McEvoy, Richard T. Basic Photography Notes. Eastman Kodak Company. Rochester, NY.

Abstract: This article outlines basic photography principles. The parts of a camera are discussed including the shutter speeds and f-stop settings. Types of film, lenses, and the use of a flash are also explained.

The shutter speed indicates how much light enters the camera. High shutter speeds limit the motion that can be photographed because the image will blur. The F-stop number determines the size of the hole that allows the light in. This controls the volume of light, which affects the depth of field.

The film speed is a measurement of the filmís sensitivity to light. A high speed film requires less light. The drawback to high speed film is that its detail is not as sharp as low speed film. The photographer must make decisions concerning what film speed to use. The requirements of the photograph will often dictate the choice.

The focal length of a lens indicates the angle of view and how much distortion will result. As the focal length decreases, the angle of view becomes wider. As the focal length becomes shorter, the angle of view is narrower and the photographs will look compressed.

The flash adds light to the scene of the photograph. This article also provides tips for using a flash. The method of determining flash settings is explained. Suggested manual and auto flash settings are provided for different situations.