Making Pictures

Question 1

What is the “Imaging Chain”?

Answer 1

• A step by step process that creates an image.

Question 2

What are the components of the imaging chain?

Answer 2

1. Light.
2. Camera.
3. Processing.
4. Display.
5. Interpretation.

Question 3

What is the Camera step in the imaging chain made up of?

Answer 3

1. Optics - forms image.

2. Sensor - records and image.

Question 4

What is the SEAC by Kirsch?

Answer 4

Standards Electronic Automatic Computer.

Question 5

What components does the SEAC contain?

Answer 5

1. Rotating Drum.
2. Photograph placed onto drum.
3. Scanned by detector (photo multiplier tube).
4. Reacted to light and dark areas .
5. Computer stores data of light and dark areas to make future copies.

Question 6

What does the scanner element of the SEAC do?

Answer 6

Splits the image into 30, 796 sections and identifies whether they are 1 (Light) or 2 (Dark).

Question 7

What were the impacts of Kirsch’s SEAC?

Answer 7

1. Faster processing.
2. Spread digitally.
3. Integration into phones.
4. Satellites send images bak from 400 miles away.

Question 8

Briefly explain the timeline of photography.

Answer 8

c 965: (born) Ibn al-Haytham: explained the nature of light and vision using camera obscura.

1550: Glass lenses, Cardano - prevent blurring.
1727: Schluze Discovery of silver nitrate changed when exposed to light.
1826: First permanent photograph by NIEPCE. Bitumen + pewter plate. 8 hours. Lavender oil.
1825: Daguerre + Niepce.
1837: Dauguerreotype: light sensitive silver iodide crystals on copper plate. (15 min exp)

1851:
Wet plates. Archer. Liquid light sensitive emulsion. Few secs.

1871:
Maddox, dry plates, smaller portable.

1888:
Kodak roll film. 100 photos. Light sensitive emulsion.

1948:
Landcamera - polaroid. Self-Developing.

1951:
Ginsburg - video tape recorder. Magnetic tape.

1957:
Kirsch.

1975:
Digital Camera. Kodak.

1994:
Quicktake 1994. Apple. 8 pictures full res.

Question 9

What did the discovery of silver nitrate contribute towards?

Answer 9

• Paved the way for the first picture to be taken and processed.

Question 10

What were the issues with Archer’s wet plates?

Answer 10

• Dripping plates.

- Plates had to be developed before emulsion dried.

Question 11

What were the benefits of using wet plates?

Answer 11

• Copies of images could be made.

- Revolutionised portrait photog.