Archaeological Photography

Workshop
Field Archaeology
ARCH1003

Archaeological Photography
Objectives
Photo Documentation (Hester 1997)
A comprehensive and technical record of an investigation from
beginning to end
Excavation, process of recovering artefacts, sequences, units and
profiles, survey finds. It is a historical record
Ethical responsibility of archaeologist to visually record an irreversible
process such as excavation or survey. Subsequent analysis or reanalysis of your work in future
Photo Illustration (Hester 1997)
To provide images for publication or presentation
What are you trying to communicate to the public or in the journal?
Why photograph and illustrate?

Single Lens Reflex (SLR)

Camera Features
Lens
Lens aperture
Focusing ring
Auto Advance
Aperture or AV value
Hot shoe
Shutter speed or TV
(Time Value)

ISO setting
Shutter release
Frame counter
Focal plane shutter
Remote release
socket
Film Window
Mirror
Prism

Light
Light is focussed through a lens by refraction
(bending of light rays) to form an image
behind the lens
To produce a photograph we need:
A light source
An object such as a mirror to reflect the light
A light sensitive medium to record the
reflected light (film/digital sensor)
Colour temperature (degrees Kelvin)

Aperture Value
Aperture = f/stop = AV (Pentax camera)
Size of the aperture opening in the lens
A large number (F22) is a small aperture
A small number (F2.8) is a large aperture
To stop down is to reduce the aperture
The f number derives from dividing the
focal length (mm) of the lens by the
diameter of the aperture

Relationship Between Aperture and

Light

Time Value/Shutter Speed

Time Value = shutter speed = TV (Pentax
camera)
Length of time the camera shutter opens to
expose the film/sensor to the light coming
through the lens
1/8 second or slow shutter speed (requires
tripod to avoid camera shake)
1/4000 or fast shutter speed (captures water
splashing)

Exposure
Exposure is the total amount of light reaching
the film calculated from a combination of
aperture value (AV) and time value (TV)
Reducing the AV value (or f-stop) from f16 to f22
necessitates doubling the exposure time or TV
(time value) for the same exposure result
1/250 second at f22 will give the same exposure
result as 1/125 second at f16 (TV reduced but
aperture opened up)

Depth of Field
Depth of field is the zone extending in front of
and behind the focussed distance within
which points will appear to be sharp
The smaller the aperture (AV 22) increases the
depth of field
The larger the aperture (AV 5.6) decreases the
depth of field
Shorter focal length (wide-angle 28mm)
increases depth of field
Longer focal length (telephoto 300mm)
decreases depth of field

Focal Length
Light travels in parallel beams and reaches the
lens
The distance between the lens and the point at
which such light is focussed is the focal
length of the lens
It is always expressed in millimetres
An object the same distance away from a long
focal lens will give a larger image than one of
short focal length
Standard focal length is 50mm for 35mm
camera (negative is 35mm x 24mm)

Angle of View
The angle of view for the human eye is around
45 degrees
Angle of view is the amount of the scene in
front of camera taken in by the lens.
A fish eye lens (18mm focal length) will provide
180 degrees angle of view
A telephoto lens (1200mm focal length) will
provide 2 degrees
Note: A longer focal length (300mm lens) will
decrease the depth of field

Film speed
ISO film speed is the films sensitivity to light
rating
The more sensitive the film, the higher the ISO
number and the less light required
ISO 6 is a slow, fine grained film and requires a
tripod
800 or 1600 ISO is a fast film (newer films not
so grainy, used with/without flash)
TMax 3200 can be used with available light at
night

Perspective
The apparent distance in the relative sizes of
near and far objects
A function of the distance away of the camera
Wide angle distortion 28 to 35mm may steepen
the perspective of your trench or structure
leading to convergence of lines and
aberrations at edge of negative
Standard focal length lens (50mm) or higher
will give normal perspective
Telephoto lens (above 50mm) may flatten
perspective

Metering
Current Single Lens Reflex (SLRs) cameras
have built in metering
Correct Exposure (Pentax) is when the green
light is half-way and is changed by adjusting
AV/TV values
If positive = overexposed
If negative = underexposed
Note: internal meter reads whole scene not just
object unless that fills the frame
Incident, reflective, spot metering, grey cards

Camera Handling and Care

Dirt, water, dust, sun can damage cameras
and/or precious exposed film
Use bag or waterproof case (e.g. Pelican) for
rainy days
Lens tissue for clearer picture. Check the lens!
filters will help protect the lens
Do not over tighten the tripod screw
Batteries may leak if for a long time in the
camera

Field Equipment
Film! cards/laptop/burner
Batteries
Filters
Special requirements for
digital cameras
Camera hood and
waterproof case
Reflectors
Lens cleaning material
Special lenses

Scale (range pole and/or

centimetre scales)
Additional cameras (black
and white, slide and/or
colour print, digital)
Photographic proforma or
notebook/register
North arrow
Tripod and remote cable
release
Flash/Supplementary
Lighting

General Principles of
Archaeological Photography
Technical Photograph
descriptive and realistic
Control the light
Use an appropriate scale
A scale should be in the same
plane as the object
Viewpoint is critical. Fill the
frame. Use macro
lenses/function for small
objects
Film/CD media is low cost,
while project time is not
Exposure is critical

Record on
proforma/notebook
(Never Later)
Record meaningful
information
A changing landscape?
Detail, Geology,
construction materials,
flora,
Save images to digital
archive at highest
resolution possible and
back up records

Overall Site and Aerial

Photographs
The relationship between a site and surroundings is
essential. Try to convey a sense of context or
environment
Try to take an elevated photograph if possible (wall,
ladder, tree, elevating machinery, box
Conventional aerial photographs - planes,
Low-level aerial photographs - booms, balloons, and
kites

Photo Illustration

Photo Illustration

Aerial Site Overview

Photo: David Webb, UK

Critique Photograph

Critique Photograph

Critique Photograph

Critique Photograph

Scale

Scale Position/Use of Negative

Human Scale/Site Context

Scale/Use of Negative/Cleaning

Direct Sunlight/Contrast

Diffuse Light

Overcast Lighting/Scale/Use of
Negative

Background Placement, Scale,

Glass in Sunlight

Artefact Use Visualization

Finger as Scale

Scale Size/Placement

Scale Placement

IFRAO scale
AURA, PO BOX 216, Caufield
South VIC 3162
auraweb@hotmail.com

Rock Art
IFRAO scale

Studio Lighting

Studio Lighting