Photography
CAMERA SETTINGS
The Big Three
Aperture (f-stop)
When you press down the shutter button on your camera, the shutter opens, allowing light to enter the camera and hit the camera’s sensor. The size of the opening of the shutter is referred to as the aperture. The aperture is measured in f-stops. The f-stop and the amount of light passing through the aperture are inversely proportional – as the f-stop number increases, the amount of light passing through the aperture decreases. You can lighten and darken your photographs by changing the aperture settings. You can also increase your depth of field focus by changing the aperture settings. As the f-stop number increases the depth of field focus will increase.
ISO
The ISO settings on your camera determine how sensitive it is to light. When you increase the ISO settings, your images will appear brighter and when you decrease your ISO settings, your images will appear darker. As you increase your ISO settings, you are more likely to introduce noise or graininess into your images.
Shutter Speed
The shutter speed setting refers to how quickly the shutter will close after the shutter has been opened. The longer the shutter is open, the more light hits the camera’s sensors. The time is measured in seconds. Faster shutter speeds are great for capturing subjects that are moving. Longer shutter speeds are great for photography techniques like “painting with light”. The longer the shutter stays open (the slower your shutter speed is) the more likely you will need to use a tripod to avoid capturing blurry images.
Program Mode (P)
When you select program mode, the camera automatically chooses the aperture and shutter speed based on the amount of light in the area you are trying to photograph. This setting is ideal when you need to snap pictures quickly.
Shutter Priority Mode (Tv or S)
When you select shutter priority mode, you select the shutter speed and the camera automatically chooses the aperture based on the amount of light in the area you are trying to photograph. This setting is ideal when you need to freeze motion.
Aperture Priority Mode (Av or A)
When you select aperture priority mode, you select the aperture and the camera automatically chooses the shutter speed that will give you the proper exposure based on the amount of light in the area you are trying to photograph. This setting is ideal when you need to control the depth of field.
Manual Mode (M)
When you select manual mode, you are responsible for setting the appropriate aperture and shutter speed to capture your desired image. This setting is ideal when you are photographing very dark or very bright areas, or when you are taking one-to-one comparison quality photographs.
Auto Mode (AUTO)
When you select auto mode, the camera will make all the setting choices for you. If you don’t know how to use your camera, this is the setting to start with. To capture scenes and evidence appropriately, you will have to move away from the auto settings, so practice!
Sports Mode
This automatic setting option or something similar is available on many camera models. Sports mode is ideal for photographing something that is in motion, like someone playing sports.
Macro Mode
This automatic setting option or something similar is available on many camera models. Macro mode is ideal for photographing very close (zoomed in) to something.
Landscape Mode
This automatic setting option or something similar is available on many camera models. Landscape mode is ideal for photographing a large area where you want the foreground, midground and background to all stay in focus.
Night Mode
This automatic setting option or something similar is available on many camera models. Night mode is ideal for nighttime photography.
Portrait Mode
This automatic setting option or something similar is available on many camera models. Portrait mode is ideal for taking photographs of individual people.
Exposure Compensation
This button will allow you to override the exposure settings the camera has picked so that you can lighten or darken an image before it is captured. This will only work when you are using a camera setting that utilizes the camera’s light meter (will not work in manual mode).
Auto Focus Modes
With most cameras, you can press the shutter button halfway down and you will hear a beep letting you know the camera is in focus and ready to shoot. For the best focus, the camera needs areas of high contrast.
AF-S
One-Shot
Single Point Focus
This is a single point focus. When using this setting, you will pick an area and the camera will lock in its focus on that area. If the camera won’t focus, it is because there is not enough contrast in the area you have chosen or you are too close to the subject.
AF-C
AI Servo
Moving Target Focus
This is the focus to use on moving subjects. When using this setting, the camera will track the subject to keep it in focus. If the camera won’t focus on the subject of interest, it is likely it’s because there are too many moving subjects in the background.
Auto-focus Automatic
AI Focus AF
Auto Focus
This setting allows the camera to choose between single point focus and moving target focus.