Photography and mathematics, two fields that may seem very different, but at the same time have a lot in common. If you’re a photography enthusiast, you may have noticed that it takes a lot of accuracy and precision to take a good photo. Together with the students from National Aprilov High School, we looked at this very topic- how photography is related to mathematics and what role it plays in the photography process.
Short introduction
In photography, light that is reflected from the subject passes through the lens and onto the film, which is coated with light-sensitive emulsions. When the film is exposed to light, the emulsion activates and preserves the image on the film.
The mathematics is important for photography as precise calculations must be used for camera settings. For example, to determine the correct exposure, the photographer must take several factors into account. And these are- what is the sensitivity of the film to light, how much light comes through the lens and how long the film should be exposed to light. All these factors are calculated by the photographer to get a properly exposed photograph.
The composition of the photograph is also important, and here mathematics plays an important role. The photographer needs to know what the balance of colors, shapes and sizes of the photo are to achieve the desired composition. This involves using proportions such as the ‘golden ratio’. This is a mathematical concept that is used to determine the balance of elements in photography.
The Educational Program
Together with Ms. Antoaneta Maneva, mathematics teacher at National Aprilov Highschool, we presented to students the relationship between mathematics and photography. We focused on the basic camera settings. Understanding and perfecting them plays a crucial role in achieving a controlled result. It also greatly expands the field in which we can experiment to achieve interesting results.
We have presented the three basic settings that control the operation of a camera
We emphasized the mathematical model behind each of them and how changing their values affects the final result in the photo
- Shutter speed – geometric progression by a factor of 2
- Light sensitivity (ISO) – exponential relationship
- Lens aperture
1. Shutter speed
This determines the length of time that the light-sensitive material (emulsion or sensor) of the camera is exposed to light. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second, e.g. 1/100 or 2 seconds. The relationship between shutter speed and the amount of light entering the camera is inversely proportional. The longer the shutter is open, the more light will enter the camera.
2. Light Sensitivity (ISO)
The ISO setting determines the sensitivity of the film or camera sensor to light. A higher ISO setting makes the sensor more sensitive to light. This allows you to take pictures in low light. However, a higher ISO value also increases the amount of digital noise in the image. The relationship between ISO and the amount of light that enters the camera is exponential, so doubling the ISO setting will also double the amount of light that is captured.
3. Aperture
Controls the amount of light that enters the camera through the lens. It is represented as a number f, for example f/2.8, and the smaller the number, the wider the aperture and the more light can enter. The relationship between the aperture and the amount of light that enters the camera is based on the area of the aperture. This in turn is proportional to the square of the diameter. Thus any change in the f-stop halves or doubles the amount of light entering the camera.
By understanding these basic principles of the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, photographers can adjust their camera settings. This helps them achieve the desired photographic results, adapt to the situation they are shooting in or simply play with reality, refracting it to achieve interesting visual results.
The educational program of RadLab Studio is realized under the project “Alternative Photography in Contemporary Art and Education” with the financial support of National Culture Fund
Analogue photography and mathematics, two fields that may seem very different, but at the same time have a lot in common. If you’re an analog photography enthusiast, you may have noticed that it takes a lot of accuracy and precision to take a good photo. Together with the students from National Aprilov High School, we looked at this very topic- how analogue photography is related to mathematics and what role it plays in the photography process.
Short introduction
In analogue photography, light that is reflected from the subject passes through the lens and onto the film, which is coated with light-sensitive emulsions. When the film is exposed to light, the emulsion activates and preserves the image on the film.
The mathematics is important for analogue photography as precise calculations must be used for camera settings. For example, to determine the correct exposure, the photographer must take several factors into account. And these are- what is the sensitivity of the film to light, how much light comes through the lens and how long the film should be exposed to light. All these factors are calculated by the photographer to get a properly exposed photograph.
The composition of the photograph is also important, and here mathematics plays an important role. The photographer needs to know what the balance of colors, shapes and sizes of the photo are to achieve the desired composition. This involves using proportions such as the ‘golden ratio’. This is a mathematical concept that is used to determine the balance of elements in photography.
The Educational Program
Together with Ms. Antoaneta Maneva, mathematics teacher at National Aprilov Highschool, we presented to students the relationship between mathematics and photography. We focused on the basic camera settings. Understanding and perfecting them plays a crucial role in achieving a controlled result. It also greatly expands the field in which we can experiment to achieve interesting results.
We have presented the three basic settings that control the operation of a camera.
We emphasized the mathematical model behind each of them and how changing their values affects the final result in the photo
- Shutter speed – geometric progression by a factor of 2
- Light sensitivity (ISO) – exponential relationship
- Lens aperture
1. Shutter speed
This determines the length of time that the light-sensitive material (emulsion or sensor) of the camera is exposed to light. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second, e.g. 1/100 or 2 seconds. The relationship between shutter speed and the amount of light entering the camera is inversely proportional. The longer the shutter is open, the more light will enter the camera.
2. Light Sensitivity (ISO)
The ISO setting determines the sensitivity of the film or camera sensor to light. A higher ISO setting makes the sensor more sensitive to light. This allows you to take pictures in low light. However, a higher ISO value also increases the amount of digital noise in the image. The relationship between ISO and the amount of light that enters the camera is exponential, so doubling the ISO setting will also double the amount of light that is captured.
3. Aperture
Controls the amount of light that enters the camera through the lens. It is represented as a number f, for example f/2.8, and the smaller the number, the wider the aperture and the more light can enter. The relationship between the aperture and the amount of light that enters the camera is based on the area of the aperture. This in turn is proportional to the square of the diameter. Thus any change in the f-stop halves or doubles the amount of light entering the camera.
By understanding these basic principles of the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, photographers can adjust their camera settings. This helps them achieve the desired photographic results, adapt to the situation they are shooting in or simply play with reality, refracting it to achieve interesting visual results.
The educational program of RadLab Studio is realized under the project “Alternative Photography in Contemporary Art and Education” with the financial support of National Culture Fund