b a s i cd i g i t a l p h o t o g r a p h y
f o rmo ms
In t r o d u c t i o n Ah,ki ds .Whatl i t t l ebundl esofj oy.Asamom,you’ vepr obabl ybeens nappi ngphot osofyourl i t t l eone s i nc et hei rver yfir s tday.Wi t h a di gi t alc amer a,i t ’ sneverbeen eas i ert o doc umentt he i mpor t ant moment si nyourc hi l d’ sl i f eands har et hem wi t hf ami l yandf r i ends . Thi sc our s ewasdes i gnedf ormomswhowantt ot akebet t erphot osoft hei rki ds .Wewi l lc overt opi c s s uc hasexpos ur e,l i ght i ng,c ompos i t i on,andpos i ng.
Th e Ge a r 1 . t h ec a me r a
2 . T h eF l a s h
I nt hi swor ks hopwer ec ommendus i ngaDSLR.
Manydi gi t alSLR’ sc omewi t has mal lflas hbui l t
Youc anal s ous eapoi nt ands hootc amer a
i nt ot hec amer a.Thi sflas hpr oduc esar at her
whi c hhasmanualmode.TWi t haDSLRyouc an
har s hl i ghtt hatc r eat esdar ks hadows .To
c hoos eyourowns et t i ngsandhavemor e
r educ et hes hadowsyouc anus eadi ffus ers uc h
c r eat i vec ont r oloveryourphot os .
ast hePufferPLUSPopUpFl as hDi ffus erby Gar yFong.I fyouwantmor epower f ull i ght ,you
Asyoul ear nmor eaboutphot ogr aphy,youwi l l
c anpur c has eanext er nalflas h,buti nt hi s
bebet t erabl et oc hoos et hepr opers et t i ngs
wor ks hopwewi l lbet eac hi ngy ouhowt os hoot
neededt oc r eat ebeaut i f ulphot osofyourki ds .
us i ngonl yav ai l abl el i ght .
3 . t h eL e n s e s Oneadvant ageofmos tdi gi t alSLRsi st heabi l i t y t os wi t c hl ens es .Thi sal l owsyout oc hoos ef r om avar i et yofdi ffer entf oc all engt hs .Ther ear et wo ki ndsofl ens es :pr i mel ens esandz oom l ens es .
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Th e Le n s e s p r i mel e n s e s
z o o ml e n s e s
Owni ng a pr i me l ens t r ul yt r ans f or ms your
Si nc ec hi l dr enl i ket omovear oundal ot ,havi ng
s naps hot s i nt o mor e pr of es s i onal l ooki ng
al enst hatz oomsi n and outwi l lbehel pf ul .
phot ogr aphs .Thepr i mar ydi ffer enc ebet weena
Zoom l ens eshaveawi der angeoff oc al l engt hs .
pr i mel ensandaz oom l ensi st hatapr i mel ens
The l ens t hat c ame wi t h your c amer a,
has a s i ngl ef oc all engt h.For exampl e,t he
c ommonl yr ef er r edt oasa“ ki tl ens ” ,wi l lmos t
50mm pr i mel ensonl yphot ogr aphsi magesat
l i kel ybeaz oom l ens .Thi sl enswi l lwor kgr eat
i t s 50mm f oc all engt h.I ns t ead ofhav i ng t he
f orbegi nner s .I tmaybea“ var i abl ez oom l ens ” .
abi l i t yt o“ z oom”i nt oy ours ubj ec t ,y ou’ dhav et o
Thi ss i mpl y means when you z oom i n your
phy s i c al l ymov ec l os ert ot hem.
aper t ur emayc hange.Wewi l ldi s c us saper t ur e atal at ert i me.
Pr i mel ens esar eus ual l yver y“ f as t . ”Thi smeans t hatt hes et ypesofl ens eshaveanaper t ur et hat opens ver y wi de. Pr i me l ens es ar e us ual l y “ f as t er ”t hanz oom l ens es .I fyou’ r ej us ts t ar t i ng outwi t hpr i mel ens es ,I ’ dr ec ommendt hefixed 50mm f / 1. 8.I t ’ sr el at i vel yi nexpens i veandyou’ l l bepl eas ant l ypl eas edwi t ht her es ul t s .
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Ex p o s u r e Tomakes ur et hephot osofyourki ddosdon’ tc omeoutt oobr i ghtort oodar k,youwi l lneedt oknow how t os etyourexpos ur e. Expos ur ei st he amountofl i ghtt hati sc apt ur ed when you t ake a phot ogr aph. I ft ool i t t l el i ghti sc apt ur ed,t hent hei magewi l lbe“ under expos ed”( t oodar k) .I ft oomuc hl i ghti s c apt ur ed,t hei mage wi l lbe“ over expos ed”( t oobr i ght ) . I t ’ sbes tt ot akephot ost hatar ec or r ec t l y expos ed.Todot hi s ,youmus tbal anc et heI SO,s hut t ers peed,andaper t ur e.
1 .I s o+N o i s e I SO s t andsf orI nt er nat i onalOr gani z at i onf orSt andar di z at i on.Forourpur pos es ,i ts i mpl ymeanshow muc hl i ghtt hec amer a’ ss ens orwi l lc apt ur e. A hi gherI SO wi l lc apt ur emor el i ghtand pr oduc ea br i ght eri mage.Al owerI SO wi l lc apt ur el es sl i ghtandpr oduc eadar keri mage.You’ l lwantt omake s ur et hatyous etyourc amer at ot hel eas tpos s i bl eI SO nec es s ar ywhent aki ngaphot obec aus ea hi gherI SO wi l lr es ul ti nmor e“ noi s e”i nt hei mage.“ Noi s e”i st i nyl i t t l es pec st hatc anappeari nyour i magewhent hes ens i t i vi t yoft hes ens ori st oohi gh.
TheI SOs et t i ngsonmos tdi gi t al c amer asr angef r om 100I SOt o3200I SOandhi gher .Onabr i ghts unny day,youc ans etyourc amer a’ sI SO t oar ound100s i nc es omuc hl i ghti savai l abl e.I ns i de,orwheni ti s dar kout s i de,youc ans etyourc amer a’ sI SO t oar ound1600.I fyourphot oi ss t i l lunder expos ed,t hen youc ant r yus i ngaflas horc hangi ngyours hut t ers peedandaper t ur e.
I SO WAS400
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I SO WAS3200
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Ex p o s u r e 2 .S h u t t e rS p e e d+Mo t i o nB l u r Whenyout akeaphot owi t hyourdi gi t al c amer a, l i ghti sbr i eflyc apt ur edonyourc amer a’ ss ens or .The l engt hoft i met hel i ghti sc apt ur edi sknownast hes hut t ers peed.Manydi gi t alSLR’ shaves hut t er s peedst hatr angef r om 30s ec onds( ext r emel ys l ow)t o1/ 4000t hofas ec ondorf as t er .
Shut t ers peedaffec t st heexpos ur eofyourphot obyt heamountoft i mel i ghti sc apt ur ed.Set t i ngyour c amer at oaf as t ers hut t ers peedmayc r eat eunder expos edi magesbec aus eyourc amer awi l l havel es s t i met oc apt ur el i ght .Shut t ers peedc anal s oaffec thow bl ur r yyouri mageswi l lbe.Thes l owert he s hut t ers peed,t hemor emot i onbl uryouwi l lgetf r om movi ngpeopl eorobj ec t s .
SHUTTER
SHUTTER
SPEED
SPEED
1/ 25
1/ 250
Bl urc anal s obec aus edbyevent hes l i ght es tmovementofyourhandswhi l ehol di ngt hec amer a.Thi s i sknownas“ c amer as hake” .Tor educ eorel i mi nat ec amer as hakeyouc andos ever alt hi ngs . 1)Sett hes hut t ers peedt oaf as t ers et t i ng. 2)Tur nont hei mages t abi l i z at i ononc er t ai nc amer al ens es . 3)St abi l i z eyourc amer abyus i ngat r i pod. Asagener alr ul e,i fyou’ r es hoot i ngatas hut t ers peeds l owert han1/ 60ofas ec ond,you’ r eboundt o s eebl uri nt hei mage.Tppl ayi ts af e,t r ys hoot i ngnos l owert han1/ 125ofas ec ond. Expos ur e|Shi ni ngSt ar St udi os . c om
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Ex p o s u r e 3 .A p e r t u r e+D e p t ho fF i e l d Aper t ur ei st he c amer as et t i ngt hatdet er mi neshow wi de t he openi ngi ns i de t he l enswi l lopen. Under s t andi ngaper t ur ec anbeal i t t l et r i c kyatfir s tbec aus ei t sval uei sexpr es s edasaf r ac t i onc al l ed an“ f s t op” .Thewi dert heaper t ur eopens ,t hel owert he“ f / s t op”numberandvi c ever s a.Forexampl e, f / 2. 8i sal ar geaper t ur ebec aus et heaper t ur eopensver ywi de.F/ 22i sas mal laper t ur ebec aus et he apet ur eopensver yl i t t l e.
Theaper t ur ec ont r ol st wovar i abl eswhent aki ngaphot ogr aph.I tc ont r ol show muc hl i ghtwi l lf al lon t hes ens or ,andhow muc h“ dept hof fiel d”t hephot owi l lhave.Dept hof fiel dmeanshow muc hof yourf or egr oundandbac kgr oundwi l lbei nf oc usar oundyours ubj ec t .
APERTURE WAS f / 1. 8
APERTURE WAS f / 11
Al ar geaper t ur ewi l lc r eat eabr i ght erexpos ur eandanar r owerdept hof fiel d( l es si nf oc us ) .As mal l aper t ur ewi l lc r eat eadar kerexpos ur eandawi derdept hof fiel d( mor ei nf oc us ) .Aphot ot akenat f / 2. 8i sgoi ngt ohaveaver ynar r owdept hof fiel d, andaphot ot akenatf / 22i sgoi ngt ohaveaver ywi de dept hof fiel d. Expos ur e|Shi ni ngSt ar St udi os . c om
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Se t t i n g s 1 .R a w+J P E G Di gi t alSLRsal l ow you t oc hoos ebet ween aRaw i magefil e,aJ PEG i magefil e,orbot h.Ther ear e advant agesanddi s advant agest oeac hfil et ype.Her ear et hepr osandc onst oeac ht ypeoffil e: RAW I MAGEFI LES Raw al l owsyou t o makemor eadj us t ment saf t ert hephot oi st aken. Thes eadj us t ment si nc l ude c hangi ngt heexpos ur eandt hewhi t ebal anc e.Raw fil esar emuc hl ar gert hanJ PEGs ,andc ant akeup mor es pac eonyourmemor yc ar d.Theyal s or equi r emor et i met oc apt ur e,downl oad,andpr oc es s . Youwi l lal s oneedapr ogr am s uc hasPhot os hopEl ement st oopent hes efil es . J PEG I MAGEFI LES J PEGsar ef ast ert ocapt ur e,downl oad,andpr ocess.Si nceaJ PEGi sasmal l erfil esi z e,i tal l owsyou t ocapt ur emor ei magesont hecamer a' smemor ycar d.Thedi sadvant ageofshoot i ngi nJ PEG i s t hel ackofabi l i t yt omakeadj ust ment saf t ert hephot oi st aken.Buti fyoul ear nhow t opr oper l y exposeyouri mage,youshoul dbeabl et ogetgr eatphot osst r ai ghtoutoft hecamer at hatr equi r e l i t t l et onoadj ust i ng.
2 . C A ME R AP R E S E T S AUTOMATI C Theadvant ageofs et t i ngyourc amer aonaut omat i ci st hatt hec amer amakesal l t hedec i s i onsf oryou. I tc hoos esyourI SO, s hut t ers peed, aper t ur e, andwhi t ebal anc e.Thedi s advant ageofus i ngaut omat i c i st hati tt akesaway yourabi l i t yt o be c r eat i ve and ar t i s t i c . Lear ni ng t o us et he manualand s emi manuals et t i ngsonyourc amer awi l lhel pyouc apt ur et heki ndofi magesyoudes i r e. APERTUREPRI ORI TY Aper t ur epr i or i t y( Av[ aper t ur eval ue] )modeal l owsyou t oc hoos et heaper t ur ewhi l et hec amer a c hoos est hes hut t ers peed.Thi si sus ef uli ns i t uat i onswher eyouwantt oc ont r olt hedept hof fiel d wi t houthavi ngt owor r yaboutt hes hut t ers peed.Forexampl e, i fyouonl ywantt ophot ogr aphi mages us i nganf / 1. 8aper t ur e,t henyouc anc hoos eaper t ur epr i or i t yandal l ow t hec amer at oc hoos et he s hut t ers peed. Set t i ngs|Shi ni ngSt ar St udi os . c om
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Se t t i n g s SHUTTERPRI ORI TY Shut t erpr i or i t y( Tv[ t i meval ue] )onyourc amer aal l owsyout oc hoos et hes hut t ers peedwhi l et he c amer ac hoos est heaper t ur e. Thi smodei sus ef ulwhen you wantt oc ont r olmot i on bl urwi t hout wor r yi ngaboutt heaper t ur e.Forexampl e,i fyouwantt ophot ogr aphyourc hi l donabi ke,youc an c hoos eaf as ts hut t ers peeds uc has1/ 250andal l ow t hec amer at oc hoos et heaper t ur e. PROGRAM MODE Pr ogr am mode( P)i ss i mi l art oaut omat i cmode,butwi t hal otofflexi bi l i t y.I tal l owsyout oc hoos et he I SO whi l et hec amer ac hoos est hes hut t ers peedandaper t ur e.I fyoudon’ tl i ket hes hut t ers peedyour c amer ac hoos es ,youc anc hangei t .Yourc amer awi l laut omat i c al l yadj us tt heexpos ur easnec es s ar y. Youc anal s oc hanget heaper t ur e,andyourc amer awi l lc hanget hes hut t ers peedt omat c h. MANUAL TheM modes t andsf ormanual ,meani ngyouhavef ul lc ont r oloverever yt hi ngyourc amer ai sdoi ng. Youc anc hanget hes hut t ers peed, t heaper t ur eandt heI SO.Thi si swher ei t ’ shel pf ul t ol ookatt hel i ght met erwi t hi nyourc amer a.I fyoupeeki nt ot hevi ewfinderandhol dt hes hut t erbut t ondownhal f way, yous houl ds eeal i neofdas hesandnumber st hatappearatt hebot t om ofyourvi ewfinder .Onedas h wi l lbel ongert hanal loft heot her s .
I nor derf oraphot ogr apht obeper f ec t l yexpos ed, t hel ongdas hneedst ober es t i ngexac t l yont hez er o mar k.I fyouc hangeyours hut t ers peedandaper t ur e,youc ans eet hatt hel ongerdas hmoves ,ei t her f ur t hert owar dst he1and2ort owar dst he+1and+2.Thenegat i venumber smeant hephot ogr aph wi l lbeunder expos ed,l eadi ngt oadar ki mage.Thepos i t i venumber smeant hephot ogr aphwi l lbe over expos ed,l eadi ngt oani maget hati st oobr i ght . Set t i ngs|Shi ni ngSt ar St udi os . c om
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Se t t i n g s 3 .Wh i t eB a l a n c e I fyou’ veevert akenapi c t ur et hatl ookedt oobl ueoror ange,t henyouunder s t andt hei mpor t anc eof get t i nganac c ur at ewhi t ebal anc e.That ’ sbec aus edi ffer entt ypesofl i ghthavedi ffer entc ol or s .For exampl e,s unl i ghtus ual l yl ooksyel l ow dur i ngt heday,butc anl ookbl uei nt heeveni ngorwheni t ’ s c l oudy.Togett hec or r ec tc ol orf oryourphot os ,youwi l lhavet oknow whi c hwhi t ebal anc es et t i ngt o us e. AUTO -Theeas i es tt hi ngt odoi st os etyourwhi t ebal anc eon“ Aut o” . Thi si swher eyourc amer a anal yz est hel i ghtandc hoos est hes et t i ngsf oryou.Wi t hmanyoft henewerdi gi t al c amer ast hi ss et t i ng wor ksfinemuc hoft het i me.I f“ Aut o”i s n’ twor ki ngi nac er t ai nl i ght i ngenvi r onment ,t henyouc an c hoos eanot hers et t i ngt hatwor ksbet t er . TUNGSTEN -Si ncei ndoorl i ght susual l yhaveanor anget one,t hi sset t i ngwi l laddmor ebl uet o achi evet hecor r ectwhi t ebal ance. FLOURESCENT-Si ncefluor escentl i ght sar eusual l ymor ebl uet oned,t hi sset t i ngwi l laddmor e or anget oachi evet hecor r ectwhi t ebal ance. DAYLI GHT Thi sset t i ngcr eat esa‘ neut r al ’whi t ebal ance,meani ngi t ’ snei t hert oo coolort oo war m. CLOUDY-Thi sset t i ngwi l laddabi tofor anget ooffsett hel i ghtcomi ngt hr ought hecl ouds. FLASH -Si ncet hecol orofl i ghtf r om yourflashi sbl ue,t hi sset t i ngwi l li ncr easet heor anget ones i nyouri mages. SHADE-Thel i ghti nt heshadei susual l ybl ue,sot hi sset t i ngwi l laddal i t t l eor anget onet oyour i mages. Whi t ebal anc ei sagoodr eas onofwhyyouwoul dwantt ophot ogr aphus i ngt heRaws et t i ng.Wi t ht he Raw fil e,youc aneas i l yc hanget hewhi t ebal anc eaf t ert hephot oi st akenus i ngaRaw c onver t eror phot oedi t i ngs of t war e.Tr yi ngt oc or r ec tt hewhi t ebal anc eonaJ PEG fil emaybemor edi ffic ul tand c oul ddamaget hei mage.
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Li g h t i n g Whenphot ogr aphi ngyourki ds ,youwi l lneedt oknow whatki ndofl i ghtyouar ewor ki ngwi t i h.Ther e ar emanydi ffer entki ndsofl i ght :t her e’ ss unl i ght , c andl el i ght , t ungs t en, flour es c ent , et c .Eac hki ndhas adi ffer entpower ,i nt ens i t yandc ol or .Under s t andi ngaf ew bas i cl i ght i ngpr i nc i pl esc anhel pyout ake bet t erphot os .
1 .O u t s i d e Aver ys mal ll i ghts our c e,s uc hasaflas hl i ght ,wi l l pr oduc ever yhar s hs hadows . A bi gl i ghts our c e, s uc hasal ar geflour es c entl i ght ,wi l lpr oduc ever y s of ts hadows . Thes un,event houghi ti sver yl ar ge,i ss of araway f r om us t hat i t ac t s as a s mal ll i ght s our c e. Ther ef or e,when phot ogr aphi ng yourc hi l dr en i n di r ec ts unl i ght ,you may not i c e har s hs hadows undert hei reyes , nos eandc hi n.For t unat el y, t her e ar eaf ew wayst or educ et hes es hadows . 1.Di ffus et heLi ght .Onewayt or educ es hadows i st odi ffus et hel i ght . A di ffus eri sanyt hi ngt hat goesbet weent hel i ghtandt hes ubj ec tt os of t eni t . Out door s , t hec l oudsi nt hes kyac tasadi ffus erf or t hes un,s i nc et heys of t ent hes unl i ghtandr educ e t hes hadows . Fort hi sr eas on,t hebes tt i mest o t akeout doorphot osi swhent her e’ sanover c as t , ear l yi nt hemor ni ng,orr i ghtbef or es uns et .
2 .I n s i d e
2.Fi ndaShadedAr ea.Theeas i s tt hi ngt odoi s haveyours ubj ec tmovet oas hadedar ea. You’ l l
I ndoor s , youc anus et henat ur al l i ghtc omi ngi n
wantt o makes ur et hear eai sf ul l ys haded and
f r om t hewi ndows ,ar t i fic i all i ght si nt hehous e,
doesnothave“ dappl ed”l i ght i ng.
ort heflas honyourc amer a.Tos of t ent hel i ght f r om yourc amer a’ sflas h,t r ypl ac i ngadi ffus er
3.Us eFi l lFl as h.I ft her ei s n’ tanys hade,t r yus i ng
i nf r ontofyourflas h.Regar dl es soft het ypeof
yourflas hi n di r ec ts unl i ght . Thi st ec hni que i s
l i ghtyou’ r eus i ng,r emembert or ai s eyourI SO
c al l ed “ fil lflas h” ,bec aus et he flas h“ fil l si n”t he
whenyou’ r ei ndoor ss oyourphot oswon’ tbe
s hadowsonyours ubj ec t ’ sf ac e
under expos ed.
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Co mp o s i t i o n Compos i t i ons i mpl ymeanshowt heel ement sar ear r angedi naphot o.Ther ear emanydi ffer entr ul es ofc ompos i t i on,ands omeoft hem c anbever yt ec hni c al .Her ear es omebas i cr ul est okeepi nmi nd whenphot ogr aphi ngyourki ds :
1 .R u l eo fT h i r d s
2 .L e a d i n gL i n e s
Ther ul eoft hi r dswasc r eat ed byt heanc i ent
When you’ r et aki ng phot os ,be awar e oft he
Gr eeks ,andi st heki ngofc ompos i t i onr ul es .To
l i nesar ound you. Li nesc an c r eat e di ffer ent
appl yt hi sr ul e,t he eas i es twayi st oi magi ne
moodsf ort hevi ewer .Forexampl e,hor i z ont al
yourvi ewfinderi sdi vi ded i nt o a“ t i c t ac t oe”
l i nes c r eat e a peac ef uland c al mi ng effec t .
t ypegr i d( s omec amer ashavet hi sgr i di ns i de
Ver t i c all i nes c r eat e a mor e dr amat i c and
t hevi ewfinder ) .
power f uleffec t .
L eadi ngl i neshel pgui det hevi ewer ’ seyet ot he s ubj ec t .Thes el i nesus ual l ys t ar tatt hebot t om, The f ouri nt er s ec t i ng poi nt s on t he gr i d ar e
andl eadupandi nwar dt owher et hes ubj ec ti s .
c al l ed“ s addl epoi nt s ” .Tomaket hephot ogr aph
Leadi ngl i nesc anal s os t ar tont hes i desort op,
mor ei nt er es t i ngand dynami c ,t r ypos i t i oni ng
and c an be s uc ht hi ngsasf enc es ,bui l di ngs ,
yourc hi l dononeoft hes addl epoi nt s .
r oads , and s t r eams .
Thes e l i nes don’ t
nec es s ar i l yneedt obes t r ai ght .
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Co mp o s i t i o n 3 .F r a mi n g “ Fr ami ng”f orc ompos i t i ondoes n’ tmeanput t i ngyourphot ogr aphi naf r ame, butt hei deai ss i mi l ar .I t meansi nc l udi ngel ement si nt hephot ot hat“ f r ame”yours ubj ec t . Someoft hemor ec ommont ypes off r ami ngi nc l udet hi ngsl i kedoor waysandwi ndows ,butyouc anus ej us taboutanyt hi ng.Fr ami ng c anal s ohel pbyaddi ngdept ht oyouri mages .Youc andot hi sbyi nc l udi ngt hi ngsi nt hef or egr ound t hatar eoutoff oc us , s uc hasflower sorl eavesonat r ee. Thef r amedoes n’ tneedt os ur r oundt heent i r e s ubj ec t ,i tc anbes omet hi ngononeort wos i desoft hephot o,asl ongi tdr aw t hevi ewer ’ seyest ot he s ubj ec t .
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