Digital SLR Camera Basics

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@DCPhotoSchool www.WashingtonArtworks.com

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Introductions What’s your name? What do you photograph? What kind of Camera? Photography experience? #1 goal for class?

Agenda Understanding Exposure Camera Basics Rules of Composition

The Best Camera Is The One That's With You -Chase Jarvis

Understanding ExposureEverything is a trade-off

What is a “Stop” of light?• Doubling or halving of light• Cameras typically work in 1/3 stops. Each “click” of the wheel or knob

is 1/3 stop• For simplicity, I’ll refer to stops in full stop increments

What is a “perfect” exposure?

Three Elements of ExposureEach element trades the amount of light for something else

• Aperture – Controls depth of field (how much is in focus)• Shutter Speed – Controls how much motion is shown or frozen• ISO – Controls the quality (graininess) of the photo

Aperture• Controls depth of field (how much is in focus)• Open Aperture (lower f-stop number): Shallow depth of field / less in

focus / Lets in more light• Closed Aperture (higher f-stop number): Wider depth of field / more

in focus / Lets in less light

• F/2 = Two people in focus• F/22 = Twenty two people in focus

Shutter Speed• Controls how much “movement” is shown in a photograph• Fast Shutter Speed: Freezes Motion / Allows less light into the camera

• Slow Shutter Speed: Shows motion & camera shake / Allows more light into the camera

ISO• Controls your camera’s sensitivity to light• Low ISO: Sensor is less sensitive to light (better for bright ambient

light) / Images are “crisper”• High ISO: Sensor is more sensitive to light (necessary for dark places)/

Images are “noisier”

The Three Elements of Exposure• ISO – Your sensor’s sensitivity to light

• 100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400• Less Noise More Noise

• Aperture – How much light makes it through the lens

• f/22 f/16 f/11 f/8 f/5.6 f/4 f/2.8• Wider depth of field (more in focus) Shallower depth of field (blurry background)

• Shutter Speed – How long the camera lets light reach the sensor

• 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15 1/4• Freezes fast moving subjects Shows motion (blur)

Darker BrighterSafe Hand

Holding Speed

Steps to Shoot in Manual Mode1. Set the ISO:100 Sunny200 Partly Cloudy400 Overcast800 Indoor/Sports1600 Dark Lighting3200 Very Dark Lighting6400 Night

2. Set the Aperture:f/1.2 – f/3.5 Very Blurry backgrounds (Portraits)f/3.5 – f/6.3 Slightly blurry backgroundsf/6.3 – f/32 Sharp backgrounds (Landscapes)

3. Set the Shutter Speed:• Use a tripod of the shutter speed is

below 1/the focal length of the lens (ex. 85mm lens and 1/80”)

• Slow shutter speeds blur motion• Fast shutter speeds freeze action½–1/8 Blur Water1/60 Portraits1/250 Freeze slow subjects1/500 Freeze kids1/500 – 1/1000 Sports1/2000 – 1/4000 Very fast subjects

4. Check the exposure:• Watch the meter in the bottom of the

viewfinder• Adjust exposure settings to keep meter in

the middle (at 0)• Use exposure compensation or

aperture/shutter for minor adjustments• Review the image on the LCD

Camera Metering

Exposure CompensationAllows you to tell the camera to expose brighter or darker than what the meter says when in semi-automatic modes.

Semi-Automatic Modes• Aperture Priority (A or AV Mode)• You set the aperture and ISO, the camera figures out the “correct” shutter

speed

• Shutter Priority (S or TV Mode)• You set the shutter speed and ISO, the camera figures out the “correct”

aperture

• Program Mode (P Mode)• You set the ISO, the camera tries to figure out the best combination of

aperture and shutter speed

CAMERA BASICSWhat I wish someone had taught me!

Get to know your camera• Camera Elements

• Button and knob layout• Changing Lenses• Memory Cards – Formatting / Downloading• Viewfinder• Flash!• Filters

• How to hold your camera• Yes, seriously!• Camera strap techniques• Lens hood• Be ready to shoot!

• Stabilizing your camera• Posture• Use what’s around you• Tripods

COMPOSITION & STORYTELLINGCreating great photos

Find Your Subject!

Tell A Story…

GUIDELINES OF COMPOSITION

1. Rule of Thirds 2. Leading Lines3. Repetition of Shapes4. Filling the Frame5. Changing Your Perspective6. Simplicity / Isolating Your Subject

RULE OF THIRDS Divide screen into

thirds, both horizontally and vertically

Place subject at intersection

Great for: Tourism Shots Landscapes Faces

LEADING LINES Creating natural paths for the

eye to follow Adds Depth to images Use natural lines to draw

viewer to subject Great for

Travel Kids & Pets Street Photography

SYMMETRY AND PATTERNCapturing patternsCan show scale, or a break in a patternEasiest way to appeal to the eyeGreat for

TravelArchitectureInteriors

Patterns are great. Broken patterns are better. – Joe McNally

FRAMINGZoom/get closerEmbrace kids wanting to explore

cameraCan offer more detail to imagesPair with another photo for

strong effectGreat for:

KidsPetsFood

INTERESTING VIEWPOINTS

Change the way you see the subject

Lay Down Grab a chair Reflections Great for:

Kids/Pets Food Travel

Keep in Mind…

What’s the background?

Minimizing backgrounds/distractions can make a huge difference in images.

DEPTH AND DIMENSIONLook for foreground, middle,

backgroundDraw your eye to the subjectAvoid distractions

Keep in Mind…

Vertical v. Horizontal?

How’s the lighting?