Garry Black Photography

WORKSHOP NOTES

 

Aperture Priority and ISO Settings

 

ISO settings:

  • 100-400 good for all around use, you should try to use these settings whenever possible. As a general rule - use a lower ISO number for bright daylight, and a higher ISO number for lower light.
  • 800-1600 (depending on camera) good for low light or if you need higher shutter speeds. The higher the ISO setting the more noise you'll get. (you want to avoid noise if at all possible)
  • above 1600 this is for really dark situations. You should only use high settings when this is the only way to get the shot.
  • Some of the newer cameras, in particular, Nikon, have better high ISO/lower noise.

And some ideas for choosing and using f-stops:

  • f/5.6 and larger (such as f/4, f/2.8) - used when limited depth of field is needed, i.e., to make a subject stand out from background or when faster shutter speeds are needed.
  • f/8-f/11 - mid-range f-stops used when depth of field or shutter speed is not critical as this is usually the sharpest range for a lens. Distant scenes can always be shot at these f-stops.
  • f/16-f/22 - small f-stops used for maximum depth of field or sharpness from foreground to background; limitation is slower shutter speed is often needed.

 

SHOOTING MODE:
1. Use your camera on Aperture priority - use small f-stops (e.g., f/16, f/22) for more depth of field (sharpness in focus from foreground to the far background) but watch that your shutter speed does not get too slow; use large f-stops (e.g., f/4, f/5.6) for narrow depth of field to emphasize your subject and/or to gain a faster shutter speed.
 
2. Be aware of the potential of camera movement during exposure causing sharpness problems. Use faster shutter speeds when shooting handheld.  A good rule of thumb in order to avoid getting camera shake is that you need fast (high) shutter speeds when shooting with a telephoto lens - minimum of 1/125 or even 1/250 second. Wide angles allow for slower shutter speeds like 1/30. Use a tripod when shutter speeds are really slow.
 

 

 

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