(Not in Science for the Curious Photographer
An Introduction to the Science of Photography
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$44.95$40.46 - Paperback: 190 pages
- Also available in e-Book
- Published: June 2010
- ISBN: 978-1-56881-581-7
- Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press
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- By Charles Johnson, Jr..
This is a photography book for those who love science and like to understand how things work. It begins with an introduction to the history and science of photography and 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.
Digital photography raises more questions because enlarged images on computer screens reveal defects in color and resolution that are not obvious in small snapshots. What limits resolution, what is "noise" in images, and what level of detail can be appreciated by an observer? All of these questions and others concerning human perception of color and subjective image quality are treated in detail with some mathematics when appropriate. Finally the creation and appreciation of art in photography is presented from the standpoint of modern cognitive science. This book is appropriate for serious photographers and for students from college freshman to graduate level.
Table of Contents
What Is Photography?
What Is Light?
The Camera—An Introduction
Images: What Is Perspective?
Why Does a Camera Need a Lens?
Elementary Optics: How Do Lenses Work?
The Simple Thin Lens and What It Does
How to Make Lenses that Are Good Enough for Photography
Coming to Terms with Real Camera Lenses
Table of Contents
Fisheye Lenses and How They Capture the Whole Sky
What Is an Equivalent Image?
How to Get Very High Magnification
Do We Need Filters Anymore?
The Limits of Human Vision
How Can Color Be Managed?
Image Capture and Processing
What Is Perceived Image Quality?
The Creation and Appreciation of Art in Photography
Historical Note on Enlargers
What Is Behind the Rules of Optics?
Derivation of the Lensmaker’s Equation
Gaussian Optics and the Principal Planes
A Macro Lens with Attachments
Capturing Photons with Photographic Film
Microelectronics and the Path to Digital Sensors
Irradiance and Illuminance Units
Reviews
It is a very well-written book by a university professor who loves photography. He presents excellent descriptions of the technical details of modern photography. … This is a unique book, providing the reader with technical details involving digital cameras, lenses, and light in general. It will help the reader to understand how digital cameras and optics work, which may help in selecting cameras and lenses, enabling one to become a more knowledgeable and better photographer.
—IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, March/April 2012
A much needed science book for photographers—read this book if you want to gain a complete understanding of your camera and how it works.
—Steve Berardi, PhotoNaturalist
Johnson's book combines the knowledge of an experienced scientist and educator with the passion of an accomplished photographer. He introduces the scientific foundations of photography and provides interested photographers with the information and practical advice that will help improve their craft. This is also a must read for those interested in computational photography.
—Ramesh Raskar, MIT Media Lab
An outstanding book that does a remarkable job of weaving together the many facets of photography. The author provides the science that photography is based on and makes it easily understood with a variety of examples and images. In addition he provides a great deal of insight into the human side of color perception, photography, and art. One of the best I've read.
—Bill Stice
Author/Editor Biography
Charles S. Johnson, Jr. holds a Ph.D in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Yale University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he held the title of Smith Professor of Chemistry. He has authored approximately 150 research papers including review articles on magnetic resonance as well as books on laser light scattering and quantum mechanics. His research has been recognized with fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. He has been elected to the rank of Fellow in the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
