Real World Digital Photography, Third Edition

2. How a Digital Camera Works

There’s more to creating a great photograph than pushing a button while standing in front of a beautiful scene. We photographers are passionate about the cameras and lenses we work with, and our enjoyment of the craft is apparent in the many hours we spend pursuing the perfect image and working to improve our photography.

While developing a keen eye for lighting, composition, and image aesthetics is certainly important, you must also understand the tools you work with (namely, the camera) to produce the best image possible. Knowing how the camera captures the image allows you to respond to the scene more instinctively.

Lens to Image Sensor to Media

Photography—whether film or digital—is all about light. The light ...