule of thirds: divide the photo into 9 quadrants (3×3), position important elements at the intersection points of the lines — a classic composition from Renaissance painting. Eye-level angle is more natural; high/low creates dramatic effects. Before/after comparisons aid learning through direct visualization.

8. Identify the various symbols and icons present on amateur digital cameras.

   Answer: Common symbols on digital cameras: P (program auto), A/Av (aperture priority), S/Tv (shutter priority), M (manual), Auto (fully automatic), portrait mode (human head), landscape (mountain), macro (flower), sports (runner), night (moon), flash (lightning bolt), zoom (magnifying glass), play (triangle). — Scene modes (portrait, landscape, etc.) are presets — the camera automatically adjusts aperture/shutter/ISO according to the type of photo; good for beginners. PASM modes (P, A/Av, S/Tv, M) give the experienced photographer more control — A/Av controls depth, S/Tv controls motion. The symbols have been standardized across the industry since the 1990s.

9. Name at least 3 of the most common memory card models used in digital cameras.

   Answer: The three most common memory cards: SD (Secure Digital) — the amateur and professional standard, most widely used, with miniSD and microSD versions; CompactFlash (CF) — old, still in professional cameras; XQD/CFexpress — high speed for fast photos and 4K/8K video in professional models (Sony, Nikon, Canon). — SD was standardized in 1999 and dominates the market (95%+ of cameras); CompactFlash is being discontinued but still exists in old professional equipment; CFexpress (released in 2017) is the current standard for 8K video and photos at 30 frames/s; microSD (1×1.5 cm, miniaturized) is used in smartphones and action cameras such as the GoPro.

10. Demonstrate skill in transferring files between the camera and a computer, using cables and connectors.

    Answer: To transfer photos from the camera to the computer: (1) connect with a USB cable (Mini-USB or USB-C); (2) or remove the card and use a card reader; (3) the computer recognizes the camera/card as a flash drive; (4) open the DCIM folder and copy the photos to a folder on the computer. Demonstrate the process to the instructor. — DCIM is the standard image folder created by the camera (Digital Camera IMages), standardized by JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association); a USB SD card reader costs about R$ 30 and has a higher speed than the camera's direct connection; the USB-C cable is the current standard on all modern devices.

11. Learn how to put photos into some program for creating/editing and displaying graphic presentations. Then create a graphic presentation, displaying the photos and techniques from the previous requirement.

    Answer: PowerPoint is the most widely used software in the world; Google Slides is free and collaborative; Canva has visually attractive ready-made templates. Ideal slides have 1 idea per slide, a legible font (24pt+), color contrast, and few lines of text. A typical presentation has 10-15 slides for 5 minutes — one technique per slide.

12. Using an editing program on a computer, demonstrate skill in cropping, correcting the color, sharpening, and adjusting the brightness/contrast of some photos.

    Answer: Use editing software (GIMP, Photoshop, Snapseed, Lightroom): cropping selects an area of the photo; correcting color (white balance, temperature); adjusting sharpness (sharpening — defines edges); adjusting brightness/contrast (luminosity and the dark/light difference). Demonstrate these 4 basic functions on your own photos to the instructor. — GIMP is free and powerful (an alternative to Photoshop); Snapseed is the best free app for mobile (Google); Lightroom is the professional standard. In RAW (raw format) the adjustment is non-destructive; in JPEG each save loses quality. Use exposures and curves for fine adjustments before exporting the final photo.

13. Complete at least 3 different photographic creation projects in a photo editing program, such as a CD cover, a cover/page for a personalized photo album, montages, a page of the club's logbook, etc.

    Answer: Create 3 different projects in an editing program: a CD/album cover (12x12 cm), a custom album page, a photo collage/montage, a page for the club's logbook, an event banner, a photo calendar, or a birthday card with a photo. Present the 3 to the honor's instructor. — A CD cover is 12x12 cm at 300 dpi; the club's logbooks document event by event; a photo calendar requires 12 seasonal photos (one per month); a typical event banner is 80x180 cm in PDF. Canva has ready-made templates for all these projects — which considerably eases the beginner's work.

14. Understand file organization techniques.

    Answer: Organization techniques: folders by event (date + name — '2026-01-Camp'); subfolders by category (photos, videos, documents); standard naming (DSC_0001 or date-event-num); cloud backup (Google Drive, OneDrive); keywords (tags) and star rating in programs such as Lightroom. — Lightroom Classic is the standard software for professional organization — it allows tags, ratings, keywords, and metadata search; automatic cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive) protects against loss; standardized naming (YYYY-MM-DD-event-001.jpg) automatically ensures chronological order in any folder.