The Magic of Photography- Learn your camera and isolate the variables

I guess the biggest jump for a beginner photographer is to learn the camera settings and learn the variables like ISO, EV, shutterspeed, aperture. For instance, aperture controls the depth of field (ex. f. 1.8 is shallow depth of field- used in portrait and on f.16 everything will be in focus- landscape). If I take a sport picture with slow shutterspeed, the action will be blurred. If I use high shutterspeed, the action will be frozen by the camera.
Kris Krug has a good video tutorial on basic photography and composition here.

Not so boring shots- SLOW SHUTTERSPEED

One of my assignments last weekend was to shoot pictures at the Florida State Fair. I got the usual shots (people having fun at the fair) but when it was getting dark, I experimented with slow shutter. I got some interesting and different shots.
To see a Soundslideshow about the Fair click here.

Shots using slow shutterspeed (I mostly used 2").

Upcoming Spring Photo Contest

Photographer's Forum organizes the 30th Annual Spring Contest. For more details, click here.

Wow!!!!! $4,000 in Cash Grants
PLUS Two SIGMA lenses Awarded!

EARLY ENTRY Deadline:
April 19, 2010
Early entry fee is $3.95 per photo entered (uploaded/postmarked on or before April 19, 2010). FINAL ENTRY Deadline:
May 17, 2010
Final entry fee is $4.95 per photo entered (uploaded/postmarked on or before May 17, 2010).

Basic Studio Lighting

Main light, umbrella, reflector- I used a main light with an umbrella (black outside, silver inside- silver produces more contrast than a white umbrella) and a reflector to take some pictures of Kelley. Bottom line, the closer the umbrella is to the lightsource, the more focused the light is. My initial settings were ISO 200, SS 125 and F. 8.5
To see Brent Pearson's video about Off Camera Flash click here.
Check out more studio lighting setups here.