The document discusses three essential camera settings - ISO, shutter speed, and aperture - that photographers should understand in order to take better pictures. It defines each setting and explains how they affect exposure and image quality. ISO controls the camera's light sensitivity, shutter speed determines how long the camera's "eye" is open, and aperture refers to the size of the lens opening. The document emphasizes that these settings are interrelated and changing one may require adjusting another to achieve proper exposure. Understanding how they work together allows photographers greater creative control over their images.

1. Know your Camera
Essential Settings
*Adapted from Travis Feil’s presentation

2. Photoshop can t do it all…
 It is true that Photoshop can do amazing things.
 However, the more you know before you take the
shot, the better your pictures will turn out.
 Advanced cameras like the ones we use can take
great pictures in the fully automatic mode, but your
pictures will be better if you adjust settings manually.
 There are three basic features you should master in
order to take great pictures. Finding the correct
balance of these three features will help you achieve
great photography.

3. Auto Mode

4. Manual Settings

5. Auto Mode

6. Manual Settings

7. Auto Mode

8. Manual Settings

9. Auto Mode

10. Manual Settings

11. Auto Mode

12. Manual Settings

13. Auto Mode

14. Manual Settings

15. Glossary Time
 Exposure:
– Refers to the correct lighting of all objects
in a photograph.

16. Underexposure
 Too dark
 Lacks definition
 Details lost

17. Overexposure
 Too bright
 Lacks details
 Definition lost
 Overblown

18. Proper Exposure
 Just right lighting
 Defined details

19. Glossary Time
 Metering:
– Using the camera s metering scale to
determine correct exposure.
– Your camera tells you the settings to use!

20. Glossary Time
 ISO:
– The camera s sensitivity to light.
– Also known as film speed for those who have
actually used real film.
– Useless info in case you re curious: ISO is from
International Standards Organization originally
ASA from American Standards Association.
They just made sure all film, no matter where it
was made or purchased, was properly labeled.

21. Glossary Time
 ISO:

22. Glossary Time
 Shutter speed:
– The speed at which the camera s eye
opens and closes.

23. Glossary Time
 Shutter speed:

24. Glossary Time
 Aperture:
– The size of the eye in the camera.
– Most commonly known as F-Stop

25. Glossary Time
 Aperture:

26. Each Word Matters
 So far we ve defined
– Exposure
– ISO
– Shutter Speed
– Aperture
 Now let s see how they affect pictures.

27. ISO
 Sensitivity to light.
 Displayed as a whole number:
100
–
200
–
400
–
800
–
1600
–
3200
–
 Lower numbers mean
– less sensitive = less exposure = less light = darker pictures
 Higher numbers mean
– more sensitive = more exposure = more light = brighter pictures

28. ISO
What s the
ISO on this
camera
right now?

29. ISO
What s the
ISO on this
camera
right now?

30. ISO
 DOES affect image quality.
– Higher ISO = grain and noise
 Will probably remain the same for the whole
shoot unless lighting changes.
 Use the lowest setting possible.
 Set it and forget it.

31. ISO
 To properly expose an image in…
…bright, natural light, use ____ ISO.
…dimly lit situations, use a ____ ISO

32. ISO
 To properly expose an image in…
…bright, natural light, use LOW ISO.
…dimly lit situations, use a HIGH ISO

33. ISO
 On a bright sunny day, an ISO of 1600
will probably make my pictures turn
out…
…completely white (over exposed)
…completely dark (under exposed)

34. ISO
 On a bright sunny day, an ISO of 1600
will probably make my pictures turn
out…
…completely white (over exposed)
…completely dark (under exposed)

35. ISO
 Ina dimly lit classroom, an ISO of 100
will probably produce an image that
is…
…completely white (over exposed)
…completely dark (under exposed)

36. ISO
 Ina dimly lit classroom, an ISO of 100
will probably produce an image that
is…
…completely white (over exposed)
…completely dark (under exposed)

37. Shutter Speed
 The speed at which the eye blinks.
 Whenyou push the shutter release
button, the internal eye opens and
closes to let light in and create an
image.
 The
amount of light that gets in affects
exposure.

38. Shutter Speed

39. Shutter Speed
 Usually appears as a fraction but might be a
whole number on the screen. Refers to a
fraction of 1 second.
30 (30 seconds - slow blink )
4 (4 seconds)
1/80 (one 80th of one second)
1/250 (one 250th of one second)
1/500 (one 500th of one second)
1/4000 (one 4000th of one second - fast blink )

40. Shutter Speed
 Think exposure…
– If I leave the eye open for 30 seconds,
my image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

41. Shutter Speed
 Think exposure…
– If I leave the eye open for 30 seconds,
my image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

42. Shutter Speed
 Think exposure…
– If I only leave the eye open for 1/1000
of 1 second, my image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

43. Shutter Speed
 Think exposure…
– If I only leave the eye open for 1/1000
of 1 second, my image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

44. Shutter Speed
What is the shutter speed on this camera
right now?
(Ignore the
red box -
that isn t it.)

45. Shutter Speed
What is the shutter speed on this camera
right now?

46. Shutter Speed
 In addition to exposure…
– A slower shutter speed (lower number)
can create blur in the action.
– A faster shutter speed (higher number)
freezes quick action.
– 1/60 can capture good still frames.
– 1/500 will stop a tennis racquet in swing.

47. Shutter Speed
VERY Slow shutter speed - people have
to stand still. A tripod should be used to
prevent
the subject
from being
blurry.
1/60 or
Lower=
tripod

48. Shutter Speed
Fast shutter speed
stops action.

49. Shutter Speed
Fast shutter speed stops action.

50. ISO + Shutter Speed
 Thinkabout the relationship between
the 2 settings we ve discussed.
– If you increase ISO, your picture will
become lighter or overexposed.
– You can increase shutter speed to
balance that and make your picture
darker…back to what it needs to be for
proper exposure.
– It s like a teeter-totter.

51. ISO + Shutter Speed
 Thinkabout the relationship between
the 2 settings we ve discussed.
– If your ISO is low, your image will be
darker.
– You can decrease shutter speed to let in
more light and make the image brighter.

52. ISO + Shutter Speed
 Lower shutter speed
creates blur of the Benton
player.
 Low shutter speed lets in
too much light.
 ISO must be adjusted
down to compensate.
 IS0 = 200
 Shutter Speed = 1/200

53. Aperture (F-Stop)
 The size of the eye that blinks.
 This setting is backwards or
counterintuitive. The lower the F-Stop
number, the bigger the eye.
– F3.5 = big eye
– F21 = little eye
 The bigger the eye, the greater the exposure
(more light gets in).

54. Aperture (F-Stop)
 Appears as an F-Number combination
 The lower the number, the bigger the
eye.
– F 3.5 (big opening, lots of light, more exposure)
– F6 (medium opening, medium light)
– F 11 (small opening, little light)

55. Aperture (F-Stop)

56. Aperture
 Think exposure…
– If I have a big eye (low F-Stop), my
image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

57. Aperture
 Think exposure…
– If I have a big eye (low F-Stop), my
image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

58. Aperture
 Think exposure…
– If I have a small eye (high F-Stop), my
image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

59. Aperture
 Think exposure…
– If I have a small eye (high F-Stop), my
image will be…
…brighter (over exposed)
…darker (under exposed)

60. Aperture
 What
is the aperture setting on this
camera right now?

61. Aperture
 What
is the aperture setting on this
camera right now?

62. Aperture
 An F4.0 will let in…
– Lots of light
– Little light

63. Aperture
 An F4.0 will let in…
– Lots of light
– Little light

64. Aperture
 In addition to exposure, aperture affects
depth of field.
– Shallow Depth of Field = subject in focus but
background blurred.
 Small F-Stop number
– Greater Depth of Field = All objects in focus
 Larger F-Stop number

65. Aperture
 Lower F-Stop (3.5) = blurred background

66. Aperture
 Lower F-Stop (3.5)
= blurred
background

67. Aperture
 Higher F-Stop (16) =
all in focus

68. Aperture
 Higher F-Stop
(16) = all in focus

69. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
 Think about the relationship of all the
settings together…
– If I want to blur a background, my F-Stop
must be low.
– This causes a bigger eye which lets in
more light and may cause my picture to
be over exposed.
– There are 2 adjustments I can make to
solve the problem…
 Decrease ISO
 Increase Shutter Speed

70. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
 Think about the relationship of all the
settings together…
– If I want a crisp foreground AND
background, my F-Stop will be higher.
– This causes a smaller eye which lets in
less light and may cause my picture to be
under exposed.
– There are 2 adjustments I can make to
solve the problem…
 IncreaseISO
 Decrease Shutter Speed

71. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
 Each setting change affects exposure.
 Each setting change affects the other
settings.
 Ifyou understand what each one does,
you can take better pictures.

72. Making Pictures v. Taking Pictures
 First,
consider your lighting conditions:
the type of light you re shooting in, the
direction its coming from, etc.
 Set your ISO to the lowest possible
setting for those conditions.
 Visualize
the image you want and set
the camera for those priorities.

73. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Conditions: dimly lit tunnels.
Requires
higher
ISO
1600

74. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Desired shot: Bulb in focus, background blurred.
Requires
Extremely slow
shutter speed
Bulb setting
or 1/4

75. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Compensation: with such a high ISO and slow shutter
speed, the image is WAY overexposed.
To balance,
increase
F-Stop
Eye is smaller
less light
gets in!

76. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Conditions: very sunny day,
outdoors
Low ISO - no
need for an overly
sensitive camera
200

77. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Desire shot: selective focus
background
Requires low
F-Stop -
3.5
Causes image to
be over exposed
because the eye
is so large

78. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Compensation: increase
shutter speed
Decrease the time
the camera is
exposed to light
1/1000
Balances the effects
of large aperture

79. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Conditions: outdoors in
low shade
Medium-range ISO
600

80. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Desired shot: Blurry background,
focus on the subject
Requires low F-Stop to blur
background.
F5.6
Requires medium shutter speed to
ensure subject (young child) is in focus
Even though she was moving. 1/400

81. Aperture + ISO + Shutter Speed
Compensation: if F5.6 with a
1/400 shutter speed does not
expose properly, adjust ISO.

82. Review
ISO 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1600
camera is: Less Sensitive More Sensitive
makes my pic: Darker Lighter
Shutter Speed 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4000
eyes blinks: Slower Faster
makes my pic: Lighter Darker
other effects: Motion blurred Frozen Action
Aperture F3.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F22
eye is: Larger Smaller
makes my pic: Lighter Darker
other effects: Blurred background Crisp background

83. Q&A