Essential Photography Knowledge Test! Trivia Quiz

The rule of thirds is one of the most foundational rules of composition in photography and design. It suggests that an image should be divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. The main subject of the image should then be placed along these lines or at their intersections, known as the "power points." This technique creates a visually balanced and interesting composition, allowing the viewer's eye to naturally move through the image.

TTL stands for "through the lens" or "Through The Lens". This term is commonly used in photography to refer to a method of metering light through the camera lens. TTL metering allows the camera to measure the amount of light that passes through the lens and adjust the exposure settings accordingly. It is a popular feature in modern cameras that ensures accurate exposure and helps photographers capture well-balanced and properly exposed images.

The color of light is measured in degrees kelvin. Kelvin is a unit of measurement for temperature, and in the context of light, it refers to the color temperature. Color temperature is a characteristic of light sources that describes the color appearance of the light emitted. It is measured in degrees kelvin, with higher values indicating a cooler, bluer light, and lower values indicating a warmer, redder light.

In aperture priority mode, the photographer sets the desired aperture value, which determines the depth of field and amount of light entering the camera. The camera then automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve a proper exposure. By controlling the aperture, the photographer can control the amount of background blur and the overall sharpness of the image, while the camera adjusts the shutter speed to ensure the correct exposure.

Aperture is also known as "f stop" because it refers to the numerical value that represents the size of the opening in the camera lens. The f stop determines the amount of light that enters the camera and affects the depth of field, or the range of sharpness in an image. A lower f stop (e.g. f/1.8) means a larger aperture opening and a shallower depth of field, while a higher f stop (e.g. f/16) means a smaller aperture opening and a greater depth of field.

The pattern in the sequence is that each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by a certain factor and then adding a constant. In this case, the factor is 2 and the constant is 0.8. Therefore, starting with 2, the next number is obtained by multiplying 2 by 2 (giving 4) and then adding 0.8 (giving 4.8). Similarly, the subsequent numbers are obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2 and adding 0.8. Therefore, the missing numbers are 4.8 and 22, and the correct answer is 2.8 / 5.6 / 11 / 32.

The three main metering modes available on most modern day DSLRs are spot, center weighted, and evaluative. Spot metering measures the exposure based on a small area in the center of the frame, allowing for precise metering of a specific subject. Center-weighted metering considers the entire frame but gives more weight to the center, making it suitable for portraits or subjects in the center of the frame. Evaluative metering divides the frame into multiple zones and analyzes the light in each zone to determine the overall exposure. It is a versatile mode that works well in most situations.

A 50mm lens gives you the perspective most like what your eye sees in a full-frame 35mm based camera system. This is because the focal length of a 50mm lens closely matches the natural field of view of the human eye, resulting in images that appear similar to what we see with our own eyes.

Using a 200mm lens allows you to zoom in and capture a narrower field of view, which compresses the perspective of the subject and background in your photograph. This lens choice helps to make the background appear closer to the subject, creating a sense of depth and reducing the apparent distance between them.

ISO 100 is 3 stops less sensitive to light than ISO 800. This means that ISO 100 requires 3 times more light to achieve the same exposure as ISO 800. A lower ISO value indicates lower sensitivity to light, requiring more light to properly expose an image. Therefore, ISO 100 is less sensitive to light than ISO 800.

The camera that landed on the moon was made by Hasselblad. Hasselblad was chosen by NASA to provide cameras for the Apollo missions because of their high-quality and reliability. The Hasselblad cameras used on the moon were specially modified to withstand the extreme conditions of space, including temperature fluctuations and radiation. The iconic images captured by these cameras have become an important part of human history and the exploration of space.

Doubling flash power gains one stop more of light. This means that when the flash power is doubled, the amount of light produced by the flash also doubles, resulting in an increase of one stop in the overall brightness of the scene. This increase in light can be beneficial in situations where additional illumination is needed to properly expose the subject or to create a desired lighting effect.

Henri Cartier-Bresson is attributed to the quote "The decisive moment." He was a French photographer widely regarded as the father of modern photojournalism. Cartier-Bresson believed in capturing the spontaneous and fleeting moments of life, often using a small, discreet camera to blend in with the crowd. He emphasized the importance of timing and composition, capturing the essence of a scene in a single frame. His work had a significant impact on the development of photography as an art form, and his concept of the decisive moment remains influential to this day.

The given question is asking for the equivalent aperture and shutter speed settings when the ISO is doubled. When the ISO is doubled from 100 to 200, the amount of light sensitivity also doubles. To compensate for this, the aperture needs to be decreased by one stop (from f2.8 to f4) and the shutter speed needs to be increased by one stop. Since the shutter speed is given as 60th/sec, the equivalent shutter speed at ISO 200 would be 80th/sec. Therefore, the correct answer is 80th.

The three most common professional camera formats are 35mm, medium format, and large format. These formats refer to the size of the camera's image sensor or film. 35mm is the most widely used format and is popular among both professionals and hobbyists. Medium format offers higher image quality and resolution, making it suitable for commercial and studio photography. Large format cameras have the largest image sensors, providing the highest level of detail and image quality, often used in specialized fields such as landscape and architectural photography.

A scrim is a piece of fabric or material that can be placed between the sun and the subject to diffuse the light. It helps to soften the harshness of direct sunlight and create a more even and flattering lighting effect. Scrim is commonly used in photography and film production to control and manipulate the quality of light.

The depth of field refers to the range of distance in a photograph that appears to be in sharp focus. It is controlled by three variables: aperture, focal length, and camera to subject distance. Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening, with a larger aperture resulting in a shallower depth of field. Focal length, which determines the magnification of the subject, also affects the depth of field. A longer focal length tends to have a shallower depth of field. Lastly, the distance between the camera and the subject plays a role, as a closer distance results in a shallower depth of field.

Richard Avedon is the correct answer because he is widely known for his black and white portraits against a white background, which were shot in the southwest during the late '70s and early '80s. Avedon's distinct style and use of a minimalist background became iconic in the world of photography during that time period.

The given question is asking for the aperture value that is one stop less of light compared to f5.6 @ 250th/sec ISO 400. One stop less of light means reducing the amount of light by half. So, to find the answer, we need to halve the aperture value. Therefore, the correct answer is f2.

In theory, the sports and portrait modes should result in the exact same camera settings because both modes require a fast shutter speed to capture the subject in motion. Additionally, both modes may use a wide aperture to create a shallow depth of field and blur the background. Therefore, the camera settings for these two modes should be similar to achieve the desired effects.

The correct answer is f8 @ 15th ISO 100 and f16 @ 4th ISO 100. These settings indicate the aperture (f-stop), shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity for taking a photograph. The f8 aperture setting at 15th of a second with ISO 100 will result in a balanced exposure, allowing for a moderate depth of field. The f16 aperture setting at 4th of a second with ISO 100 will result in a smaller aperture, resulting in a larger depth of field. Both settings use the same ISO sensitivity, ensuring consistent image quality.