Science for the Curious Photographer: An Introduction to the Science of Photography

by Charles Johnson, Jr.

Overview

While there are many books that teach the "how-to" of photography, Science for the Curious Photographer is a book for those who also want to understand how photography works. Beginning with an introduction to the history and science of photography, Charles S. Johnson, Jr. addresses questions about the principles of photography, such as why a camera needs a lens, how lenses work, and why modern lenses are so complicated.

Addressing the complex aspects of digital photography, the book discusses color management, resolution, "noise" in images, and the limits of human perception. The creation and appreciation of art in photography is discussed from the standpoint of modern cognitive science.

A crucial read for those seeking the scientific context to photographic practice, this second edition has been comprehensively updated, including discussion of DSLRs, mirror-less cameras, and a new chapter on the limits of human vision and perception.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415793223
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/01/2017
Edition description:	New
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Charles S. Johnson, Jr. taught chemistry at Yale University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He now uses his scientific background to research and write about the science behind photography. In 2010 he published Science for the Curious Photographer.

Table of Contents

1. What is photography?

2. What is light?

3. The camera: An introduction

4: Images: What is perspective?

5. Why does a camera need a lens?

6. Elementary optics: How do lenses work?

7. The simple thin lens and what it does

8. How to make lenses that are good enough for photography

9. Coming to terms with real camera lenses

10. Fisheye lenses and how they capture the whole sky

11. What is an equivalent image?

12. How to get really high magnification

13. Do we need filters anymore?

14. The limits of human vision

15. How can color be managed?

16. Image capture and processing

17. What is perceived image quality?

18. The creation and appreciation of art in photography

19. What we see and how we photograph it

20. Appendices