Resources
DVD’s
Books on a particular camera or subject.
You Tube Channels:
ArtoftheImage
Froknowsphoto
Spyros Heniadis
MichaelTheMentor
Nikon Websites:
www.nikonusa.com
Learn and Explore
Ken Rockwell: www.kenrockwell.com
Thom Hogan: www.bythom.com
Canon Websites:
www.usa.canon.com
Canon Digital Learning Center
All Camera Websites:
Camera Labs: www.cameralabs.com
Light Controlling Devices of a Camera
Diaphragm: Contols the size of the aperture (F Number/Stop) and thus the
amount of light reaching the film or digital sensor. Located inside the lens
Shutter: Controls the length of time (shutter speed) that light is allowed to
reach the film or digital sensor. Located inside the lens or camera body.
The Diaphragm
Largest aperture=Maximum aperture. Also referred to as the “speed” of the lens.
Smallest aperture=Minimum aperture.
“Stopping down or closing down the lens”=making the aperture smaller.
“Opening up the lens”=making the aperture larger.
Standardized Whole F Stops or F Numbers
1
1.4
2
2.8
4
5.6
8
11
16
22
32
45
64
96
Smaller the F number the larger the aperture.
Larger the F number the smaller the aperture.
Why? Because F numbers are actually fractions.
1____1___1____1___1____1__ 1___ 1___1____1____1___1___1____1
1
1.4 2
2.8 4
5.6 8
11
16
22 32 45 64 96
The maximum aperture of a lens also designates its “speed.”
Whole stops in bold, half stops in italic and third stops underlined.
1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.8 3.2 3.4 3.5 4 4.5 4.9 5 5.6
6.3 6.9 7 8 9 9.5 10 11 13 13.5 14 16 18 19 20 22
The Shutter
Shutter: Controls the length of time (duration, shutter speed) that light is
allowed to strike the film or digital sensor. Located inside the lens or camera
body.
Standard Shutter Speeds in Whole “Stops”
30s---15s---8s---4s---2s---1s---1/2s---1/4s---1/8s---1/15s---1/30s---1/60s
1/125s---1/250s---1/500s---1/1000s---1/2000s---1/4000s---1/8000s
B (bulb) T (time)
Shutter Types:
Leaf: Located “in-between the lens.”
Used in view cameras, medium format cameras and “point and shoot cameras.”
Focal Plane: Located in camera body in front of film or digital sensor.
ISO: How much light do we need?
Sensitivity of film or digital sensor to light.
Called “film speed” in the days of film.
ISO stands for International Standards Organization.
ISO Numbers:
The lower the ISO the less sensitive the film or sensor.
Hence the sensor needs more light for proper exposure.
The higher the ISO the more sensitive the film or sensor.
Hence the sensor need less light for proper exposure.
Auto
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400
12800
25600
51200
102400
204800
Light meter: Tells us how much light we have.
Types: Reflected and Incident
1.4
1/1000
2
1/500
2.8
1/250
4
1/125
5.6
1/60
8
1/30
11
1/15
16
1/8
22
1/4
32
1/2
All of the above F stop and shutter speed combinations will produce the same
exposure.
So why would you choose one combination over another and what combinations
available to you.
1. Are you hand holding the camera?
2. Is your subject moving? How do you want to handle movement (action)?
3. What needs to be in focus? Controlling Depth of Field (DOF).
45
1
Action and Depth of Field
Action:
Considerations when trying to arrest subject motion.
1. Direction of action
2. Speed of action
3. Distance from camera
Methods of freezing action with slower shutter speeds.
1. Catching action at its peak
2. Panning camera with action
Methods of blurring action to convey a feeling of motion.
1. Use slow shutter speed
2. Intentionally move camera
Depth of Field: (D.O.F.)
The area in between the nearest and farthest points which are in acceptably
sharp focus.
Factors which control Depth of Field (D.O.F.)
1. F Stop (lens opening):
The larger the lens opening=Shallower the D.O.F.
The smaller the lens opening=Greater the D.O.F.
2. Focal Length of Lens:
Longer Focal Length (telephoto)=Shallower the D.O.F.
Shorter Focal Length (wide angle)=Greater the D.O.F.
3. Distance from lens to subject:
Shorter the distance=Shallower the D.O.F.
Longer the distance=Greater the D.O.F.
“The One Third Rule”: In most situations the D.O.F. extends 1/3 in front of and
2/3 behind the subject focused upon.
1/3
2/3
Out-----A-------------B-----------------------------C---Out
Focus on B
A to C is in focus. In front of A is out of focus and behind C is out of focus.
How to determine D.O.F.:
1. Check viewfinder in SLR using D.O.F. preview button. Not all cameras have a
preview button.
2. Use D.O.F. scale on lens barrel. Not all lenses have a scale.
3. Consult D.O.F. Table. Who carries a D.O.F. table?
4. With a digital camera take a picture, playback and check D.O.F.
Misc. Note: Mot lenses are sharpest, on a single plane, when stopped down two or
three stops from maximum aperture.
RAW vs. JPEG
A RAW file is a record of the raw sensor data from the camera,
which has not been processed or compressed by the camera’s
computer. No original data is lost. ISO, Shutter Speed and
Aperture are the only camera settings that have an effect on
the sensor.
A JPEG file is a compressed (smaller) file.
The camera’s computer makes decisions on how the image would
look best and throws away (forever) any data not needed.
RAW over JPEG
1. Better Highlight Recovery. 2 Stops, maybe more.
2. White Balance. Greater degree of correction.
3. Must convert images from RAW to JPEG or TIFF in image editing software
(post production in computer).
4. Cannot give RAW files to Walgreens, etc to have prints made.
5. Takes up 2 to 4 times more storage space on memory card and computer.
JPEG over RAW
1. Faster processing in camera. Better for sports, continuous shooting.
2. File size is smaller. Twice to four times more pictures on memory card and
computer.
3. Speed of delivery to client.
4. Easier to send images to local printer (Walgreens, Costco, etc.
5. No interest in post production (working with images on computer).
6. If you learn to expose properly and do a custom white balance JPEG’s will be
fine.
White Balance/Color Temperature
A numerical description of the color of light measured in degrees Kelvin (K).
All “white” light sources are a mixture of red, green and blue light.
Daylight: Very blue (cool). 5500-6000 degrees Kelvin.
Daylight: 10am to 3pm 5500-6000 K., Shade, Cloudy
Electronic Flash: 6000 K.
Blue photoflood lamps: 4800 K.
Compact Daylight Fluorescent (CFL)
Blue Flashbulbs: 5000 K.
Incandescent/Tungsten: Very orange (warm). 2800-3400 degrees K.
Tungsten (ETC) Photofloods and Quartz Halogen lamps. 3400-3200 K.
CFL=Compact Fluorescent
Household lamps (100 watt). 2800 K.
Clear Flashbulbs: 2800 K.
Candle Flame. 1500 K.
Fluorescent: Usually very green, but variable.
Daylight fluorescents are available in tubes and CFL’s.
Color films are balanced for a single color temperature.
Daylight Film: 5500-6000 K
Type A: (3400 K) and B: (3200 K) Film
Digital cameras can be set for different “white balances”.
Auto, Direct Sun, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Kelvin,
Custom or Preset
(2-7-14)