GREEN MERITPHOTOGRAPHY

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Version 06/2010

In This MeritMerit Answer GuideLessons 1–5Extra Lesson (covers Requirement 6)MLR* 1a “Camera Parts”MLR 1b “Photography Tips”MLR 3 “Principles of Film Exposure”MLR 4 “Proper Exposure Exercise”*MLR: Merit Lesson Resource

Teaching This MeritLesson 1 covers Requirements 1 and 2 and part

of 5.Lesson 2 covers Requirement 3 and part of 5.Lesson 3 covers Requirement 4 and part of 5.Lesson 4 covers part of Requirement 5.Lesson 5 covers part of Requirement 5.Extra Lesson covers Requirement 6.

Resources

BooksThere are many great photography books

available. A good one for general instruction isthe now out-of-print Life Library of Photographyby Time-Life Books. It can be found at usedbookstores, thrift stores, at Internet auction sites,and garage sales.

HP Photography Books (How to Improve YourPhotography, How to Take Great Pictures WithYour SLR, etc.)The Joy of Photography and More Joy of

PhotographyThe Kodak Library of Creative Photography (a

multivolume set)Various handbooks by John Hedgecoe

InternetBetter PhotoFodors PhotographyKodakPhotography Tips

Merit Overview

Photography

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PHOTOGRAPHY MERIT ANSWER GUIDE

Merit Answer Guide1. List and identify at least ten parts of an SLR camera.Verify the boy’s answers in his workbook with MLR 1a “Camera Parts.”

1. Pentaprism

8. Eyepiece

7. Camera Body

6. Focus Ring

5. Lens

4. Filter Threads

3. Lens Barrel

2. Aperture RingSLR Diagram“A” Outer View

SLR Diagram“B” Viewing 2. Lens Assembly

1. Pentaprism

8. Eyepiece

10. Ground Glass

11. Film

12. Shutter Curtain(closed)9. Mirror

13. Lens elements

SLR Diagram“C” Exposure

2. Lens Assembly

1. Pentaprism

8. Eyepiece

10. Ground Glass

11. Film

12. Shutter Curtain(open)

13. Lens elements

9. Mirror

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PHOTOGRAPHY MERIT ANSWER GUIDE

2. Define the following terms:a. Camera body: The box that holds the film in position.b. Lens: The most important part of the camera. The lens focuses the light from the object(s)being photographed onto the film. The total structure is called the lens assembly and consistsof the lens barrel and the lens elements (actual glass lenses).

c. Aperture: Usually found on the back of the lens. It is a diaphragm or a set of thin metal bladesused to limit the amount of light falling on the film.

d. Shutter: Most modern single-lens reflex cameras have a fabric shutter called a focal planeshutter or shutter curtain. Other types of shutters are sometimes found in back of the lens, andin the cheapest cameras take the place of the aperture as well.

e. Viewfinder: The part of the camera that the photographer looks through to aim the camera. Itcan be as simple as a hole through the camera body with only a thin sheet of plastic over eachend of the hole, to a complex viewfinder as found on an SLR.

f. Light meter: Some cameras are set up for only general exposures and as such have no con-trols over exposure (aperture and shutter settings). Better cameras have controls for how muchlight is allowed to hit the film. Knowing how much light is needed is the job of the light meter.

g. SLR camera: Single-lens reflex camera.h. Mirror: A mirror that flips between two positions: down and up. When down, the mirror directslight from the lens onto the ground glass. When it is up, it allows light to reach the shutter cur-tain. When the shutter curtain opens, the light hits the film.

3. Describe and demonstrate the steps in taking a successful photograph.a. Identify the subject. This is perhaps the most difficult and important part of taking a picture.A good photograph either tells a story or shows a single point. (More on this in later lessons.)

b. Aim the camera and compose the picture in the viewfinder.c. Set the exposure settings if necessary.d. Advance the film lever or dial.e. Focus the lens if necessary.f. Wait for the right moment and trip the shutter.Verify that the boy can demonstrate the proper steps in taking a successful photograph.

4. Explain the concept of proper exposure of film, relating film speed, aperture, and shutter speed.• Film Types: Black and white or color. Print or slide. Daylight or incandescent-balanced, litho-graphic, infrared, etc.• Film Sizes: APS (Advanced Photo System), 110, 35 mm, 120, 240, 6x7, etc.• Film Lengths: 12 exposure, 24 exposure, 36 exposure, etc.• Film Speed: 25 ASA, 100 ASA, 200 ASA, 400 ASA, 800 ASA, etc.• Exposure: Film is a material that is very sensitive to light. Too much light and the details of apicture are “washed away.” Too little light and the details of a picture are lost in shadow. Onlythe right amount of light will allow the film to capture an image that shows the light and darkelements of a scene. How much is “just right” and how do you obtain just this amount whentaking a picture?• First, know the sensitivity level of the film being used. Second, know how much light is avail-able from the scene to be photographed. Third, know how to set the camera so that just enoughof this light is allowed to reach the film.• Aperture: The aperture of a camera lens is the opening through which light passes. The size ofthis opening is adjustable and is measured in “f-stops.” This value is actually the denominatorof a fraction relating the size of the apertures. Therefore, as the f-stop number increases, theaperture and thus the amount of light transmitted by the lens decreases. The f-stops or aperturesettings of a lens usually have values like f-1, f-1.4, f-2, f-2.8, f-4, f-5.6, f-8, f-11, f-16, f-22, f-32, f-45, and f-64. Each value allows one-half as much light through as the value before it. For 3

PHOTOGRAPHY MERIT ANSWER GUIDE

example, f-2.8 admits only half as much light as f-2, but twice as much light as f-4. From thisset of values come the phrases “stopping down,” and so many “stops” of light. A lens that iscapable of admitting more light than another lens is said to be “faster.” That is, a set exposurecan be made faster with that lens at maximum aperture since it can admit more light. Generally,the faster the lens, the bigger in diameter and the more expensive it is. Other things being equal,the price of a lens increases quickly as it gets faster, or has larger maximum apertures.• Shutter Speed: This value indicates the time of exposure in seconds or fractions of a second.Common speeds are indicated by the numbers 1,000, 500, 250, 125, 60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, andthe letter B. The numerical values are denominators, indicating the fraction of a second shut-ter duration. Thus, 1,000 means the shutter is open for 1/1,000th of a second, 60 means theshutter is open for 1/60th of a second, and so on. The B stands for the word bulb. A shutter seton B, is held open as long as the shutter button is depressed. The relationship between shuttersettings is easier to see than that between aperture settings. One five-hundredths of a second,or a shutter setting of 500 admits light for twice as long as an aperture setting of 1/1,000th, butonly half as long as a shutter setting of 250 or 1/250th of a second. Now for the odd part: a dou-bling of light is called a “stop” for “f-stop.” So, a “stop” of light (or a doubling) separateseach of the shutter settings indicated above. The f stands for focal point.• Exposure: A film of a given speed (ASA) requires a certain amount of light for an optimum expo-sure. If the shutter determines how long the light is admitted and the aperture determines therate at which light is admitted, one must control both for a proper exposure. The amount of lightavailable determines the settings of these values for obtaining a proper exposure. Film boxesgive charts for telling a photographer what settings to start with on sunny or cloudy days.Modern cameras have built-in light meters. Most let the user set either the aperture or the shut-ter speed after dialing in the film speed. The camera’s light meter then indicates the correctvalue for the other setting. If for a given film speed the recommendation by the table on the filmbox or the light meter is for an aperture of f-8 and a shutter speed of 250 in a certain light, thephotographer can use this set of values to expose the film. If he wants to capture fast action, hemay choose to increase the shutter speed by two stops to 1,000 for an exposure of 1/1000th ofa second. To get the same exposure, he would then need to increase the aperture from f-8 by twostops to f-4.

5. Take at least twenty-four photographs. Have the roll of film developed or obtain a printed copyof the digital images. Critique your results. Use any FOUR of the following types:a. Snapshotb. Portraitc. Still lifed. Landscapee. Cityscapef. Skyscapeg. Documentaryh. Creative photographyVerify the completion of this requirement.

6. Learn and demonstrate the following:a. Take a digital photo (unless already done for Requirement 5).b. Download a digital photo into a computer.c. Insert the photo into a document and print it or send it by e-mail to a friend.Verify that the boy can do each of the items stated above.

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Photography

Preliminary InformationMake overhead transparencies of MLR 1a

“Camera Parts” to give to the boys as a referencefor the lessons. Make copies of MLR 1b “Photo-graphy Tips”

Objectives1. The boys will be able to list and identify at least

ten parts of an SLR camera.2. The boys will be able to define eight terms

related to SLR cameras.3. The boys will take at least two pictures with

either an SLR or digital camera.

Materials� Merit Answer Guide� MLR 1a “Camera Parts”� MLR 1b “Photography Tips”� MWS* 1 “Practice Steps”� Overhead projector and transparencies� SLR camera� Digital camera*MWS: Merit Work Sheet

LESSON1

LessonShow MLR 1a “Camera Parts” on the over-

head projector. Identify each part and tell theboys why it is important.

In their workbook, instruct the boys to fill inthe definitions of the terms in Requirement 2.Use the definitions from the Merit AnswerGuide, Requirement 2.

Inside the SLR CameraInside the camera type called the SLR (for

single-lens reflex) are some specialized struc-tures. These are

Pentaprism: This is an odd-shaped prismdesigned to flip an image from upside down toright side up, and from backward to forward. It is

located on top of the camera.Ground glass: This is a rectangular piece of

frosted glass. When light from the lens hits thisglass, it forms a visual image. Because of howlenses work, this image is upside down and back-ward. To see the image correctly, a special penta-prism flips the image horizontally and verticallyfor viewing.

Mirror: This is a mirror that flips between twopositions: down and up. When down, the mirrordirects light from the lens onto the ground glass.When it is up, it allows light to reach the shuttercurtain (see MLR 1a diagram “B”). When theshutter curtain opens, the light hits the film (seeMLR 1a, diagram “C”).

AdvancementHave each boy perform the following and useMWS 1 “Practice Steps” to record his work:

� Hold the camera and use the viewfinder.

� Find the shutter button and the film advance.� Find the focusing ring (if present on the

camera). 6

PHOTOGRAPHY MERIT LESSON 1

Frame Name of Frame Name ofNumber Royal Ranger Number Royal Ranger

Sign off on Requirements 1 and 2 when they are completed.

� Find the aperture ring (if present on thecamera).

� Find the flash (if present on the camera).� Practice focusing.� Practice composing photographs.� Practice setting the exposure.

� Take a portrait of another Ranger.Give each boy an opportunity to take at least

two pictures. Have each boy take a portrait of apartner. If you are using one camera for all theboys, use the chart below to keep track of whichboy shot which picture.

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