 Lisamarie |
which aperture/shutter speed combos to use I am interested in having a photo business one day. I take pretty good pics. I had taken a black/white photo class in 1997 with a film canon rebel and did great. Now many years later I have forgotten the basics. I now have a digital slr canon rebel XT. I am going through the basics again and get sort of stumped with the manual part of my camera. I do not want to rely on my auto features. I know this probably sounds stupid. but if anyone has any advice for me.. I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!!!
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Many people make the mistake of thinking that putting the camera in Manual mode means that you have to somehow know or guess at what aperture & shutter speed combination will result in a proper exposure. Even in manual mode, your camera still has a meter in it, and you should ALWAYS use it to determine the proper exposure based on the light on your subject. (I'm assuming that you don't have a hand-held light meter, which can give more accurate exposure readings) Let's also assume that you are not using flash, or taking pictures of the full moon, both cases where your camera's meter will NOT be of any help. The first thing you need to do is set your ISO. For all general-purpose digital photography, I recommend you set your ISO to 100, then don't change it unless you really need to. For selecting shutter speed and aperture, there are a few things to remember: - If your subject is moving, slow shutter speeds will show motion blur. Sometimes you want this, sometimes you don't. - Very slow shutter speeds will show blur from camera shake if you are hand-holding. Use a tripod with slow shutter speeds. - Your aperture can be used to control your Depth of Field. If you want everything from near to far in focus, you need to use a small aperture, like f/22. If you want a portrait with the face sharp and the background blurred, use a large aperture, like f/4. Select either the shutter speed or the aperture, press the shutter halfway, and the camera meter will tell you what your exposure is. Adjust the other setting until the meter matches up with the center mark or "0". This will result in a "normal" exposure. The next thing you need to decide is whether you want to use this "normal" exposure, or adjust it. If your subject has lots of white in it, you want to overexpose by a stop or so, so that the white will show up as white instead of gray. So adjust until the meter indicates a 1-stop overexposure. If your subject has lots of black in it, underexpose by a stop or so to get the black to stay black. Don't let anyone convince you that you have to use Manual mode to be a "real photographer". You can be every bit as creative and accurate with your exposures in Av or Tv mode. The key is knowing WHY to pick a certain shutter speed or aperture to start, then adjusting the normal exposure that the camera suggests based on the tonal values of your subject. Chris A. Vedros
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hello Lisamarie, Welcome to Better Photo. You are the reason this site is so popular. There are lots of classes about getting proper exposure and photoshop and shooting weddings and how to make an ice cream cone look like an alien ship and flowers and wildlife and.... I highly recommend some of the classes, they are taught by working pros who will put you through exercises, provide critiques and you will be comfortable with the control of your camera in no time. And Chris is right on as always with his advice.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Although I do encourage you to ask as many questions here as you want to, you'd make it easier on yourself to get a book on basics. And read you camera manual so you'll know how it works. It'd take a while to answer fully your broad question just by doing it with a q&a forum. Like if you wanted to be a chef, asking what spices and temperature do I use to cook.
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Who Me? |
"Now many years later I have forgotten the basics"
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
Pick up a copy of "Understanding Exposure" at your local book store or rent it at the Library..youll know all youll need in no time. that siad, if youre unsure, try shooting in AV at a set aperture and see where the cameras meter sets the shutter speed, then do it in TV and select your shutterspeed and see what the Aperture is set by the camera... there are no laws as your photo can be whatever you want it to be, spot on, over exposed, under exposed.. its your call, you are the photographer.. but, dont forget to keep one eye on the meter.
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Lisamarie |
Thank you to all who have responded to my question. Everyone was very helpful and I greatly appreciate it! Lisamarie
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Irene Troy |
Hi Lisamarie, About two years ago I was pretty much in the same place you are now. I had used a camera, off and on, for years, but had never really gotten serious about my photography. Then my life changed and I decided that it was time to get serious about pursuing my photography dreams. This site has been immensely helpful for me. I am currently enrolled in my 6th BP class and have learned a tremendous amount in each class. I strongly encourage you to consider taking a class here or at your local community college – there is nothing as helpful as learning by doing. In all BP classes you have weekly assignments to complete. These assignments are then critiqued by the instructor and your fellow students. I find it a terrific way to learn. The suggestion about reading on the basics of exposure is a good one; however, unless you actually practice what you read, as you read it, you may not absorb the material fully. As you have probably have already discovered, there is an immense amount to learn in order to consistently produce good images. You probably also already know that there are a million and one mediocre photographers whose work sells, even when it is nothing special. If you want to rise above them, you need to be willing to do the work and to learn from experts. There are many terrifically talented and helpful people here who seem to enjoy helping newbie learn the basics. So, consider a class; keep shooting and making mistakes because you will learn from them and keep coming here to ask questions and share your images. Good luck! Irene
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Lisamarie |
Thank you Irene! I am currently enrolled in a local college digital photography/photoshop course. I am finding the photoshop part of it confusing and overwhelming. I think I would have perferred to enter just a digital photography course then worry about photoshop afterwards. But I am at least hands-on and will I am sure, absorb the photoshop eventually! LOL Thanks again!
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Robyn Gwilt |
Lisa all the above advice is great and valid - I'd also suggest that when you're not shooting - you trawl BP's Q&A forums, and read anything and everything that's ever been asked regarding exposure, camera speed, flash, photoshop etc., especially the questions you read and didn't think of asking in the first place! I also Google questions I have and read websites extensively. I've done a couple of courses, but as Irene says a little bit of trial and error goes a long way (coupled with help from the BP community). At least its digital and if it looks crap you delete and start again :) costs you nothing. You might find from time to time you ask a question and get a sarcastic answer - ignore it, and soldier on - most of the guys here are weird but really helpful !! :)
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Lisamarie, Referring to my quote "how to make an ice cream cone look like an alien ship" I was implying photoshop. I have taken 3 photoshop classes - Camera Raw processing, Creative techniques in PS and Photographers Toolbox 1. These are all good classes and will get you up to speed with PS while you continue your current studies. Hey Robyn, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter Thompson :)
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Robyn Gwilt |
LOL Carlton - I like that :)
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Lisamarie |
Hello everyone, I have a question.. What is the difference between photoshop and corel or any other photo software out there. Which is the better choice as far as photo software is concerned? Thanks to all who reply for any advice!!!! :)
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Who Me? |
why is the sky blue?
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
Photoshop is the choice of alot of pros. Its such a powerfull program it seems to be bound only by your imagination. Paint shop pro 10 is a less expensive but yet again, very worthy program/ Abobe Light Room seems to be the next big thing in Photography related editing sofware... as Photoshop is used by allot of people for editing and processing photos, its really designed for the graphic artist.. where as Adobe Light Room is geared for Photogs.Im hearing nothing but great things about Light Room too! Then there alot of other programs out there, some good free ones even.. but, you get what you pay for and if you wanna do extensive editing and stuff... id go with Photoshop... theres even Elements 5, get that nd when your ready to go to the full program, use that to get the dicsount on the upgrade!
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Lisamarie |
Thanks craig Z. Justin... why is the sky blue?
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
The sky is blue because: All the colors of the spectrum are present in the sky but the blue colors reflect off the particles in the air while the others pass through - except when the sun and rain catch the rays right and make rainbows....
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