Night Photography

Night photography is an art that is done outdoors between the hours of dusk and dawn. Because of the lack of light, photographers have the option of either using artificial light to capture a photograph or use an long exposure time to give the camera enough to time to capture the right amount of light to properly expose the photograph. With the development of higher sensitivity image sensors, wide-aperture lenses, and a larger amount of urban light, the availability of taking photographs at has increased drastically.
Night photography started to gain its popularity in the 1900's, when a select few photographers began to experiment with lighting at night time. Over the next century, many people began to take on night photography. College courses started to appear that covered the many aspects of taking a good photograph at night time. Photographers began to be known primarily for their work done at night. During the beginning of the 21st century, the invention of digital cameras helped photographers to take better pictures at night time and greatly enhanced the number of people that pursued a career in this particular type of photography.

The most common subjects photographed in night photography are stars and planets, and skylines. Astronomers have used the technology of film to capture a picture of the way that the planets and stars look from Earth. It has helped many scientists enhance their understanding of our universe. City skylines are also a popular subject. At night when the buildings light up, the contrast between their light and the darkness of the sky provides composition for a good photograph. In addition, a city skyline provides a sufficient amount of light that is needed in order to be photographed. Some other things that are often photographed at night include fireworks, streets often accompanied by moving cars, and amusement rides, as shown above.

Due to the lack of light at night time, night photography requires a large amount of technique and a wide range of equipment. To avoid motion blur often produced during long exposure times, photographers often use a tripod to keep the camera steady. By using a self timer, photographers reduce the risk of producing camera shake when the shutter is released. Also, since auto-focus doesn't work right during low light conditions, a manual focus is often used so that the photographer can get a clean picture of the subject he is photographing.
As I have stated previously, night photography is very difficulty because of the lack of light. However, night photography is a very beautiful form of art that captures many extraordinary sights and helps us to view things that only appear at night during the day time. It may be difficult, but if it was easy, where would the fun be?

Full Spectrum Photography

Full spectrum film captures visible and near infrared light, commonly referred to as "VNIR". Some digital cameras can detect some ultraviolet light and minimal amounts of the near infrared spectrum. However, most digital cameras contain a built in ifrared hot mirrot filter that blocks these kinds of lights. Replacing this filter with an infrared pass or a wide spectrally transmitting filter enables the photograph to detect the complete spectrum of light. This provides the avaliablility to take ultraviolet or infrared photography.Full spectrum photography is used for fine art photography, geology, forensice and law enforcement.
Full spectrum photography started in the 1950's and was used primarily for geological and militaries needs. In the 1990's, photographers began shooting photos in infrared with their digital cameras. Throughout the 2000's, full spectrum photography was used for a variety of things from forensic science to paranormal ghost hunting. Full spectrum photography is commonly used for fine art photographs. Using full spectrum can enable the photographer to yeild colors that are siilar to visible color film but with an enhanced brightness of infrared. The large amount of full spectrum photography is landscapes and has recently begun to be used for portraits of people.
Full spectrum photograph is also used for forensics imaging. Forensic specialists use full specturm cameras to excentuate non visible materials which are more easily seen through ultraviolet and infrared lighting. The applications of these materials helps to reveal a variety of crime related substances, including non visible inks, disturbed soil, gun shot residue, body fluids, and fibers. In addition, full spectrum photography has been used to capture archelogical finds.

Color Photography

Color Photography uses media that is capable of producing colors chemically during a processing phase. The first known permanent color photograph was produced by James Clerk Maxwell in 1861. The first modern color film, known as Kodachrome, was created by Eastman Kodak Company in 1935. However most modern color technoglogy uses Agfacolor, which was introduced to the public in 1936. Also, instant color film was produced by Polaroid in 1963.Color photography uses two different kinds of film; negative and reversal. Negative film forms a negative image, also known as a color-reversed photo, when exposed and then made permanent during development. At the end of the process, the photograph is then developed onto photographic paper to form a positive image.
The other type of film used in color photograph is reversal film. This kind of film, also known as slide film, forms a negative film as well when exposed and is then reversed during developing. The photograph can then be projected.In addition to types of film. Color photography has two different types of color systems. The first, additive, uses the most common set of primary colors; red, green, and blue. This system uses colored lights to add the color to photographs. The other system uses a subtractive color system. In this system, colors are subtracted from white lights by dyes or pigments. The most common set of primary colors in this system is cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.