Photography is an art, the process, and profession of making durable digital images by physically recording light, typically by way of an optical lens, electronically by means of an optical film, or chemically through a light-sensitive substance like photographic film. This physical record of light enables us to capture an image by shining a laser, or any other type of light, onto a film, which then converts the image to electronic data that can be stored on a computer. Digital photography is usually achieved by compressing the data into an electronic format and then scanning the image into a printer. Most digital cameras make use of some type of image editing software package to enhance or “tweak” the images so that they can be used commercially. Many professional photographers use professional cameras and editing equipment in their pursuit of quality and unique imagery.
Digital photography involves a number of fundamental principles in order to achieve aesthetically satisfying images. For instance, it is important to understand the difference between aperture and shutter speed. Aperture refers to the size of the lens and determines the amount of light that is allowed to pass through the lens. In photography, the term high aperture means that the maximum amount of light that can be emitted from the lens is allowed to enter the camera’s optical system, while low aperture indicates that a smaller amount of light is allowed to enter the system. The maximum and minimum values for aperture are different for different types of photography, but they typically range from f/stop number one through f/stop number six.
Shutter speed is often confused with shutter speed in photography, but the two are actually different concepts that refer to a different feature of photography. A shutter speed refers to the duration of time during which a photograph is taken and is measured in seconds. While a photograph is being taken, the photographer may adjust the shutter speed until the desired outcome is achieved. The time needed to compose a photograph is determined by the type of photography being undertaken and the type of media being used to capture the image. For example, a sports photographer will need to have a different approach to photo composition than a wedding photographer would.