The Physics and Art of Photography, Volume 1

Geometry and the nature of light

By (author) John Beaver

Publication date:

22 November 2018

Length of book:

176 pages

Publisher

Morgan & Claypool Publishers

Dimensions:

255x177mm
7x10"

ISBN-13: 9781643273341

BOOK DESCRIPTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS

This book uses photography as a point of departure for learning about physics, while also using physics to ask fundamental questions about the nature of photography as an art. The topics center around hands-on applications and are most often illustrated by photographic processes that are inexpensive and easily accessible to students, including a versatile new process developed by the author, and herein first described in print. A central theme is the connection between the physical interaction of light and matter, and the artistry of the photographic processes and their results. In addition to focusing on the physics of light and the optics of lenses, extended discussions of topics less commonly covered in a beginning text are also explored, including symmetry in art and physics, different physical process of the scattering of light, photograms (photographic shadow prints) and the nature of shadows, elements of 2D design, pinhole photography and the view camera. These subjects have been chosen because of their role in a more general discussion of the relation between science and art that is of interest to readers of all backgrounds and levels of expertise.

I Some Preliminary Ideas 1 What is Science; What is Art? 1.1 The Coherence of Our Experience 1.2 Truth in Science 1.3 Operational Definitions 1.4 Inspiration and Perspiration 1.5 Criticism and Self Esteem 1.6 Looking at Art
II The Nature of Light 2 What Light Is 2.1 The Speed of Light 2.2 Geometry 2.3 Waves 2.4 Particles 3 What Light Does 3.1 Reflection, Absorption and Transmission 3.2 Specular Reflection 3.3 Refraction 3.4 Diffuse reflections 3.5 Scattering 3.6 Interference 3.7 Diffraction 3.8 Fluorescence 3.9 Polarization 4 Sources of Light 4.1 Light and its Spectrum 4.2 Thermal Radiation 4.3 Non-Thermal Radiation 5 Wavelength Reconsidered
III Geometry and Two-Dimensional Design 6 Geometry and the Picture Plane 6.1 From 3-D to 2-D 6.2 The Human Brain’s Construction of Three-Dimensional Reality 6.3 Linear Perspective and the Camera Obscura 6.4 The Picture Plane 7 Light and Shadow: Photograms 7.1 Shadows and the Source of Light 7.2 Laser Photograms 8 Ray Optics 1: Pinhole Photography 8.1 Focal Length and Angle of View 8.2 Distortion and Angle of View 8.3 Vignetting 8.4 Focal Ratio 9 Ray Optics 2: Lenses 9.1 Focus 9.2 Focal length 9.3 Depth of Focus and Focal Ratio 9.4 Zone Focusing 9.5 Ray Tracing 9.6 Aberrations and Distortion 9.7 Resolution 9.8 Lens Design 10 Symmetry 10.1 Transformations and Invariance 10.2 Symmetry in Physics 10.3 Symmetry in Art 10.4 Asymmetry and Broken Symmetry 11 Two-Dimensional (2-D) Design 11.1 Elements of 2-D Design 11.2 Figure and Ground 11.3 Lines 11.4 Geometric Shapes 11.5 Value and Contrast 11.6 Hue and Saturation 11.7 Depth Cues 11.8 Unity and Repetition 11.9 Rhythm 11.10 Framing 11.11 Composition: Some Useful Rules of Thumb 11.12 Some Examples of 2-D Design in Photography 12 The View Camera 12.1 Description of movements 12.2 Movements and the Image Circle 12.3 Selective Focus 12.4 Controlling Perspective
A Make Your Own Photograms A.1 Cyanotype Photograms A.2 Ephemeral Process Photograms B Notes on the Golden Rectangle C Optimal Pinhole Size for a Pinhole Camera D Units, Dimensions and Scientific Notation D.1 Units and Dimensions D.2 Scientific Notation