THE CAMERA
FOCUS
Exposure Two controls adjust the amount of light that reaches the camera’s sensor:
THE SHUTTER and THE APERTURE
The combination of an aperture and a shutter speed is an EXPOSURE, which must be “correct” so your picture is neither too light nor too dark
SHUTTER Adjusting the length of time the shutter remains open controls the amount of light that reaches the light sensitive surface
Shutter speeds are denoted in time, usually in fractions of a second. ( generally thought of as progressing in “stops”) A general preset range is 1 second to to 1/1000 of a second or higher. 1 second is a “slow” shutter speed
1/1000 is fast
(Bulb (B) or Timed (T) is used for exposures longer than 1 second) A slower shutter speed = more light A faster shutter speed = less light BASIC IDEA: SHUTTER = TIME
WHY SHUTTER SPEED? Because it Controls Motion Fast Shutter speed stops a moving subject Slow shutter speed blurs a moving subject (also depends on direction subject is moving)
APERTURE The Aperture controls the brightness of the light that reaches the light sensitive surface An “F STOP� refers to the size of the Aperture A general preset range is F2.8 to F64 Reverse Logic: The Smaller the number, the wider the Fstop, letting in more light The larger the number, the smaller Fstop, letting in less light
Each preset “stopped down” (F8 to F5.6) allows TWICE as much light in.
Each preset “stopped up” (f5.6 to f8) allows HALF as much light in
• BIGGER NUMBER LESS LIGHT(f22) • SMALLER NUMBER MORE LIGHT(f2.8)
WHY APERTURE? For
Depth of Field
Depth of Field is the part of a scene that appears acceptably sharp in a photograph (only loosely related to Focus)
Smaller aperture = greater the depth of field
larger aperture = less depth of field
EXPOSURE Exposure = Intensity (aperture) x Time (shutter speed)
Both shutter and aperture are measured in stops, and combine reciprocally to produce the desired effect in an image
Each exposure has a reciprocal equivalent of either shutter speed or aperture
YOUR CAMERA, APERTURE, AND SHUTTER SPEED “Aperture Priority” (A) will allow you to pick an aperture, while the camera picks a shutter speed
usually for desired depth of field
“Shutter Priority” (T) will allow you to pick a a shutter speed, while the camera picks an aperture usually for stopping motion “Manual” will allow you to pick both aperture and shutter speed
Auto will pick everything for you ( we don’t like this, because we want creative control)
METERING All exposure settings assume an overall reading of a subject with average tones.
A photographer’s average is 18% gray or “middle gray”
LIGHT METERS 3 Types: Reflective: Measures the amount of light reflecting off of a subject
Incident: Measures the amount of light falling onto a subject
Spot: will measure the amount of light reflecting off of a particular “spot” in your image (this is technically a type of reflective meter)
Most in-camera metering is done with a reflective light meter Measures the amount of light reflecting off of your subject Reads for 18% gray Usually “center weighted” or “averaging” If your subject does not have average tones, you will need to compensate
How to Meter Choose your exposure mode based on desired outcome (A, S, M,) Evaluate your subject’s tonal range. Is it average?
Is it bright?
Is it dark?
Choose desired light meter (center, average, spot)
“Activate” the meter
When and How to Compensate