Camera settings and functions Aperture range
f4
f 5.6
f8
Shallow depth of field (background is out of focus)
f 11
f 22
What’s an f-stop? How does the ISO setting affect my pictures? Do I need a fast or slower shutter speed? Can I just shoot everything on “automatic?” Cameras can be complicated, but knowing how they work and how the settings affect your photos will help you become a better photographer.
How to blur the background
Greater depth of field (background is in focus) Some depth of field - cheerleader in focus; background slightly out of focus
Shallow depth of field - flower and bees in focus, background out of focus
f 16
Learning the basics
Lets in less light
Lets in more light
Getting camera
to know your
Aperture/f-stops
f 2.8
Lesson 1: Elementary schools
Greater depth of field subjects and background are all in focus
For example, let’s say you’re shooting pictures of a soccer game with hundreds of people in the background. In your mind, you realize that you only want to focus on the action in the game and blur the people in the background. How can you do that? Set your camera on “aperture priority” and move the f-stop to the widest opening, usually 2.8. Your digital camera will automatically set the shutter speed to allow the correct amount of light into the camera. The wide aperture works much like the pupil of your eye, allowing more light into the camera, but making the “depth of field” shallow, thus blurring the background.
How to stop action
At that same soccer game, if you want to stop action, set your digital camera on “shutter priority” and move it to 1/500 of a second. The camera will automatically change the aperture to allow the correct amount of light to come into the camera. The shutter works much like your eye-lid, opening and closing at a fraction of a second to either stop or blur action, depending on the result you’re trying to achieve.
What does the ISO control? Shutter speed
Slow shutter speed 1/30-1/60
Fast shutter speed 1/500 or higher to stop action
The ISO setting relates to the light sensor on your camera. The higher the ISO, the faster shutter speed you can use in low-light situations; however, higher ISO settings cause photos to have “noise” in them. For the best results, study this Canon website: http://canonoutsideofauto.ca/. The site teaches participants how each setting works.
Additional resources: PowerPoint Video Curriculum: Chapter 5 - Photography - pages 1-5 Medium shutter speed 1/125 to 1/250 CORE Standards for Photography - Speaking and Listening: - 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5 - page 24; Reading Standards: 5.7 - page 12; 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 - page 21
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Exercise 1: Study the directions for Exercise 1 and take photos of people engaged in activities to cover in the yearbook. Make notes and fill in the blanks on the exerise.