Assignment • Exposure

Exposures for photography requires the balance of ISO, Shutter speed and ƒ-stop. You will need a digital camera preferably with a zoom lens, and a tripod or something to set the camera on. You will use these controls, Mode, ISO adjustment, ƒ-stop adjustment and Shutter speed adjustment. You will need a way to view your images later such as a computer or you could have small prints made.

ISO • Sensitivity

Shoot outside in the evening, after the sun has set, and before dark, of any scene other than the sunset. Set your ISO to 100. Set your aperture to ƒ-16 and set your mode to A (aperture priority). The camera will set the shutter speed for you. This set of shots should take you no more than a minute or two to complete.

Take your first shot.

Change the ISO to 800 and take a shot.

Change the ISO to 3000 and take a shot.

Change the ISO to 10,000 and take a shot.

Last one, Max the ISO and take a shot.

Comparisons: Did you hear the difference in the shutter speed between shots.

Compare the images to one another to see the difference in image quality. The higher ISO will start to show noise in the image. If you have a need for higher sensitivity, judge what level of noise you will accept.

ƒ-Stop • Depth of field

Shoot outside, with the sun off to the side. Background should be busy

Open your lens to the widest aperture (ƒ-2.8) and use the A (aperture priority) setting. Use the widest setting of your zoom lens or use a wide angle. You are going to photograph a person, so frame them as a head and shoulders and show a little busy background. For your second shot, same shot except stop down the aperture to ƒ-11

Now use the longest telephoto setting and back up from your subject until you have about the same cropping. Shoot one at ƒ-2.8 and the other at ƒ-11

Comparisons: What has happened to the background with the wide lens and what is the difference with the telephoto. One other comparison because you are photographing a person, a telephoto lens will create less distortion. Out of those four images, which do you prefer; and why?

What did depth of field do for the bird shot?

Shutter Speed • Motion

Photograph some cars driving down the street (side

to side). Use the S (shutter priority) setting. Use a tripod

or support to keep the camera in place

First shot use 1/30 second of a car moving across the

frame. Second shot use 1/125, and third shot use 1/500.

Let’s try the same set of shots of a person walking by on the sidewalk.

Now let’s try something fun. No tripod here, we will hand hold the camera at three settings: 1/15, 1/30 and 1/60. We will photograph a person walking by and we will pan with the person. Now that means we are moving the camera, in time, with the person walking by. Focus on the person and gently push the shutter button while moving with the subject. Be patient and wait until they are close to the front of the camera.

Comparisons: Do we see motion in the image? Your background will be motionless but how about the car? When you want to stop motion do you want a slow shutter speed (1/30) or faster (1/125)? What happens when cars travel faster or slower? At what speed is the person walking by motionless? Remember the background is not moving, or is it? The images you took at 1/30 as you were panning did what to the background? If you tracked the person smoothly in time, they will be a lot sharper than the background. The amount of motion to the background depends upon how fast you pan with the subject. If you can’t stop the subjects action with shutter speed or you want the background to say motion, then try panning. This works with all moving subjects like cars, kids and pets that travel perpendicular to your position. Panning generally does not work when subject matter runs toward or away from camera.