To better understand the connection between photography, light waves and lenses, there is an image of the inside of a SLR (single-lens reflex) camera at the bottom of the page. It is one of the more popular cameras used today. What makes it so popular is the fact that we see exactly what the lens sees without exposing the film, which is placed directly behind the lens. Using a mirror the light gets reflected through ground glass up to a prism, which directs the light to the viewer. The ground glass is what helps focus the image. The mirror is used not only to bounce the light rays up, but also to block the light from exposing the film. While the picture is being taken, the mirror flips up and exposes the film, and immediately closes after the picture is done.

Horenstein, Henry.

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