The camera’s manual is the best source for learning how to operate the camera. Read it. A good photographer knows how to operate the camera and adjust its settings.

4.1Know the Camera

Holding the camera steady is essential, especially in low-light situations. Hold the camera under the lens with the left hand, the elbow in close to the body.

4.3Hold the Camera Properly

4.3Hold the Camera Properly

Make sure the camera has a neck strap attached and insist that all photographers use it consistently.

4.4Protect the Camera

By sliding a button on the barrel of a lens, the photographer may choose automatic focus or manual focus. Autofocus works best for scenes where there are adequate light levels and sufficient contrast.

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

Some lenses have an image stabilization feature that senses camera shake and corrects what would otherwise be a blurry image.

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

Images are cheap so, when you find a good image, take multiple shots varying shutter speeds, apertures and film speeds – known as bracketing.

4.9Take Plenty of Images

4.9Take Plenty of Images

The lens aperture primarily controls depth of field. • larger apertures, such as f/2.8, tend to yield an image with shallow depth of field• the closer the lens is to the subject, the shallower the depth of field

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

Depth of field is defined as the degree of sharpness from near to far in a photo:• great depth of field means that the entire photo is in focus• shallow depth of field means the main subject is in focus and the foreground or the background or both will be out of focus

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

What is ISO?Think of the ISO as your film speed. Remember when we used film and purchased 200 or 400 or 800 film speeds?

ISO is the resolution that your camera is taking a photo. We generally have the ISO set to 1600 or higher. But sometimes, you will want a lower ISO because of lighting. If the ISO is too low you can get pixelated or grainy pics.

4.1Know the Camera

What is Resolution?Resolution is the number of pixels that a camera captures. Pixels are measured in inches.

Think of resolution this way. When you google an image often you save it and try to use it but it is tiny. The resolution is LOW meaning if you try to enlarge the image you can see the squares (or dots per inch). Dots per inch = dpi.If you do use google images for a project in another subject, select the larger image so that you have a higher resolution.

4.1Know the Camera

What is aperture (AV setting on your dial)?This is the setting that allows LIGHT into the camera as you take the photo. The higher the aperture (f/stop) the less light you are allowing in.

Think of this way. If you set the f/stop at f2.8 the opening of the camera is almost fully open—allowing a lot of light into the photo. If the f/stop is set at f/32 the opening of the lens is almost closed so very little light is allowed in.

4.1Know the Camera

What is the shutter priority (TV) setting on your camera dial? The shutter controls how fast the lens opens and closes and helps you stop action. The higher the TV setting the faster the shutter will open and close—thus stopping action.

4.1Know the Camera

What is white balance?Digital cameras are color balanced for daylight by default. White balance is the color temperature of a room or setting where you are shooting.

When you shoot in a gym, you need to change the white balance to tungsten or ultraviolet so you don’t get the pea green look in every pic. If you get this green affect you will have to Photoshop all your pics.

When shooting outside during normal lighting use the Auto White Balance setting.

There are other settings you can experiment with and there is something called gray card that can help get your camera to understand the color balance in the room. But for now use Auto White Balance or change it to tungsten or ultraviolet for the gym setting.Most of the time you will shoot in the AV or TV Mode or the Auto Mode. Manual Mode is for advanced photographers and we will get there. Try it.

You’ll like it.

4.1Know the Camera

Gallery 1What would the f/stop be?f/2.5 or f/32

Would the shutter speed be 1/30 or 1/1000?

photo by:Adam Jasinek, Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, WA

Gallery 2

What would the f/stop be?f/2.5 or f/32

Would the shutter speed be 1/30 or 1/1000?

photo by:Megan Rountree, Westlake High School, Austin, TX

When shooting at slower shutter speeds, care must be taken to hold the camera steady to avoid blurry images due to camera shake.

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

To avoid camera shake, select a shutter speed at least as fast as the lens focal length. It may be necessary at times to use a tripod or monopod at slower shutter speeds.

5.3Through the Lens: The Camera and the Eye

Gallery 3photo by:Brian Gore, Newman Smith High School, Carrollton, TX

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

photo by:Jason Kindig, Duncanville High School, Duncanville, TX

What would the f/stop be?f/2.5 or f/32

Would the shutter speed be 1/30 or 1/1000? Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 4

Gallery 5photo by:Megan Alley, Rocklin High School, Rocklin, CA

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Gallery 6photo by:René Mata, Westlake High School, Austin, TX

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 7photo by:Angeli Bueno, Golden West High School, Visalia, CA

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 8photo by:Ashley Hensley, Duncanville High School, Duncanville, TX

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 9photo by:Chrishuna Scott, Mills University Studies High School, Little Rock, AR

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 10photo by:Ray Mata, Westlake High School, Austin, TX

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 11photo by:Heather Schertz, Clintonville High School, Clintonville, WI

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Some of the best photo opportunities come when the photographer least expects them. Get in the habit of carrying your camera at all times.

4.2Carry the Camera at All Times

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 12

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 13

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 14

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 15

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 16

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 17

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep of depth field?

Gallery 18

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 19

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 20

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 21

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 22

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 23

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 24

What would the f/stop be?

Would the shutter speed be?

Is this a shallow depth of field or deep depth of field?

Gallery 25