What is the basic principle behind cameras and their ability to capture and preserve images of the world around us?

The basic principle behind cameras and their ability to capture and preserve images of the world around us is the use of lenses to focus light onto a photosensitive surface, such as film or a digital sensor. When light enters a camera lens, it is bent or refracted and focused on the film or sensor to create an image. The camera's shutter controls the amount of time that light is allowed to reach the film or sensor, which determines the exposure of the image.

Early cameras used chemical reactions on film to create images. In these cameras, a light-sensitive film was placed behind the lens and exposed to light, causing a chemical reaction that created a latent image. The image was then developed by treating the film with various chemicals. Today's digital cameras use an electronic sensor to capture light and create an image. The sensor consists of millions of tiny photodiodes that convert light into electrical signals, which are then processed and stored as a digital image.