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Burt Chernow Galleries
Housatonic Museum of Art
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT 06604

For information call
Robbin Zella, Director,
203-332-5052.

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ANSEL ADAMS LESSON PLAN

MATH
Meters, f/stops and Focal lengths
 

See: Gallery: Surf Sequence, Moonrise, Hernandez

Photography Exposure Experiment

A water faucet represents the aperture. Imagine you are filling a glass with water. If the faucet is open all the way, would it take a longer or shorter time to fill the glass half-way than if the faucet was only letting out a trickle of water?

Equipment:

  • Water faucet. Or container such as a salt shaker with 2-3 sizes of opening,
  • Timer
  • Receptacle.
Goal: To fill a receptacle to the half way mark, which represents the correct amount of light needed for proper exposure. (Less would not be enough light - making the image too dark. Full would be too much light - making the image too light).

Procedure: Aperture Shutter speed
small circle
 Using the small opening, start filling the receptacle and stop at half way. Time it.
(Takes the longest time)
medium circle
 Using the middle size opening, start filling the container and stop at half way. Time it.
large circle
 Using the large opening, start filling the container and stop at half way. Time it.
(Takes the shortest time)

Observation: To expose film for a determined amount of light, the smaller the opening (aperture) the slower the shutter speed. øThe larger the aperture, the faster the shutter speed.

Conclusion: Aperture and shutter speed are functions of each other.?

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Housatonic Museum of Art
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Directions to the Museum
For information call Robbin Zella, Director, 203-332-5052