These aren t just cameras - PDF Free Download

Roger Easley 2016

These aren t just cameras

These are computers.

Your camera is a specialized computer Creates files of data Has memory Has a screen display Has menus of options for you to navigate

Your camera has multiple menus Shooting menus for taking photos Playback menus for displaying photos on the screen

Shooting vs. Playback menus Find the button on the camera to display the last photo taken Press the shutter release to return to shooting mode Some cameras use the zoom in Playback mode to enlarge the displayed image

The mouse on your camera Think of using a computer mouse to move around the menus Arrows to move up/down, left/right on the screen Button to press = clicking to select an option

The buttons vary on different makes and models

More about menus These buttons and menus are how you drive your camera Getting comfortable with these controls opens up all kinds of possibilities Otherwise, it s like driving without knowing the brake from the gas pedal

More about menus Available options can change (or be disabled) depending on the shooting mode such as Auto or Manual

Let s start with exposure photo + graph = light drawing Controlling exposure is THE most important factor to getting good pictures

Exposure Level Indicator Scale from dark to light Center mark means a medium exposure

Setting a proper exposure Captured too much light Overexposed means washed out highlights No detail in brightest areas

Setting a proper exposure Captured too little light Underexposed means dark shadows without detail

Setting a proper exposure Captured right balance of light Some bright highlights Some dark shadows Detail captured through most of the range from light to dark

The three elements of exposure ISO [sensitivity setting] Shutter speed Aperture

The garden hose metaphor Filling a bucket with water from a hose Size of bucket = ISO Time the water flows = Shutter speed Diameter of hose = Aperture

Exposure Triangle

ISO: sensitivity From International Standards Organization Like the speed of film Sets how much light is enough for a proper exposure

ISO: sensitivity Values such as: 100 200 400 800 1600 But higher values introduce a grainy appearance called noise

Photographic noise

Shutter speed How much time shutter is open, letting light reach the camera sensor Determines motion blur in the photo (subject motion or camera motion)

Shutter speed Measured in fractions of a second Examples: 1/30 th of a second 1/125 th 1/500th Slowest blur-free shutter speed for hand held camera: 1/30 th of a second

Very fast shutter speed: 1/1600th

Very long shutter speed: ½ second or longer

Aperture Size of opening letting in light

Aperture Measured in F Stops such as f/2.8, f/5.6, f/11, f/16 Actually the denominator of a fraction f/16 is SMALLER opening than f/11 or f/5.6

Aperture Measured in F Stops such as f/2.8, f/5.6, f/11, f/16 Actually a fraction: f/16 means the opening diameter is 1/16 th of the lens focal length As a lens zooms the focal length changes, while the aperture opening has a maximum size

Aperture Remember the numbers are the denominator of a fraction Just like 1 /4 is larger than 1 /16, f/4 is a larger opening than f/16 Larger number means LESS light but MORE depth of field Smaller number means MORE light but LESS depth of field

Aperture

Aperture Just like 1 /4 is larger than 1 /16, f/4 is a larger opening than f/16 Higher number means LESS light but MORE depth of field Lower number means MORE light but LESS depth of field

Aperture Smaller opening means deeper zone of sharp focus But this is labeled with higher number F11 F5.6 F2.8

Aperture Large Depth of Field Shallow Depth of Field

Exposure Triangle: how these three settings interact

Controlling Exposure: Shutter Speed Shutter Speed 1 / 1000th 1 / 500th 1 / 250th 1 / 125th 1 / 60th 1 / 30th 1 / 15th 1 / 8th 1 / 4th 1 / 2 1 2

Controlling Exposure: Shutter Speed Shutter Speed 1 / 1000 th Shortest time 1 / 500 th 1 / 250 th 1 / 125 th 1 / 60 th 1 / 30 th 1 / 15 th 1 / 8 th 1 / 4 th 1 / 2 1 2 Longest time

Controlling Exposure: Shutter Speed Shutter Speed 1 / 1000 th Shortest time Least Light 1 / 500 th 1 / 250 th 1 / 125 th 1 / 60 th 1 / 30 th 1 / 15 th 1 / 8 th 1 / 4 th 1 / 2 1 2 Longest time Most Light

Controlling Exposure: Shutter Speed Shutter Speed 1 / 1000 th 1 / 500 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 250 th 1 / 125 th 1 / 60 th 1 / 30 th 1 / 15 th 1 / 8 th 1 / 4 th 1 / 2 1 2

Controlling Exposure: Shutter Speed Shutter Speed 1 / 1000 th 1 / 500 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 250 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 125 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 60 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 30 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 15 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 8 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 4 th Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 / 2 Double amount of time Double amount of light 1 Double amount of time Double amount of light 2 Double amount of time Double amount of light

Controlling Exposure: Aperture Aperture Setting / F stop F22 F16 F11 F8 F5.6 F4 F2.8 F2 Smallest Opening Largest Opening

Controlling Exposure: Aperture Aperture Setting / F stop F22 Smallest Opening Least Light F16 F11 F8 F5.6 F4 F2.8 F2 Largest Opening Most Light

Controlling Exposure: Aperture Aperture Setting / F stop F22 F16 Double size of opening Double amount of light F11 Double size of opening Double amount of light F8 Double size of opening Double amount of light F5.6 Double size of opening Double amount of light F4 Double size of opening Double amount of light F2.8 Double size of opening Double amount of light F2 Double size of opening Double amount of light

Controlling Exposure: ISO Setting ISO Setting 100 200 400 800 1600 3200

Controlling Exposure: ISO Setting ISO Setting 100 Least Sensitive 200 400 800 1600 3200 Most Sensitive

Controlling Exposure: ISO Setting ISO Setting 100 Least Sensitive 200 Needs Half the amount of light 400 800 1600 3200 Most Sensitive

Controlling Exposure: ISO Setting ISO Setting 100 Least Sensitive 200 Needs Half the amount of light 400 Needs Half the amount of light 800 Needs Half the amount of light 1600 Needs Half the amount of light 3200 Most Sensitive Needs Half the amount of light

Equivalent Exposures example 1 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100 1 / 500 th? 100

Equivalent Exposures example 1 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100 1 / 500th (Half the light as 1 / 250 th )? 100

Equivalent Exposures example 1 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100 1 / 500th (Half the light as 1/250 th ) F4 (Double the light as F5.6) 100

Equivalent Exposures example 2 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100? F4 100

Equivalent Exposures example 2 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100? F4 (double the light as F5.6) 100

Equivalent Exposures example 2 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 250th F5.6 100 1 / 500 th (Half the light of 1/250 th ) F4 (double the light as F5.6) 100

Equivalent Exposures example 3 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 125th F8 100? F4 100

Equivalent Exposures example 3 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 125th F8 100? F4 (Four times the light of F8) 100

Equivalent Exposures example 3 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 125th F8 100 1 / 500 th (One fourth the light of 1/125 th ) F4 (Four times the light of F8) 100

Equivalent Exposures example 4 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 125th F8 100? F4 200

Equivalent Exposures example 4 Shutter Speed Aperture ISO 1 / 125th F8 100 1/1000 th ( one eighth as much time) F4 200

Equivalent Exposures

So you have options for adjusting exposure Make choices, considering: Subject motion Desired depth of field of sharp focus Size of prints

So you have options for adjusting exposure Desired Result Select: Then adjust: Adjust if needed: Freeze Motion Blur Motion Shallow Zone of Sharp Focus Deep Zone of Sharp Focus Shorter Shutter Speed Longer Shutter Speed Wide Aperture (low number) Small Aperture (high number) Aperture Aperture Shutter Speed Shutter Speed Big print size ISO (low number) Shutter Speed Aperture ISO ISO ISO ISO

Exposure Experiment Photograph the same scene - using the shortest shutter speed possible - using the longest shutter speed possible ISO 1600 F4.0 1/500th ISO 80 F8.0 1/5th

Exposure Experiment #2 Photograph the same scene - using the shortest shutter speed possible - using the longest shutter speed possible ISO 1600 F5.0 1/320th ISO 80 F8.0 1/8th

Executive Summary

Shooting Modes AUTO M - Manual A - Aperture Priority S (or Tv) - Shutter Speed Priority P - Program

AUTOMATIC Mode What controls the exposure settings?

AUTOMATIC Mode What controls the exposure settings? Not you.

AUTOMATIC Mode What controls the exposure settings? The camera maker s routine for getting an average exposure under most lighting conditions

AUTOMATIC Mode What controls the exposure settings? The camera maker s routine for getting an average exposure under most lighting conditions May decide to engage the camera s flash May use a shutter speed too long to hold steady by hand

Program auto exposure Mode Like Auto exposure but with some flexibility You can set the ISO You can control the built in flash Disable flash Flash every time Advantage: it s a fast way to get an adequate exposure

Aperture Priority Mode You set Aperture You set ISO (or use Auto ISO) The camera s meter reading sets Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed Priority Mode Indicated with S or Tv ( Time value ) You set Shutter Speed You set ISO (or use Auto ISO) The camera s meter reading sets Aperture

Manual Mode YOU control all the exposure settings ISO Shutter Speed Aperture

Exposure Level Indicator Scale from dark to light Center mark means a medium exposure

Exposure Level Indicator 1 Unit is a change for half the light /double the light, such as: Shutter speed from 1/125 th to 1/250 th Aperture from F5.6 to F8.0 ISO from 200 to 100 Called a stop

0 exposure setting

Range of -1 to +1 stops - 1 stop 0 + 1 stop

Range of -2 to +2 stops - 2 stops - 1 stop 0 + 1 stop + 2 stops

Understanding the Histogram Digital photos are files of data Histogram is a graph showing how many pixels in the image range from dark to light

Understanding the Histogram Digital photos are files of data Histogram is a graph showing how many pixels at each level range from dark to light

Sample Histograms

Using the Histogram An image s histogram is a valuable source of information A histogram showing a wide range of values means more range for adjustments when editing But there s no one good histogram; great photos can have lots of bright areas or lots of dark areas

What would the histogram show?

Histogram and Aperture or Shutter Speed Priority Take a photo using Shutter Speed Priority at 1/60 th of a second Look at the histogram Change the shutter speed to 1/250 th of a second; take another photo What is the effect on the histogram?

Using Live View Most cameras have a Live View feature, to show a preview on screen on the exposure You can preview the image and its histogram If the histogram shows areas that are blown out (total white), you can make adjustments BEFORE taking the photo This is a major advantage of digital photo technology!

Camera light meters are color blind Our eyes see this:

Camera light meters are color blind But the camera s light meter responds this:

Light meter does not see colors, only brightness

Light meter reads medium gray as 0 Green grass or leaves meter as medium gray Brick red, school bus yellow, extension cord orange all meter as medium gray Caucasian skin meters as + 1 stop; dark toned skin meters as medium gray

Understanding White Balance White Balance defines white in the particular lighting conditions Different sources of light have a different color cast, or temperature

Character of different light sources Fluorescent lights = amber or bluish or greenish Tungsten filament (incandescent) Bulbs = yellowish Shade = bluish

White Balance Settings Camera settings to compensate, such as: Auto White Balance Daylight Cloudy Fluorescent Flash Tungsten (light bulb)

Example Artificial lighting Auto White Balance setting

Example Artificial lighting Auto White Balance setting Tungsten White Balance setting

Use Auto White Balance? Are your photos looking too yellow or too blue? White not a true white? Yes try other white balance settings No Auto White Balance is working fine

Suggested homework assignments Experiment with a Camera mode you have not used before Try for proper exposures of same scene with subject in motion using fastest and slowest shutter speeds possible Find how to display the histogram in your camera s viewfinder or LCD screen Try different White Balance settings

Roger Easley 2016

Aperture Larger opening lets in more light, but more scattered Smaller opening lets in less light that is less scattered Determines depth of field the zone of sharp focus from foreground to background