Camera Techniques Nikon dslr Cameras By Frank Gorga Part 1 3 February 2011 A Bit of Philosophy Photography should be both a process of discovery and a procedure for recording that discovery. In the process of photography, we order the chaos of the world around us by making decisions. To do this, we must make conscious decisions: what to include in the frame and how to organize the content. At this point the procedure of photography enters. Now we must make technical choices involving the mechanics of photography: lenses, films, light and exposure. From the Introduction to John Shaw s Nature Photography Field Guide (2000) 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 1
Process and Procedure If procedure is second nature then one can concentrate on process! Procedure becomes second nature by a) Understanding the basics of photography b) Understanding your equipment c) Practice My Prejudices / Preferences I am a nature photographer I do more wildlife than landscape photography I do a lot of close up/macro photography p I started digital photography with a Nikon D70 I currently use a Nikon D300 The large majority of the time my camera is set to: Raw Capture Aperture Priority Matrix Metering Autofocus (single sensor, focus priority, continuous mode) 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 2
Why These Settings, Generally? These settings match my photographic style / subjects / procedures. They were arrived at over time and with conscience thought. I have practiced with the camera set this way so that the camera s response is more or less second nature to me. i.e. I don t have to think about procedure. The key to photographic success is knowing when these settings are likely to fail and therefore when to change them! Why These Settings, Specifically? Raw Capture Having the most data and options when it comes time process images Aperture Priority I want to control the depth of field Matrix Metering I might as well use the fancy tools I ve purchased instead of 30 or 40 year old technology Autofocus (single sensor, focus priority, burst mode) I want to control which part of the image is in focus and there is no sense in capturing frames that are not in focus 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 3
Topics Shooting Raw Exposure Compensation Fill Flash (Flash Compensation) Shoot RAW and Learn to Process! Saving Images as JPEG Wastes Data Camera sensors produce 12 or 14 bit data JEPG files can only contain 8 bit data RAW files contain all of the data your camera can produce Saving Images as JPEG Limits Your Ability to Develop Images Software for processing RAW files is nondestructive More powerful than the software built in to cameras 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 4
Myths About RAW Files I don t process/edit my photos Not true! The sensor does not produce JPEG files it produces RAW data Setting your camera to JPEG means that the camera is doing the processing Don t YOU want control of your images? My Computer is Not Powerful Enough to Handle RAW Files Not true anymore! Any late model computer can handle RAW files RAW files are larger that JPEG but hard disk space is cheap One Minute Review of Exposure Three Variables Control Exposure Shutter Speed Aperture ISO (film/sensor sensitivity) The Stop 1 stop is a factor of two in the amount of or sensitivity to light Shutter Speed: 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 sec Aperture: f/1.4 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 ISO: 100 200 400 800 1600 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 5
Multiple Paths to the Same Exposure 1/250 sec at f/8 and ISO 200 1/125 sec at f/5.6 and ISO 200 1/125 sec at f/8 and ISO 400 Identical Exposures Which is Correct? It Depends! The 18% Gray Myth Exposure meters are designed assuming that the world is, on average, 18% gray If the scene you want to photograph does not average 18% gray the exposure meter will mislead you. If an important part of your subject is very light or very dark the exposure meter will mislead you. One needs to know how to adjust when your exposure One needs to know how to adjust when your exposure meter misleads you! 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 6
Exposure Compensation The mechanism for getting the advantages of BOTH manual metering and auto metering at the same time. Manual Mode with Auto Mode with 1 stop of overexposure +1 EV of compensation + 0 _ + 0 = Manual lmode with Auto Mode with 2/3 stop of underexposure 2/3 EV of compensation + 0 _ + 0 = An Example Adding EV 0 EV http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:mt.hokendake_with_%2b2ev_exposure_compensation.jpg +2.0 EV http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:mt.hokendake_without_exposure_compensation.jpg 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 7
An Example Subtracting EV 0 EV 1.0 EV http://www.steves digicams.com/knowledge center/what is exposure compensation and when do i use it.html Blinkies A Position Sensitive Exposure Meter Perhaps the most important use of exposure compensation is to avoid blowing the highlights 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 8
Exposure Compensation The Mechanics Exposure Compensation The Mechanics display on top of camera viewfinder 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 9
Fill Flash The Problem Too big a difference between the lightest tones (highlights) g and the darkest tones (shadows) in a scene One Solution Carefully add a bit of light to the shadows One Method: Fill Flash Using your flash at low power to fill the shadows with light. The goal is to use the flash but not let it show in the photograph! The Built In Flash ittl BF works with current external flashes BUT The built in flash works just fine for ittl BF 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 10
Combining Flash and Auto Exposure (ittl) ittl BF (BF = balanced fill) Available when matrix or center weighted metering selected Produces natural balance between subject and background Standard ittl Available with spot metering does not take into account the background when setting flash power. Flash Compensation Allows fine tuning of flash in ittl modes Flash Compensation The Mechanics 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 11
Flash Compensation The Mechanics display on top of camera viewfinder Possible Topics for the Next Session Creative Lighting System (CLS) Autofocus Auto bracketing Custom Functions Your suggestions? 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 12
The End! Thanks for listening. 2011 by Frank R. Gorga 13