Know your camera

Know your Camera Essential Settings

*Adapted from Travis Feil’s presentation

Photoshop can’t do it all…

  It is true that Photoshop can do amazing things.   However, the more you know before you take the

shot, the better your pictures will turn out.

  Advanced cameras like the ones we use can take great pictures in the fully automatic mode, but your pictures will be better if you adjust settings manually.

  There are three basic features you should master in

order to take great pictures. Finding the correct balance of these three features will help you achieve great photography.

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Auto Mode

Manual Settings

Glossary Time

 Exposure: –  Refers to the correct lighting of all objects

in a photograph.

Underexposure

 Too dark  Lacks definition  Details lost

Overexposure

 Too bright  Lacks details  Definition lost  “Overblown”

Proper Exposure

 “Just right” lighting  Defined details

Glossary Time

 Metering: –  Using the camera’s metering scale to

determine correct exposure. –  Your camera tells you the settings to use!

Glossary Time

  ISO: –  The camera’s sensitivity to light.

–  Also known as “film speed” for those who have actually used real film.

–  Useless info in case you’re curious: ISO is from “International Standards Organization” originally ASA from “American Standards Association.” They just made sure all film, no matter where it was made or purchased, was properly labeled.

Glossary Time

  ISO:

Glossary Time

 Shutter speed: –  The speed at which the camera’s “eye”

opens and closes.

Glossary Time

 Shutter speed:

Glossary Time

 Aperture: –  The size of the eye in the camera. –  Most commonly known as “F-Stop”

Glossary Time

 Aperture:

Each Word Matters

 So far we’ve defined –  Exposure –  ISO –  Shutter Speed –  Aperture

 Now let’s see how they affect pictures.

ISO

 Sensitivity to light.  Displayed as a whole number:

–  100 –  200 –  400 –  800 –  1600 –  3200

  Lower numbers mean –  less sensitive = less exposure = less light = darker pictures

  Higher numbers mean –  more sensitive = more exposure = more light = brighter pictures

ISO

What’s the ISO on this camera right now?

ISO

  DOES affect image quality. –  Higher ISO = grain and noise

  Will probably remain the same for the whole shoot unless lighting changes.

  Use the lowest setting possible.

  “Set it and forget it.”

ISO

 To properly expose an image in… …bright, natural light, use ____ ISO. …dimly lit situations, use a ____ ISO

ISO

 To properly expose an image in… …bright, natural light, use LOW ISO. …dimly lit situations, use a HIGH ISO

ISO

 On a bright sunny day, an ISO of 1600 will probably make my pictures turn out…

…completely white (over exposed) …completely dark (under exposed)

ISO

  In a dimly lit classroom, an ISO of 100 will probably produce an image that is…

…completely white (over exposed) …completely dark (under exposed)

Shutter Speed

 The speed at which the eye “blinks.”

 When you push the shutter release button, the internal eye opens and closes to let light in and create an image.

 The amount of light that gets in affects exposure.

Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed

  Usually appears as a fraction but might be a whole number on the screen. Refers to a fraction of 1 second.

“30 (30 seconds - “slow blink”) “4 (4 seconds) 1/80 (one 80th of one second) 1/250 (one 250th of one second) 1/500 (one 500th of one second) 1/4000 (one 4000th of one second - “fast blink”)

Shutter Speed

 Think exposure… –  If I leave the “eye” open for 30 seconds,

my image will be…

…brighter (over exposed) …darker (under exposed)

Shutter Speed

 Think exposure… –  If I only leave the “eye” open for 1/1000

of 1 second, my image will be… …brighter (over exposed) …darker (under exposed)

Shutter Speed

What is the shutter speed on this camera right now? (Ignore the red box - that isn’t it.)

Shutter Speed

What is the shutter speed on this camera right now?

Shutter Speed

  In addition to exposure…

–  A slower shutter speed (lower number) can create blur in the action.

–  A faster shutter speed (higher number)

freezes quick action.

–  1/60 can capture good still frames. –  1/500 will stop a tennis racquet in swing.

Shutter Speed

VERY Slow shutter speed - people have to stand still. A tripod should be used to

prevent the subject from being blurry. 1/60 or Lower= tripod

Shutter Speed

Fast shutter speed stops action.

ISO + Shutter Speed

 Think about the relationship between the 2 settings we’ve discussed.

–  If you increase ISO, your picture will

become lighter or overexposed. –  You can increase shutter speed to

balance that and make your picture darker…back to what it needs to be for proper exposure.

–  It’s like a teeter-totter.

ISO + Shutter Speed

 Think about the relationship between the 2 settings we’ve discussed.

–  If your ISO is low, your image will be

darker. –  You can decrease shutter speed to let in

more light and make the image brighter.

ISO + Shutter Speed   Lower shutter speed

creates blur of the Benton player.

  Low shutter speed lets in too much light.

  ISO must be adjusted down to compensate.

  IS0 = 200

  Shutter Speed = 1/200

Aperture (F-Stop)

  The size of the eye that “blinks.”   This setting is “backwards” or

counterintuitive. The lower the F-Stop number, the bigger the eye. –  F3.5 = big eye –  F21 = little eye

  The bigger the eye, the greater the exposure (more light gets in).

Aperture (F-Stop)

 Appears as an F-Number combination  The lower the number, the bigger the

eye.

–  F 3.5 (big opening, lots of light, more exposure) –  F 6 (medium opening, medium light) –  F 11 (small opening, little light)

Aperture (F-Stop)

Aperture

 Think exposure… –  If I have a “big eye” (low F-Stop), my

image will be…


Aperture

 Think exposure… –  If I have a “small eye” (high F-Stop), my

image will be…


Aperture

 What is the aperture setting on this camera right now?

Aperture

 An F4.0 will let in… –  Lots of light

–  Little light

Aperture

  In addition to exposure, aperture affects “depth of field.”

–  “Shallow Depth of Field” = subject in focus but background blurred.

 Small F-Stop number

–  “Greater Depth of Field” = All objects in focus

  Larger F-Stop number

Aperture

  Lower F-Stop (3.5) = blurred background

Aperture

  Higher F-Stop (16) = all in focus

Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed

 Think about the relationship of all the settings together… –  If I want to blur a background, my F-Stop

must be low. –  This causes a bigger eye which lets in

more light and may cause my picture to be over exposed.

–  There are 2 adjustments I can make to solve the problem…  Decrease ISO  Increase Shutter Speed


 Think about the relationship of all the settings together… –  If I want a crisp foreground AND

background, my F-Stop will be higher. –  This causes a smaller eye which lets in

less light and may cause my picture to be under exposed.

–  There are 2 adjustments I can make to solve the problem…  Increase ISO  Decrease Shutter Speed


 Each setting change affects exposure.

 Each setting change affects the other settings.

  If you understand what each one does,

you can take better pictures.

Making Pictures v. Taking Pictures

 First, consider your lighting conditions: the type of light you’re shooting in, the direction its coming from, etc.

 Set your ISO to the lowest possible

setting for those conditions.  Visualize the image you want and set

the camera for those priorities.


Conditions: dimly lit tunnels. Requires higher ISO 1600


Desired shot: Bulb in focus, background blurred. Requires Extremely slow shutter speed Bulb setting or 1/4


Compensation: with such a high ISO and slow shutter speed, the image is WAY overexposed. To balance, increase F-Stop Eye is smaller less light gets in!


Conditions: very sunny day, outdoors

Low ISO - no need for an overly sensitive camera 200


Desire shot: selective focus background

Requires low F-Stop - 3.5 Causes image to be over exposed because the eye is so large


Compensation: increase shutter speed

Decrease the time the camera is exposed to light 1/1000 Balances the effects of large aperture


Conditions: outdoors in low shade Medium-range ISO

600


Desired shot: Blurry background, focus on the subject Requires low F-Stop to blur background.

F5.6 Requires medium shutter speed to ensure subject (young child) is in focus Even though she was moving. 1/400


Compensation: if F5.6 with a 1/400 shutter speed does not expose properly, adjust ISO.

Review ISO 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1600

camera is: Less Sensitive More Sensitive makes my pic: Darker Lighter

Shutter Speed “30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4000

eyes blinks: Slower Faster makes my pic: Lighter Darker other effects: Motion blurred Frozen Action

Aperture F3.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F22

eye is: Larger Smaller makes my pic: Lighter Darker other effects: Blurred background Crisp background

Know your camera

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