Cameras

Firstly, i dont think art has rules but guidelines.. I assume youre refering to some famous guidelines that im not aware of then im not sure, but heres what i found elsewhere. # NEVER Try Too Hard - Have fun and learn as you go. The hard stuff will start to come naturally; you'll just get frustrated if you try forcing it. # ALWAYS Break The Rules - Maybe not always, but don't be afraid to do it. Know the rules of photography well enough to know how to properly break them. # ALWAYS Rediscover Yourself - Don't forget about your past photos. Go back through them, look at them in new ways, and make something of them. # ALWAYS Try New Things - Don't hesitate to alter compositions while shooting, use your equipment in a non-traditional way, explore the camera settings while shooting, and try new post processing techniques. # ALWAYS Mimic Those Who Inspire You - If you like an artist or a photo, figure out why. Apply that to your own work and mix it with other styles you've picked up. # NEVER Forget Your Roots - What got you into photography? If you're ever lacking inspiration, go back to your roots. For me, it's my kids. # ALWAYS Do It For Yourself - Don't take pictures that you think other people will like. If you like them, that's all that counts. # ALWAYS Get Your Priorities Straight - Your camera gear is expensive. Your pictures are worth more than money. But your knowledge of photography is invaluable. # ALWAYS Know Your Equipment - Know how to use your equipment, know what all the settings and options do, and know how they affect your photography. Be comfortable with your camera. # NEVER Stop Learning - I try to apply this philosophy to life in general. You'll never cease to be amazed at the things you can learn. And my favorite saying "The more you learn, the less you know" is so dang true. # Sunny f/16 Rule - The most basic and time tested rule of photography. On a bright sunny day, your exposure will be f/16, at the shutter speed closest to your ISO. For example, at noon on a clear day with an ISO of 200, your exposure will be f/16 @ a 200th. For those of us using old manual cameras, a 250th is probably as close as you'll get. # Rule Of Thirds - The cardinal law of composition. Also the most overused law of composition. An image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Aligning elements of the photograph along these lines can create a more dynamic composition. # Depth of Field - The single best way to isolate a subject is with depth of field. Again, this is also one of the most overused compositional elements. By keeping the subject in focus the background soft, the viewer has no choice but to look at the subject as the center of attention. # Don't Split The Horizon - Never place the horizon in the center of the image. It creates a barrier between the two halves and the viewer will get stuck on it. Cutting the image in half with the horizon is the quickest way to ruin any photograph. [ Hide Comments ]

# Hummie Says:

August 31st, 2007 at 10:34 am Great list of tips….ones we should all remember and practice. # admin Says:

September 19th, 2007 at 8:47 pm Glad that you found it useful. # wierdnatox Says:

November 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am Good simple tips that really can make a difference. Thanks # 5 Rules of Photography « ChromaticSoul Says:

January 4th, 2008 at 9:22 am [...] 3 August 2007 in Education Today's Top Five Friday led me to 5 Rules of Photography: [...] # Jeff Says:

March 23rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm This is good information, with a few bits I hadn't heard of yet. One thing though, this site highlights search engine keywords, and that makes it really hard to read the post. I couldn't find any way to turn the highlighting off. # Joseph Szymanski Says:

March 23rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm Thanks for the heads up on that highlight color issue Jeff. Glad you enjoyed the post. Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website

A single lens reflex (SLR), as its name implies, allows the photographer to both view and record an image through the same lens. The advantage the SLR gave photographers was "What You See Is What You Get." The image as seen in the viewfinder is the image that will be recorded on the film (in a film camera) or sensor in a digital camera, regardless of the focal length of the lens mounted. Prior to development of the SLR, most cameras had two view paths; one to some type of viewfinder, and the other to the film. This was not a significant problem for most photography, but when taking very close up pictures parallax (the difference between what the viewfinder "saw" and what the lens was "seeing") created a framing error. The beauty of an SLR is that you can couple it to any lens of any focal length and see what the lens sees. It can even be mounted on a telescope or make photos through a microscope, and what you see in the finder is what you will photograph.

The secret to the single lens reflex (SLR) is a moving mirror behind the lens in front of the shutter, and a pentaprism atop the housing. The light coming in through the lens is directed 90° by the mirror to the pentaprism, which diverts the image to the finder eyepiece without its being flipped, distorted or reversed. (Most SLR finders do not present quite 100% of the image, however. Typically they show at least 90% of what will be on the film, which is plenty.)

When the shutter is tripped, the mirror flips up out of the way, the finder image blacks out for the fraction of a second that it takes for the aperture to stop down and the shutter to open and record the image on film or sensor. Most modern SLR's then automatically return the mirror to viewing position.

SLR's aren't perfect. They tend to be larger and heavier than "rangefinder" type cameras, and older models can be quite noisy because of the complex action of the mirror flipping up and down (manufacturers have spent years developing quieter and quieter actions). In certain applications, mirror "bounce" can slightly degrade an image. SLR's also tend to be expensive due to their complexity, but they remain the gold standard of hand-holdable film cameras and are gaining rapidly in the digital market, especially among professionals.