ISO And Aperture And Depth Of Field, Oh My!
Date: Friday August 31, 2007Posted in: Family, Foto Friday, Friends, Photography
This Christmas it will be two years since Matthew bought me my sweet Canon Rebel XT DSLR. He was so thoughtful when he bought it that he even bought me a guide that was written for my exact camera. He knew that I wanted to learn more about manual photography and this book walks you through it step by step.
The book has gathered dust because I keep having babies. Throw in work and the general chaos that is life with three kidlets and I have a hard enough time keeping up with things like cleaning the toilets (I’m pretty sure I cleaned them last weekend). Add in other hobbies like this here site and the occasional foray into the world of pretty paper and learning the manual functions of my camera has just not happened.
But all of that has changed!
Graham’s BFF Ben turned five and so we headed to the beach to celebrate with a gourmet spread including hot dogs, chips and my beloved DC. I (of course) brought veggies and dip as my contribution; I’m famous around these parts for bringing the legumes and Dilly Dip to all of the functions we have/attend.
I took a self-portrait, since Matthew was too busy holding Emily to force him to take one of me.
You can see Nathan and Graham to the right of my head.
At this point I was using my automatic settings. I really have no complaints about the quality of the photos, and sometimes I even catch a pretty cool shot.
Ben’s Momma Christy is an amazing photographer. Our other friend Karyn is a photographer by trade, and also amazing. We (of course) got on the topic of my inability to use the manual functions of my camera. Karyn paid me a sweet compliment; she told me that she loved the composition of my photos. (Aw, shucks). She told me it wouldn’t take long for me to catch on to using the manual functions, and that once I did I wouldn’t go back.
Both ladies sat with me and explained the different functions to me in basic terms while the Daddies watched the kids. I was a slow learner (you would think that an accountant would understand fractions) but they had endless patience.
Here’s one I took of the sun filtering through the trees.
Could be better. I just need to practice.
Here’s one of Miss Emily.
She loved the water and eating throwing dropping rocks.
The one part of the whole process that I could not seem to get my head around was the shutter speed. I kept trying to set it manually and it was not working well and WHO HAS THE TIME TO DO THIS WHILE TAKING PHOTOS OF CHILDREN WHO DON’T STOP MOVING?
Karyn finally showed me the gauge-thingy (exposure level indicator) that you could see in the viewfinder and adjust quickly by just rolling the dial-a-ma-bob (main dial).
Let me give you a visual to go with all of that mumbo-jumbo. The shutter speed controls how long your camera shutter stays open. The less time it is open, the faster it takes the photo. Fast shutter speed means less chance for blurry kids, but there is less light that comes in. Like so.
If you change the shutter speed to be a little slower, more light comes into the picture. Like so.
And if you make the shutter speed even slower (like 1/80) , more light comes into the photo. Like so.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
I’m giddy with delight over my newfound knowledge.
Maybe I should share this knowledge with you folks more often. I could have Photography Fridays (Fotography Fridays?). It would force me to hone and practice techniques. I could share them using basic terms and visual examples! Maybe others like me (there are many, I know) who haven’t moved beyond the comfort zone of the automatic settings could branch out! The blind leading the blind is always cause for entertainment, and maybe we would all learn some sweet tricks.
Or maybe that’s a really lame idea.
I plan on playing more in the manual settings, regardless.
Look for them here and on Flickr.
Because I didn’t take enough photographs already. Whatever! This is way too much fun to try and contain.
**Edited to add: I took Leah’s advice and made the photos a smaller KB size. If you want to see them in their larger-than-life file size glory, they’re on Flickr**
31 Comments
Hi Angella!
I have been reading your site for quite awhile (came via Amanda) but have never commented. I can’t believe that I am the first comment to this post! How exciting…haha! Anyway just thought I would let you know that I love your writing and your photos are AMAZING. I am a poor uni student but would love to get a camera like the Rebel one day and learn how to take proper photos. I think your Fotography Friday sounds like a fantastic idea - a win-win for you and your readers! I would surely be tuning in!
Anyhow keep the tales and the great photos coming. You have a lovely family!
- - Ellie
Comment by Ell on August 31st, 2007 @ 4:39 amFoto Fridays would be fenomenal! (Sorry, could’t resist). I have a manual camera that was my mom’s and I took classes eons ago (high school), but never really grasped the concept. It’s always much easier to just grab the point-and-shoot instead. I know that I for one would benefit from your weekly experiements–I’ve always been a visual learner, so I could totally avoid ever opening the big bad instruction manual and learn from you instead!
Comment by Shawna on August 31st, 2007 @ 5:16 amI too like the idea of Fotography Fridays!
That is neat that your friends and you had the chance to sit there and have you figure stuff out! I love the last pic of Nathan, his eyes stand out so much, very cool!
Comment by Kristin on August 31st, 2007 @ 7:03 amLove LOVE the water-splashed-baby picture. Nice job! I would so love to learn to use the 101 features of my camera, as I’m using about 2 now. Let’s do the Friday thing (or, possibly, every other Friday…bah! Kids!)
Comment by Momrepus on August 31st, 2007 @ 7:44 amI think this is a FANTASTIC idea (I could use the help!).
Comment by Jennie on August 31st, 2007 @ 7:50 amPhoto Fridays would be awesome. I love those pics! I really, really need to get a DSLR. I’ve been drooling over the XTi for months now.
Comment by Jill - GlossyVeneer on August 31st, 2007 @ 8:08 amI shouldn’t admit this because my photographer husband would KILL me but I could learn a lot from your foto fridays.
Comment by Secret Agent Jo on August 31st, 2007 @ 8:34 amFrom your excellent photos, I already assumed you were already a camera whiz 
Have fun playing around with the settings
Andrew bought me a Nikon D80 for my birthday, with a little guidance from Miss 180/360. (Have you seen her pictures? Amazing.) Anyway, I want to take a class or something, because I find it criminal that I have this beautiful camera and I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. Now and then, 180 and her husband will be over and with fiddle with the settings for me. With all that said, just taking a simple picture with the camera looks 100 times better than with my little point & shoot.
I look forward to your tips and tricks!
Comment by LVGurl on August 31st, 2007 @ 9:09 amCOOL! I also have not fully read my camera manual and should. The automatic setting has been my friend so far. I LOVE the pics you take!
Comment by Jen on August 31st, 2007 @ 1:23 pmI think that’s a GREAT idea!! Some of us can only dream of the day when we have a super camera like that, but it’d be sweet to feel somewhat prepared so I at least know SOMEthing before I get it.
Comment by Tricia on August 31st, 2007 @ 1:31 pmYou always have such nice pictures. Makes me, almost, want to dust off my manual and read up on how to do something besides point and click.
I think I will just enjoy yours
That really is the best way to learn–through friends who know what they’re doing!
p.s. Next up is optimizing your photos for the web so they don’t take fifteen minutes to load.
I am pretty useless with my camera too! I just shoot on auto … I was planning to take class this fall. Keep the tips coming.
Comment by mommyknows on August 31st, 2007 @ 3:29 pmI am so excited to read about this! We just finally got a new camera (a canon) and I have been fooing around with aperature, ISO and shutter speed also. It is a bit confusing. I am sure once I get the hang of it, it will seem easy. Tiy are right- Karyn and Christy are incredibly talented and gifted girls. I am hoping to get together one day and have a mini lesson with karyn. I am to look at your flickr ones now.
Comment by kelly on August 31st, 2007 @ 4:19 pmYay for Foto Fridays! I vote yes! I have a fairly good camera as well, but the spectacular shots are pretty few and far between. Reading my manual hasn’t helped me though, because unless you know what aperture and F-stop and all that do, and how they play with each other, it doesn’t help me to learn how to adjust them…..
Perhaps your photographer friend can help you explain it to all us less savvy photographers out here in blog-land.
Comment by Shannon on August 31st, 2007 @ 6:12 pmAs i mentioned in my blog, I just got my new Nikon D80 and I too have not had time in the past 2 1/2 weeks to get past using the auto settings and read my manual! I think fotography fridays is a GREAT idea! I love my new toy and want to learn how to use it better!
Comment by Angela on August 31st, 2007 @ 8:16 pmOoh, yeah! I would love it if you talked about learning the manual settings on your camera because I am in the same place, knowledge-wise, except I don’t own a DSLR…yet.
Comment by bethany actually on August 31st, 2007 @ 9:09 pmThose pictures are amazing! You’re so talented and you make it sound so easy!!! I think I need to buy a new camera!
Comment by Michele on August 31st, 2007 @ 9:37 pmPerfect timing, I have been reading the Magic Lantern guide for my Nikon D80 for the past few weeks. I took a few photography classes in high school and college but it was different when it was 35mm film and there wasn’t a mini computer inside my camera! I will definitely be by on Friday’s to see what you have learned.
Comment by Teej on September 1st, 2007 @ 4:25 amyes..foto fridays would be fabulous..I just commented on Christy’s blog about the need for her to run a course! Count me in…however, I love your visuals! I am definitely a visual learner!! Probably see you at school this week…can you believe you are going to have a kid in kindergarten??
Comment by anita on September 1st, 2007 @ 10:29 pmSounds like a great idea … unfortunately I would need to get me a decent camera before I would be able to learn anything!! But glad you are learning more about using yours
You have inspired me to try and figure out my camera. I love having an SLR, but I find it extremely complicated. Good for you and ps… I have always enjoyed your pictures.
Comment by Susie on September 2nd, 2007 @ 6:23 am[...] Psst: I might take a photography class soon, if I can find some time. I am think about giving up sleeping. Until then I’ll be checking out the tips @ DutchBlitz. [...]
Comment by mommyknows.com » Super September - Mamarazzo Stalks Georgia - great baby shoes, baby clothes, baby toys, cloth diapers and parenting tips! on September 2nd, 2007 @ 8:37 amThose photos are fantastik. The one of Graham is great. I would love to learn photography. Your pictures are amazing.
Comment by Kacie on September 2nd, 2007 @ 10:56 amWelcome to learning. I feel like I am constantly having “Aha!” moments. It really is fun and empowering to learn more and more about what your camera can do.
Comment by Filtering Life on September 2nd, 2007 @ 5:39 pmThis is EXACTLY what I needed to read.I want independence from the automatic button on my camera!! It is something I’ve always wondered but you explained it so my poor, confused mind could comprehend! Y!y.
Comment by Loralee on September 2nd, 2007 @ 10:41 pmOH, please do the Photo friday deal…I too would like to branch out from the auto settings. I lvoe to take pics and I have a good eye for things, but wish I knew more. I’m not above begging! ha ha
And I love your pics.
Comment by Dana on September 4th, 2007 @ 9:42 pm[...] response to my suggestion for Foto Fridays has been overwhelming (comments and emails and phone calls, oh my!). The only problem is that I feel pretty under qualified. I feel [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Foto Friday: Composition And Aperture (And FREE Software!) on September 7th, 2007 @ 7:16 am
I LOVE your idea of photography fridays! In this post alone I learned more about my camera than I’ve managed to figure out on my own so far - and I would love to know more. So it sounds like a great idea to me.
Comment by Elizabeth on August 31st, 2007 @ 12:10 am