Wedding season is here again! … and family vacation season, and take cute photos of your family season. Many of my friends have recently been asking how they can better control the images they are taking. They have ideas of images in their mind, but when they take the image it doesn’t seem to translate like they had hoped. It seems everyone is trying to take better photos during this season of fun. While I can’t share everything I know in this post, hopefully I can get the juices flowing and inspire everyone to go take photos.
This instruction won’t really work if you have a point and shoot camera that operates only on automatic, but it will still be useful because you can better communicate the image you want to a professional photographer.
With manual cameras you can control the ISO or ASA, the shutter speed, and the aperture or f/stops. I want to focus more on the aperture. F/stops can be tricky, but they don’t have to be. Basically like your eye the aperture lets light in. The larger the opening, the more light that is let in. For a bright day you want to limit the amount of light that is captured to avoid an image of pure white; and vice versa for a night or an overcast day. To know what the lens opening looks like for each f-stop here is a diagram.
Those f/stops aren't just for controlling your exposure. If you want an image where everything in the frame of the image is in focus you will want to use f/16.
If you are taking a photo of your child and want your child to be the only thing in focus with the background objects all out of focus you will want to use an f-stop somewhere between f/4- f/1.8. This is also a good way to compose your image. Sometimes the objects in the front can be the ones in focus; while other times the objects in the background can be the ones in focus. Now, go out and create those photos.
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This instruction won’t really work if you have a point and shoot camera that operates only on automatic, but it will still be useful because you can better communicate the image you want to a professional photographer.
With manual cameras you can control the ISO or ASA, the shutter speed, and the aperture or f/stops. I want to focus more on the aperture. F/stops can be tricky, but they don’t have to be. Basically like your eye the aperture lets light in. The larger the opening, the more light that is let in. For a bright day you want to limit the amount of light that is captured to avoid an image of pure white; and vice versa for a night or an overcast day. To know what the lens opening looks like for each f-stop here is a diagram.
Those f/stops aren't just for controlling your exposure. If you want an image where everything in the frame of the image is in focus you will want to use f/16.
If you are taking a photo of your child and want your child to be the only thing in focus with the background objects all out of focus you will want to use an f-stop somewhere between f/4- f/1.8. This is also a good way to compose your image. Sometimes the objects in the front can be the ones in focus; while other times the objects in the background can be the ones in focus. Now, go out and create those photos.
26 comments:
What beautiful photographs. I just have a point and shoot camera, but really liked seeing your photos.
This is the best explanation I have ever had. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips. I'd love to learn more!
VERY helpful! Thank you!!!
Llohmeyer@graniteschools.org
Nice photos:)
Great photos and I absolutely love the wedding dress. That is the nicest one I've seen for a long time.
I wish you had more photos, I could look at these all day.
Thanks for these tips. I love the pictures!
The photos of the fstops was especially helpful... a picture is worth a thousand words! :)
Katherine V B
Farfield, CA
love your photos I only have a point and shot camera at the moment but look forward to having something more - again love the photos
It's been forever since I took a college photo class that I've forgotten all of this (never mind I've been on auto cameras for YEARS!) I did just find that my point-and-shoot digital does have some options in it- thanks for the reminders!
OHHH! LOVE these photos and that wedding dress! That dog is super adorable:) THANKS for the chance to win:) sbmmhoover at yahoo dot com
Lovely photos - great tips. Thanks for a chance at the giveaway!
Luv SEI! thanks for the chance to win!
Beautiful photo! Still need to learn more about my camera! Thank you for the push!
I so needed this thanks!
Thanks for these awesome tips--your photos ROCK!
Oh - love the dog shot!
Thanks for sharing the tips! I'd love to learn more too. I have a point and shoot that I take with me everywhere and the dslr rarely gets taken out because I don't know how to use it! :D
Thanks for putting this out! I forget about my settings and need a brain refresher. Your pictures are so fabulous!! Love that sweet little doggie with the bow tie!
Beautiful bride I love that dress
Great and useful info, thanks!
Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you so much for the info on f-stops. I have a DSLR, but am still learning how to use it. This helps a lot!
gorgeous pictures and tfs!
Good information!
Great tips! Love the photos!
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