Starting with???
Dec 6, 2011 16:33:56 #
I've read both here and in books that understanding exposure, shutter and ISO is the key to good photography. Ok, I get that but..... When getting set to compose a photo what, of the three do you set or look at first. In your own words, could you share how you approach getting set for a photo. Of the three , in what order do you set and does this change often and if so, why. I am spending more time getting those three stuck in my head and find if I start with exposure and work from there it helps. For this practice lets assume we are shooting in M mode. Thanks in advance.
Dec 6, 2011 16:57:14 #
The choices depend upon the subject and how you desire to portray it. I was taught to select the lowest ISO that will give you the exposure settings you want. If your subject is moving and you want to stop it, choose a relatively faster shutter speed, then set the aperture to give a properly exposed image. If your subject demands greater depth of field, close down the aperture and choose a relatively slower shutter speed.
I try to select an ISO for the prevailing light conditions, then work with aperture/shutter speed combinations to produce what I think I want in the image. The only magic combination of the three exposure elements is the one that produces the image you wish to capture.
I try to select an ISO for the prevailing light conditions, then work with aperture/shutter speed combinations to produce what I think I want in the image. The only magic combination of the three exposure elements is the one that produces the image you wish to capture.
Dec 6, 2011 17:00:38 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
Depends.
(1) Lower ISO normally means better quality so use the slowest film or set the lowest ISO you can get away with.
(2) How much depth of field do you need? That determines aperture. Well, that and shooting at middling apertures for maximum sharpness.
(3) Any risk of camera shake or subject movement? Use a higher shutter speed. Unless you actually want blur for creative reasons.
(4) With (2) and (3) in mind, change (1).
Cheers,
R.
(1) Lower ISO normally means better quality so use the slowest film or set the lowest ISO you can get away with.
(2) How much depth of field do you need? That determines aperture. Well, that and shooting at middling apertures for maximum sharpness.
(3) Any risk of camera shake or subject movement? Use a higher shutter speed. Unless you actually want blur for creative reasons.
(4) With (2) and (3) in mind, change (1).
Cheers,
R.
Dec 6, 2011 21:40:57 #
EdAnderson wrote:
The choices depend upon the subject and how you de... (show quote)
I will echo this response. I usually set ISO from the light conditions and go work the other 2 parameters off of it. This comes from my old film days where ISO was determined by the film product you were using and you were stuck with it til the roll was finished.
Dec 7, 2011 00:05:22 #
Canoe50d wrote:
I've read both here and in books that understandin... (show quote)
With digital:
1. Set my shutter speed as determined by my subject matter. i.e the obvious: if hand held for still life then fast enough to eliminate camera shake (rule of thumb: the inverse of the lens focal length)
2. Set my aperture as determined by my desired depth of field.
3. Set my ISO to properly expose the photo with the above shutter and aperture settings.
With film it would be different since I must first lock in my film speed and can't control it on the fly.
Dec 7, 2011 07:03:20 #
The answer depends upon your camera. The initial steps are the same with film or digital. Compose, select the ISO, aperture or shutter as desired or use an automatic setting, and click. Now for the difference and this depends upon your camera.
Use the built-in darkroom if your camera can: view the picture and its histogram. If necessary, adjust the exposure based upon the histogram and shoot again.
Use the built-in darkroom if your camera can: view the picture and its histogram. If necessary, adjust the exposure based upon the histogram and shoot again.
Dec 7, 2011 08:26:04 #
naturalite
Loc: Up state NY
Yes, the golden triangle. And I'm not talking Rock, Paper, scissors. Usually, I set my ISO at 200 unless it's very low light level and I'm restricted by a higher AP on the bottom of a slower lens. Say 3.5 telephoto.
It's all a balancing act my friend. Depending on subject matter, movement, available light. And how much do you need in focus (depth of field).
Get a book on examples of setting effects. Check the net. Go out and play with the different settings.
It's not like you're wasting film. Go for it.
It's all a balancing act my friend. Depending on subject matter, movement, available light. And how much do you need in focus (depth of field).
Get a book on examples of setting effects. Check the net. Go out and play with the different settings.
It's not like you're wasting film. Go for it.
Dec 7, 2011 08:43:42 #
Im going to suggest the following.
Go to Amazon and buy the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
I was at a point that I knew WHAT the SS/Aperture/ISO did and how they interact but I had no solid grasp of when or why to adjust one or the other a certain way.
That book cleared it all up.
Trust me, when you get done reading it you will know what to do and why and when to do it as it concerns ISO/SS/Aperture.
Go to Amazon and buy the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
I was at a point that I knew WHAT the SS/Aperture/ISO did and how they interact but I had no solid grasp of when or why to adjust one or the other a certain way.
That book cleared it all up.
Trust me, when you get done reading it you will know what to do and why and when to do it as it concerns ISO/SS/Aperture.
Dec 7, 2011 09:38:14 #
Another perspective - use ISO to increase shutter speed. I shoot dragon flies, aperture priority, wide open @5.6, ISO at 1000 or 1200. I use the Nikon D3 with its 70-300
female depositing eggs
I especially like the reflection
another depositing eggs
Dec 7, 2011 09:48:57 #
docrob
Loc: Durango, Colorado
Canoe50d wrote:
I've read both here and in books that understandin... (show quote)
I'm going to answer your question from a different angle. When I am setting up to compose a photo my first and only interest is doing just that - composing. ISO/exposure is the least of my concerns. Creating an interesting composition, checking for hot spots, playing around with different perspectives etc......Those kinds of things are what I spend time on. THEN if what I am seeing/feeling excites me - then I work on the exposure and here's what I do. I take a pic - i look at it on the LCD I ask does it need more or less - then I take a pic say 2 stops over exposed - 2 stops under, look at the LCD decide which I like and then dial it in.......ISO yeah I play with this from time to time when I'd rather for whatever reason change the sensor sensitivity then say the shutter speed. Lastly, I shoot damn near everything wide open cept for the times I use f8. COMPOSE FIRST thats as important as anything else - maybe more.
Dec 7, 2011 11:06:34 #
1 - Apature. I like to control my depth of field. Either have everything in focus or just the main subject. I do very little action shots so #2 is shutter speed. I make sure that is fast enough so I wont have camera shake in my pictures. #3 is ISO I use as low as will support the other two. I am lucky that my Nikons have a setting that will boost ISO if you go under a preset shutter speed. If I put my camera in apature mode amd preset the lowest shutter speed aporate to lens I am using 1/lens focal length I dont have to worry about anything but apature and composing. I use the Apature setting 95% of the time. Todays cameras are unbelivable. - Dave
Dec 7, 2011 11:41:38 #
docrob
Loc: Durango, Colorado
wilsondl2 wrote:
1 - Apature. I like to control my depth of field.... (show quote)
which is why one should not simply believe them
Dec 7, 2011 11:51:36 #
I'm a little different. When approaching a shot, I'll concentrate on composition first...what kind of shot do I want ? Then I'll look for the best lighting for that shot. Then ISO....I try to go with ISO 100 as long as there's enough light. Then I'll choose Aperture....depending on how I want the Back Ground to look...how sharp I want everything. As far as shutter speed, I'll use the camera's on board light meter to get the exposure I want. Everyone does it different....it's the way I taught myself !
Dec 7, 2011 11:52:53 #
Here is my 3 for landscape work:
1) lighting, normally shoot during the golden hour. Cannot shoot a waterfall at noon time.
2) what is the main subject, why are you taking this image. But, do not center the subject (rule of thirds)
3) strong foreground to draw the eye into the image. This usually means getting down low.
1) lighting, normally shoot during the golden hour. Cannot shoot a waterfall at noon time.
2) what is the main subject, why are you taking this image. But, do not center the subject (rule of thirds)
3) strong foreground to draw the eye into the image. This usually means getting down low.
Dec 7, 2011 12:09:35 #
EdAnderson wrote:
The choices depend upon the subject and how you de... (show quote)
I agree with this post. I normally set my ISO at 100 or 200 and then never vary it except in special circumstances. After setting the ISO, we have only to work with f/stop and shutter speed.
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