Light Reading Tools

Today there are many different tools used to measure light.  With the advancements in modern technology, photographers have been utilizing different technologies such as light meters, histograms, and gray cards.  Each technology can be equally successful in achieving the correct exposure.

Using a gray card is a rather old method in measuring light exposure.  It’s used to calibrate light meters to the correct 18% gray the camera uses to build a perfect exposure.  These corrections are made under the white balance feature in most cameras.  Having a light meter that isn’t calibrated correctly can lead to under or over exposure shots; which then can lead to extra time in Photoshop correcting the image, and a disgruntled photographer.

Light meters come in handy when you would like to measure the amount of light from a particular object.  This helps when creating highlights, and avoiding a poorly exposed photos.  Even though many photographers use this technology to get the correct amount of exposure, some photographers would argue that a light meter isn’t even necessary because most cameras have a built in histogram in the camera. 

A histogram is a graph that displays the about of blacks and whites in a particular photo.  The blacks in the graph will be displayed on the left hand side, while the white are displayed on the right hand side.  Here is a video I found that explains how to read a histogram correctly.

All three of these methods came from the advancements in technology and the understanding of how a camera works.  In the late 1820’s and the early 1830’s, a lot of photographers learned from trial and error, and eventually learned to master their craft.  It’s safe to say when photography was first introduced; photographers never had any of these tools at their exposal.  When I think about present day, compared to the past; you learn to appreciate the advancements in tools and different technologies we utilize today.

Heliography Photography to Digital

Photography was first born in 1827 by Joseph Nicephore Niepce. He coined the term heliography, a term used to “identify the process by which he obtained the first permanent photographic image (The First Photography).” In the years to pass, many different discoveries were made in science and technology which eventually led to the digital age we see today.

Here is a fun video I found on YouTube that explains the beginning of photography. After I watched this video for the first time, I paused for a second to think about all the different advancements we have made since 1827. There are DSLR cameras, underwater cameras, different types of lenses, cameras built in cell phones, Photoshop, and much more. Today I would like to elaborate a bit on DSLR cameras.

DSLR cameras are popular by most photographers today. In laymen’s terms, it’s basically a small computer that captures light. I have had firsthand experience working with DSLR camera as a photographer. I have also talked to other photographers that are established in their field about their cameras. I would say the majority of them couldn’t explain every feature on the camera. It’s not because they are stupid, it’s because the majority of them learned their craft before the digital age.

Today cameras are filled with so much information; it would seem overwhelming to an older aged photographer that is set in their ways. For example, we have all had an elder that simply couldn’t operate a computer, or a technology advanced object. In some cases they would simply refuse to touch one. I think that is a good example of people being afraid of change, especially when it comes to technology.

The first photography process called Heliography, took 8 hours to develop an image. DSLR cameras today are the kings when it comes to digital photography technology, processing images in mere factions of a second.