WAEC

PHOTOGRAPHY
REVIEW
Volume 1
1. (a) List ten equipment found in the dry section of a darkroom.
ANSWERS:
(i) Enlarger;
(ii) Easel;
(iii) Paper storage;
(iv) Light box (not same as light-tight box);
(v) Contact printing frame;
(vi) Scissors;
(vii) Dryer;
(viii) Focusing magnifier;
(ix) Film drying cabinet;
(x) Wall clock;
(xi) Trimmer/paper cutter;

• Safelight;

• Camel hair brush;

• Clips/pegs.
(b) State one function of each of any five equipment listed in 1(a) above.
ANSWERS:
(i) Enlarger
 Used in projecting light on the negative onto a photo paper.
 It is magnifying equipment used for printing photographs of different size.

(ii) Easel
 It holds printing paper flat on the enlarger’s baseboard for enlargements.
 It has adjustable sides for eropping the image and creating white borders.

(iii) Paper storage

 It is used temporarily to store recently exposed papers.
 It is used to store printing papers.

(iv) Light box

It provides illumination for selection of negatives for printing.

(v) Contact printing frame
 It allows a photographer make a print of an entire 36/selected rolls of a negative on a single paper.

(vi) Scissors
• It is used in cutting the film tongue before it is inserted into the plastic/stainless steel reel/spiral spool.
• It is used to cut negative unto strips after processing.
(vii) Dryer
 A machine used in drying the processed prints.
 This is a heated, i.e. flatbed, machine where the new print is given quick drying.

(viii) Focusing Magnifier

 It is used to check the sharpness of the projected image in the enlarger.

(ix) Film drying cabinet

 It is an equipment designed for drying negatives at a controlled temperature.
(x) Wall clock
• It allows time monitoring in the dark room especially when the photographer is not working on the
enlarge or processing film.
(xi) Trimmer
• It is a device used in cutting printing paper into desired sizes.

(xii) Safelight
 It is used to provide safe illumination in the darkroom to enable the photographer observe the print
during processing.
 Its low intensity and colour make it suitable for dark room operations as it does not affect light
sensitive material negatively.

(xiii) Camel air brush

• It is used in removing dust from dry negatives.

(xiv) Clips/Pegs
 It is used to hang negatives on the drying line or within the film drying cabinet.
2(a) Using the diagram above, identify the parts of camera labelled 1 to 10.
ANSWERS: (1) Focusing ring.
(2) Rewind crank/knob lever.
(3) Film advance lever.
(4) Hot shoe.
(5) Lens.
(6) Shutter speed dial (Shutter speed without ‘dial’ attracts no mark).
(7) Aperture ring (Aperture without ‘ring’ attracts no mark).
(8) Shutter release/shutter button/shutter release button.
(9) Self-timer.
(10) Flash socket.
(b) State one function of each of any five parts of the camera listed in 2(a)
above
ANSWER: (i) Focusing Ring
•It is used to make the image sharp when the ring on the lens is adjusted.

(ii) Rewind Crank/knob lever

•Its enables the exposed film inside the camera to be moved back into its
cartridge/canister before being taken out for processing.
•It works in conjunction with rewind release
•It can also be used by the photographer to firm up a film after loading

(iii) Film advance lever

•Each exposure in a roll of film must be transported by hand in a manual camera with
the aid of this part.

(iv) Hot shoe

•It helps to hold external flash firmly on the camera.
•It enables the flash to work electronically with the camera without a cable.
(v) Lens
•An optical device/material that serves as the eye of the camera.
•Its quality determines the image quality.
•It is an image - forming collection of glass elements through which a photographer sees his subject.
•Image/subject sharpness lies with the lens - with the help of a focusing ring.

(vi) Shutter speed dial

•It is control knob on the camera used in controlling shutter speed setting.

(vii) Aperture Ring

It is a setting on the lens that enables the photographer to select the desired aperture.

(viii) Shutter release button

•It activates the camera operation thus enabling exposure of the film to light.
•It opens the shutter blind to allow the image to be captured.

(ix) Self Timer

•It is a part/knob on the camera that gives a delay between pressing the shutter and the shutter activation.
•It can be used to reduce camera shake when taking pictures in low light or with a telephoto lens.
•The device allows a photographer take himself with his camera.

(x) Flash Socket

•It is an opening on the camera where an external flash can be connected to the camera body via a cable/wire.
3. Highlight the processes involved in producing a picture using a digital camera under the following
headings:
(a) capturing;
(b) editing;
(c) storing;
(d) printing;
(e) finishing.
ANSWERS:

CAPTURING

- Select the subject

- Find a suitable location if it is a portrait picture
- Get the equipment (Camera etc) ready for the shoot
- Compose the image
- Take the picture.
EDITING
OPTION A: COMPUTER
- switch on the computer
- download the images into the computer by putting them in a folder
- open the editing software
- import the pictures for editing from the folder
- edit based on how the final image should be
- save the edited images under a new name
- shut down the computer system.

OPTION B: IN-CAMERA EDITING

- switch on the camera
- go to the menu
- select the editing option
- work on the image as desired i.e. cropping, expose adjustment, resizing etc.
- save the edited image
- power off the camera.
STORING
- the edited image can be stored inside the computer
- the image can be printed and stored in an album
- the soft copy (edited image) can be stored online
- the edited image can also be stored in an external device such as memory
Card, CD/DVD, Flash drive or hard disk.
PRINTING
- the image can be printed from the computer through a photo printer
- a soft copy/digital image could equally be printed at a commercial photo laboratory

- the image can also be printed directly on supports such as fabrics, flex, Stickers, plastics etc using large
format printers.
FINISHING
- the print can be mounted on boards
- the picture can be made into a photo book
- the picture can be framed, using wood/aluminium/glazed e.t.c.
- mounted prints can be laminated
- prints can be neatly arranged in an album.
4. List five types of analogue camera.
ANSWERS: (i) Single Lens Reflex (SLR)/35mm Camera (Manual/Auto).
(ii) Range Finder/Direct Vision Camera.
(iii) Compact (Point and Shoot) Camera.
(iv) Medium Format Camera (Twin-Lens Reflex Camera and SLR)
(vii) Instamatic Camera/ Instant
(vii) Large Format Camera/ View camera

Identify five characteristics of any two of the camera listed in (a) above;
ANSWER: (i) Manual Single Lens Reflex Camera (SLR or 35 mm)
- It has only one lens
- Uses mirror and prism
- It uses 35mm film
- It has wind-on lever to advance film
- It has through-the-lens metering signals
- The view finder is directly connected to the lens
- It has ability to use different types of lenses
- It is portable (can easily be taken anywhere)
- It can be used with an external flash.
- It has wind-on lever to advance film.
- It can use different types of lenses
- Camera features are set manually i.e Aperture, Shutter speed combination for exposure

(ii) Automatic Single Lens Reflex Camera

- It uses 35mm film
- Film advance is automatic
- The camera cannot function without batteries
- It has ability to use different types of lenses
- It can be used with an external flash
- It allows through-the-lens viewing

(iii) Range Finder or Direct Vision

- It uses 35mm film
- The view finder is separated from the lens
- The image is viewed directly through the view finder
- It can be used with external flash
- They are mostly with fixed lens
- It has no mirror
- It is light in weight because of its simple design
- It is quiet in operation.
 (iv) Compact (Point and Shoot) Camera
- It has in-built flash
- It has fixed focal length lens
- It is mostly autofocus
- It is light in weight
- It has metering system
(v) Medium Format Camera (SLR Camera)
- It uses 120/220 Roll films with film format (6 x 6, 6 x 7, 4.5 x 6 cm, etc.) as decided by the camera make
- It allows for higher quality prints
- Mostly with detachable/removable interchangeable backs
- It can use different types of interchangeable lenses
(vi) Twins Lens Reflex Camera
- It uses 120/220 Roll films with film format (6 x 6, 4.5 x 6 cm, etc.) as decided by the camera make
- It allows for higher quality prints
- Mostly with detachable/removable interchangeable backs
- It can use different types of interchangeable lenses
- Designed with two (2) lenses
- It has an upper lens for view and lower lens for picture taking
- It has flip up hood mechanism for viewing
- It uses leaf shutter in the lens.
 (vii) Instamatic/ Instant Camera
- It produces finished images a few seconds after exposure
- Its operation is fully automatic
- It has a fixed lens system
- It has electronic flash (in-built)
- It use chemical coated film
- It is easy to operate
- It can only produce one copy at a time.

(viii) Large Format Camera/ View Camera

- It has either a monorail or baseboard design
- Focusing is achieved with extending and flexible bellows
- It uses sheet film i.e 4 x 5, 8 x 10
- Its negative is very big requiring little enlargement
- It has high quality image definition
- It cannot be used without a tripod
- It has separate viewfinders from the lens.
- It is used mainly in the studio
5 A. Define exposure in photography
ANSWERS:
 Exposure

- It is the amount of light received by photographic emulsion on the film or the digital censor.
- It is the product of the intensity of light plus the duration of its intensity
- It is the appropriate control of light using aperture and shutter speed in a camera to produce an image.

 Exposure is largely determined by the aperture and shutter speed which control the amount and
duration of light allowed into the camera.

B. Explain any two of the following terms:

- aperture;
- shutter speed;
- film speed (ISO).
ANSWER:
(i) Aperture
- It is the circular opening within a lens that determines the amount of
light that is allowed to reach the film or sensor.
- It has different size openings known as “f-stops” engraved on the barrel of lens i.e. f2.8, f5.6, f8, f11,
etc.
- It is used to determine the overall sharpness in a picture (depth of field) using any aperture from f8 –
f22
- Moving the aperture ring clockwise (for example from f4 to f5.6) decreases the amount of light while
moving from f4 to f28 increases the amount of light.

(ii) Shutter Speed

- It determines the length of time light is allowed to stay in the camera during exposure.
- It is used to “freeze” action by capturing a fast moving object using fast speed like 1/500.
- It can be used to make an image appear blurred using slow speed like 1/30
- The faster the shutter speed, the sharper the moving image will appear.
- It can open for a fraction of a second or for a longer time.
- Its settings are in seconds or fractions of a second ½ sec, ¼ sec, 1/8 sec, 1/15 sec, 1/30 sec, 1/60 sec,
1/125 sec, 1/250 sec, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Each setting lets in twice as much light as the next faster setting.
 (ii) Film Speed (ISO)
- It is the degree of film sensitivity/ digital sensor to the controlled light.
- ISO means International Standard Organization.
- Films are categorized as slow, medium and fast: ISO 100 is slow, ISO 200 is medium, while ISO 400
and above are fast.
- Common film ratings are ISO 100, ISO 200 ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600 and ISO 3200
- A film speed is measured using ratings such as ISO
- Allows photographer select the appropriate film for specific photographic situation/assignment.

 Slow speed films are ideal for portraiture while fast films are used for action situations like sporting events
for freezing a moment/subject.

 Film speed determines the extent to which an image can be enlarged in print without losing sharpness.
6. What is composition in photography?

ANSWERS: (a) - It is the selection and arrangement of the subject within the picture area (frame)

- It is the visual arrangement of elements within a scene.

- This is a process where a photographer attempts to co-ordinate everything within the frame for the image to

appear visually interesting. This is done using some elements to achieve the desired goal. Some of these

elements are: Centre of interest, angle, balance, texture, colour, line, shape, etc. However, all these

mentioned elements are not necessarily expected to be present in all images as they are mere visual guides.
B. List four elements of composition.

ANSWERS:
(i) Line
(ii) Shape
(iii) Colour
(iv) Centre of interest/focus
(v) Angle
(vi) Texture
(vii) Closeness
(viii) Balance
(ix) Pattern
(x) Balance/ symmetry/ rule of third
(c) Explain any three of the elements listed in (b) above.
ANSWER:
Line
- It could be diagonal, horizontal, vertical or converging.
- It is used in photography to direct the eye to the main subject.
- It could be real or imaginary
- Its appearance can be influenced by camera angle
- It can influence the mood of a shot
- It is the distance between two points

Shape
- It is two-dimensional.
- It is used to structure a picture
- It might consist of one object or several items seen together in a way that forms a combination.
- It is a means of relating two different objects in a picture.
- It is made stronger when repeated into a pattern
- It is emphasized by careful choice of viewpoints.
- It is emphasized by the use of contrast within the frame
Colour
 It is the dominant feature in a picture
 It emphasizes important elements in a picture
 It creates interesting contrast in a photograph
 It becomes luminous and bright when placed within a black surrounding.
 It looks darker when placed against white background.

Centre of Interest/focus
 Its simplifies a photograph.
 It improves the structure of a shot.
 It can be placed where lines within the picture converge.
 It can be created by using contrasting colours.
 It can be created by placing an eye catalog shape around it.
 It requires the right camera angle.
 In photography, the center of interest is that particular spot where the eye naturally rests in the frame.
- The photographer can use several devices or a single lar element to
draw the eye of the viewer to the center of interest in the photograph.
 A photograph without a centre of interest will not attract viewers’ attention.
- It is used to situate a subject within a context.
- Must not include such distractions as electricity pole, trees ,buildings and other objects if they are not
telling any particular story.
- A plain background makes a subject to stand out.
Angle
 The camera position from where the image is taken.
 Could be divided into 3 – Normal, low & High
 Normal angle is taken from the usual eye-level position.
 Low angle is usually taken from a stooping or squatting position that allows the photographer look up to the
subject with the sky as the background
 High Angle allows a photographer captures an image from an elevation with the camera pointing down.
Texture
 Surface qualities such as roughness, smoothness, coarseness, etc.
 It is effective in balancing the graphics in a frame
Closeness
 Deliberate lens focus that allows the subject or an interesting part either fill the frame or appear bigger
 It allows intimacy between the viewers and the image
 Aims at drawing viewer’s emotional response
 Photographers often use a telephoto lens to achieve closeness
Pattern
 Repetition of lines and shapes often lead to creation of pattern as an element of composition in photography
 Objects with similar characteristics such as colour, shape and texture do create a strong visual element that becomes
pattern in photography.
 It is used in directing viewers eyes within the frame
 It is a strong visual element to strengthen and add interest to the
subject in focus.
 It brings a sense of visual rhythm and harmony to a picture.
Balance/ Symmetry/ Rule of Third
 Proper placement of subjects within the frame to create a visually interesting view point.
 Can be achieved by using the imaginary nine grid lines on the frame, made popular by American Ansel Adams, where
the subject is placed at any of the four intersections.