EXPOSURE

Class Notes- thanks to Deb Wolfe.

The above mentioned settings are the “rule of thumb” only. PLEASE play with your settings while you are taking pictures. And don’t forget- a snapshot becomes a photo when it gets a different perspective.
Exposure is determined by SHUTTER SPEED and F-STOP (APERTURE) (and by ISO or ASA- the films peed but we get to that later).
ISO- the optimum setting for film speed is 200 but you can shoot from ISO 100 to 400. If you use ISO 400 or above the pixels in your picture start to fall apart. You choose ISO 100 if you want to take pictures in bright sunlight. In poor light, you must set your camera at the fastest ISO.
If you take photos in dark places you need a MONOPODS/TRIPOD.
Back to the exposure.

F-stop (notice the pattern)
f/1.2 (BIG APERTURE)
f/1.4
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11
f/16
f/32
f/45
f/64
f/90
f/128


Shutter speed
1/15
1/30
1/60
1/125
1/250
1/500
1/1000
1/2000


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f/1.2- f/4 (BIG APERTURE/BIGGER OPENING OF THE LENS)- use these options for portraits (the subject is in focus, the background is blurred).
f/8- f 32 or more- higher f-stop numbers will bring the background in focus.
Slow shutter speed makes the background blurred.
High shutter speed (LITTLE APERTURE) freezes the action.
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For portraits (SB in foreground in sharp focus, background blurred) use a small f-stop number (big aperture) and a shutter speed of at least 1/125 or 1/250, 1/500 etc.
For landscapes use larger f-stop numbers if you want to get foreground and background in sharp focus.
For sports photographs- select your shutter speed of at least 1/500 or 1/1000 of a sec. or higher ISO (to stop action). The closer you get to the moving subjects, the faster shutter speed should you select. If you take photos in poor light, select a higher ISO.
F 5.6- I use to do a close-up portrait of a player who has a moving ball coming towards him (or any other portraits you want to do where the SB is doing something).

Here are some of the examples:

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You can now creatively select different settings to achieve your goal in photos.

More info on exposure:
Take a look at the diagram on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
Shutter speed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Camera-Shutter-Speeds-explained-4794
http://digital-photography-school.com/shutter-speed
A good article about the camera basics: http://www.photographyjam.com/articles/29/camera-basics-shutter-speed-aperture-and-iso
Short Videos about the Camera Basics: http://www.5min.com/MichaelTheMentor
Or http://www.michaelthementor.com/