In a world dominated by rapid technological advances, it is sometimes a welcome change to take a step back and remember the roots of photography: analogue photography. This art form, characterised by capturing light on film, has a rich and complex history dating back to the 19th century. Before the digital revolution completely changed the scenario, analogue photography was the pinnacle of image capture, making it possible to capture unforgettable moments for eternity.
This craft not only connects us to the origins of photography, but also trains our eye for detail and sharpens our skills in image composition. With each click of the shutter, a carefully considered work of art is created, immortalised in a physical medium, far removed from the digital world of pixels and bytes.
Analogue photography is not just a process, but rather an experience. From manually adjusting focus and exposure to developing the film in a darkroom, each stage requires time, patience and an intimate connection to photography. It is here, in this world of film cartridges, developing fluids and enlargers, that a deep appreciation for the authenticity and craftsmanship captured with each shot develops.
In our latest quiz, we invite you to put your knowledge of analogue photography to the test. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or a newcomer to the analogue scene, this quiz offers a wide range of questions that will test your basic knowledge as well as explore some advanced concepts of analogue photography.
Join us on this nostalgic journey through the wonderful world of analogue photography as you brush up on your knowledge of film formats, developing processes, historic cameras and much more. Who knows, you may discover a previously unknown passion for this traditional art form or deepen your existing love of analogue photography. Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of analogue photography, a world that has lost none of its charm despite the digital age.
Questions
1. What chemical element is contained in photographic films to increase sensitivity to light?
a) Silver
b) Gold
c) copper
d) Zinc
2. What describes the term “reciprocity failure” in analogue photography?
a) Autofocus failure
b) Failure of exposure measurement
c) Deviation of the exposure time for very short or long exposure times
d) Loss of color saturation in a photo
3. What optical system was originally developed for large format photography?
a) Tessar
b) Helios
c) Petzval
d) Planar
4. What is the main ingredient of Photographic Gelatin Emulsion?
a) Polystyrene
b) Celluloid
c) Silver halides
d) Nitrocellulose
5. What is the purpose of fixer in film processing?
a) Removal of the unexposed silver
b) Development of the exposed silver halides
c) Stabilization of colors
d) Drying of the film
6. What instrument is used to measure light for exposure metering?
a) Light meter
b) Spectrometer
c) Photometer
d) Calorimeter
7. What is a “push process” in analogue photography?
a) Increasing film speed during development
b) Reduction of film speed during development
c) Rapid development of the film
d) Using a flash in low light conditions
8. What filter would be used to increase contrast in black and white photographs?
a) Yellow filter
b) Red filter
c) Green filter
d) Blue filter
9. Which film format is larger than medium format but smaller than large format?
a) 35mm
b) 120mm
c) 110mm
d) 70mm
10. What is the main purpose of a selenium toner in black and white photography?
a) Increasing image sharpness
b) Improving image stability and changing image tones
c) Improving color saturation
d) Acceleration of the drying process
11. What is the effect of using low ISO in analog photography?
a) Lower light sensitivity and finer grain
b) Higher light sensitivity and coarser grain
c) Lower light sensitivity and coarser grain
d) Higher light sensitivity and finer grain
12. What is the purpose of a “bellow” in analog photography?
a) Improve ventilation in the camera
b) Allows macro shots and enlargements
c) Protecting the film from light leakage
d) Increasing the light sensitivity of the film
13. What is the effect of using a soft focus filter?
a) Reduction of image contrast
b) Increasing color saturation
c) Smoothing skin tones and reducing image sharpness
d) Improve image sharpness
14. What is the purpose of a rotary processor in film processing?
a) Acceleration of the drying process
b) Uniform development of the film
c) Improving color saturation
d) increasing the light sensitivity of the film
15. Which term describes the measure of the optical resolution of a lens?
a) T-Stop
b) MTF (Modulation Transfer Function)
c) Circle of Confusion
d) focal length
16. What is the main purpose of a curtain shutter in an analog camera?
a) Avoidance of light leakage
b) Control of exposure time
c) Improve image sharpness
d) Increasing the image contrast
17. What is the main function of a condenser in an enlarger?
a) Focusing the light on the film
b) Creating blurring effects
c) Control of exposure time
d) Improving color saturation
18. What is a “Grain Focusing Viewer” in darkroom photography?
a) A device for determining the optimal focus point for grain sharpness
b) A device for reducing image grain
c) A tool to improve color saturation
d) An instrument for measuring light intensity
19. What type of paper would produce a higher gloss level in photographic prints?
a) Matte paper
b) Mother of pearl paper
c) Baryta paper
d) Resin-coated paper
20. What is the meaning of “depth of field” in photography?
a) The area of a photo that is in focus
b) The sharpness of the background of a photo
c) The number of pixels in a digital photo
d) The brightness of a photo
Answers
1. a) Silver
2. c) Deviation of the exposure time for very short or long exposure times
3. c) Petzval
4. c) Silver halides
5. a) Removal of the unexposed silver
6. a) Light meter
7. a) Increasing film speed during development
8. b) Red filter
9. d) 70mm
10. b) Improving image stability and changing image tones
11. a) Lower light sensitivity and finer grain
12. b) Allows macro shots and enlargements
13. c) Smoothing skin tones and reducing image sharpness
14. b) Uniform development of the film
15. b) MTF (Modulation Transfer Function)
16. b) Controlling the exposure time
17. a) Focusing the light on the film
18. a) A device for determining the optimal focal point for grain sharpness
19. c) Baryta paper
20. a) The area of a photo that is in focus