Photography Paper 2 WASSCE (SC), 2018

Question 1

  1. Explain any five of the following:
    (a)        enlarger; 
    (b)        film;
    (c)        image editing software;
    (d)        exposure;
    (e)        depth-of-field;
    (f)         imaging sensor.

Observation

The question was very clear, precise and was well attempted. The question required the candidates to explain the basic concepts of the listed photographic terms. The performance of the candidates was good. Candidates were expected to provide the following answers to the question: 

(a)        Enlarger
-           It has a lamp head for illumination.
-           The enlarger is fixed to a column with an adjustable knob.
-           it is used in exposing negatives on a photographic paper.
-           it is used to project an image of a negative on to a photographic paper.
-           It is used in the processing of negatives to print analogue photographs.
-           It is also called projection equipment.
-           it is a photographic equipment used mainly in a darkroom.
-           it has a negative carrier for holding negatives in place during exposure.
-           it has an optical projector/lens.

(b)        Film
-           It is a light/photo-sensitive material used in an analogue camera to record   photographic images.
-           It has an emulsion (silver halides) coated surface of a flexible acetate  plastic base for black and white film.
-           It is rated according to its degree of sensitivity to light through ISO/ASA
rating.
-           It can either be black & white or colour.
-           It is packed in rolls stored in a cartridge/cassette/sheet form.
-           It comes in various format as 35mm, 120mm/220mm, 4inches X 5
 inches , 8inches X 10inches depending on the camera type.

(c)        Image Editing Software
-           They are computer programmes used to enhance or alter a digital image in post processing.
-           They contain tools that can be used to crop, scale, adjust brightness/contrast or colour, combine images or apply different effects and filters.
-           Editing software is also used for picture management (storage, on-line sharing, distribution and archiving).
-           They are also used in converting one digital image format to another e.g. from RAW to JPEG, JPEG to PDF.
-           The following are examples of image editing software: Photoshop; RAW; Photo paint; iphoto; Windows picture editor; photo impression, Picassa. 

(d)       Exposure
-           It determines the amount of light that reaches light sensitive material (film/sensor) in the camera.
-           It determines the degree of brightness or darkness of the captured image.
-           It is primarily determined by the combination of aperture, shutter speed, ISO and subject /object.

  •       It can be described as either under or over exposure.
  •       It is a deliberate process whereby the photographer allows the light sensitive material to come in contact with light when taking a photograph.
  •      It is a term used integrally to explain frame in a negative.
  •      Under exposure occurs as a result of insufficient light reaching a film sensor.
  •      Over exposure occurs when the sensor/film receives too much light.

(e)        Depth- of - field
-           It is the area of acceptable sharpness in front and behind the point of focus in a photograph.
-           It determines the degree of sharpness of the background and foreground in relation to the centre of interest in a frame.
-           It is a method used in composition to direct attention to selected area of focus in the photograph.
-           It is achieved through factors such as focal length of the lens, aperture setting, shooting distance /subject to camera distance.
-           Depth of field can be described as either shallow or deep /good.
-           Shallow depth of field shows selective sharpness within the frame.
-           Maximum sharpness indicates deep/good depth of field.
(f)        Imaging sensor
-           It is the light sensitive material that makes image recording possible in digital camera.
-           It is usually rated according to its resolution i.e. the total number of picture element/pixels they are able to produce. e.g. 5 megapixel or 10 megapixel, etc.
-           The higher the resolution the better the quality of the digital image in terms of sharpness, brightness and details.

  •       It is located or found in a camera.
  •       The types of imaging sensors in most cameras are Charged Coupled 

Device (CCD), Complementary Metal Oxide Semi- conductor (CMOS) and Quanta Image Sensor (QIS).