Blurring and inconsistent photos

[MarcusK]

I can't really add to what has been said, so I will simply, if you will allow me, give my version of explaining aperture and shutter speed, combined with ISO.

To start off, ISO is sensitivity, which basically means how sensitive the sensor (or film) is to light... in other words, how much light it requires. Both Aperture and Shutter Speed control the amount of light. A bigger aperture yields more light than a smaller one, and a slower shutter speed yields more light than a slower one and vice-versa.

The reason you would control either aperture or shutter speed depends on what you want.

With Aperture you are controlling the depth of field or how much of the image is in focus relative to your focus point. The bigger the aperture (the smaller the number) the less depth you get, and vice versa.

With Shutter Speed, it is about motion. The more you want to freeze the action, the faster the shutter speed you need to choose. The more motion blur you want to introduce, the slower the shutter....

Therefore, start by assessing the required ISO. During the day, you will most often be at ISO 100 or 200.... You will then need to get your exposure right (at 0 basically) which is controlled by both the Aperture and Shutter Speed...

If you are looking for DOF, then you will start by defining the Aperture, and then setting the required shutter speed...

If there is movement and you want to freeze it, or blur it, you will prioritize the shutter speed, and then set the proper Aperture for the exposure....

That being said, I would suggest you work with Aperture priority (Av) or Shutter priority (Tv) mode depending on the situation, until you get the hang of it....

Also, learning the basic PP will help a lot in getting things right...

Hope this helps....

[Methodical]

... A bigger aperture yields more light than a smaller one, and a slower shutter speed yields more light than a slower one and vice-versa...

Hello MarcusK, one question. should it be "... and a slower shutter speed yields more light than a {faster} one and vice versa" instead of a "slower" shutter speed. Just want to make sure because I thought a faster shutter speed allows less light. Or am I misreading your explanation? Let me know.

By the way your explanation here is very lamen and straight to the point.

Thanks