I have a question and I need an answer!

[DKilla]

Ok, usually when I take pictures I'll just use the automatic settings that cameras have...you know little things like the stick figure running, a profile picture of a woman wearing a hat, a mountain setting with a moon in the background, etc. I use those little icons, but what about all those other things like the on's that say "Tv, Av, I, S, O" I don't get it...could someone help me out!

[Peter_AUS]

DKilla,

What camera are you using, did it come with a User Manual, if so, have you actually opened it up. the things you are talking about are the aperture/shutter speed setting controls that you can use manually to select what you require. eg, Tv is shautter speed which you select and then the camera selects the aperture it thinks is appropriate, the Av is the opposite, you select the aperture and the camera selects the shutter speed.

Stick figure running is sports mode, Profile of Woman is Portraiture, Mountain setting is for Landscape, etc.

This is usually pretty well covered in the User Manual. Do you know the old addage, RTFM.

[opus]

The icons with the little pictures are the point-and-shoot settings for people who are just beginning to use a camera, or who don't want to have to have a lot of knowledge in order to use a camera. The other ones are for a person to "grow into" ... once you start learning what they are, and how they work, then you're venturing into the realm of the more serious photographer. That's where YOU have to know what you're doing, and YOU decide what your settings are going to be, rather than the camera deciding. It's a more advanced state.

[DKilla]

Ok, now I know what the things are.

I already know how to work a camera's shutter speed and all, but what are the readings for the aperature. Like, what is really open and what's not? I'm just gonna guess that a big aperture is good for low-light surroundings or wanting to shoot a brighter picture, and a small one is for very well-lit areas.

An open aperture for sports is a good idea? Yes or no?

[RockinKamraKlikr]

Having your cameras manual is VITAL if you want to really start using your camera to it's full potential. You've found all the automatic settings that let the camera do the thinking for you, but if you really want to start having some artistic control over your photos you need the manual for your camera. If you dont have one then try going on ebay and getting one. It's probly the most important tool many people tend to overlook. Get it and read it, cover to cover!

Ok, usually when I take pictures I'll just use the automatic settings that cameras have...you know little things like the stick figure running, a profile picture of a woman wearing a hat, a mountain setting with a moon in the background, etc. I use those little icons, but what about all those other things like the on's that say "Tv, Av, I, S, O" I don't get it...could someone help me out!

[Dzerzhinski46]

Ok, now I know what the things are.

I already know how to work a camera's shutter speed and all, but what are the readings for the aperature. Like, what is really open and what's not? I'm just gonna guess that a big aperture is good for low-light surroundings or wanting to shoot a brighter picture, and a small one is for very well-lit areas.

An open aperture for sports is a good idea? Yes or no?

Dear DKilla,

Aperture is one of the mystical parts of a camera that helps you control the amount of light entering a camera. You might already know that aperture is referred to sometimes as an "f stop" or "f 16", or something like that (please interrupt me if I am telling you something you already know or I am boring you ). Basically, the smaller the f-number (2.8, 4, etc.), the larger the opening (if you would like a more in depth explanation of why smaller is bigger, do ask). Just for a minute, think of your lense as a pipe. The smaller f-numbers correspond to a wider pipe, while larger f-numbers (11, 16, 22, etc.) correspond to narrower pipes. Your shutter corresponds to how long your pipe is. Back to the pipe analogy. Combinations of shutter (length of pipe) and aperture (diameter of pipe) give you specific amounts of light (the volume of the cylinder). Am I boring you yet? Good !

Yet this is not the end of aperture. Your aperture also controls your depth of field ( huh!!?). This basically tells you how much of the area surrounding your subject will be in focus. Large apertures (f 22, 16, 11, etc.) give you a large depth of field, meaning that not only will your subject be in focus, but something ten feet away will also be in focus as well. Small apertures (f 4, 2.8, 2, etc.) will give you a small depth of field, meaning that something ten feet away from your subject will not be in focus. Are you still awake? Good ;) !

Anyways, in answer to your last question, a small aperture (f 2, 2.8, etc.) would be suitable for sports photography. Limited depth of field (isolating your subject), and fast shutter speed (freezing action). Perfect for sports photos.

Dzerzhinski

P.S. Thank you for the chance to pontificate .

[DKilla]

Awesome, thanks for that one and to anyone else that has answered my questions! I really apreciate it.

Oh and Dzerzhinski46, that quote in your sig is SO true.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Dear DKilla,

I'm glad I did not bore you to death ! Glad I could be of some help. Hope your pictures turn out well. Just keep on learning and your images will become better and better over time. Good shooting!

Dzerzhinski

[DKilla]

Actually, a large portion of what you posted were things I did not know, well, I couldn't remember.

One more small thing. Would the aperture be controlled on the camera's LCD or on the lens itself? On the lenses I use ( I use the yearbook's camera all the time) they have numbers like you explained on the lens at the base of it.

[Dzerzhinski46]

Dear DKilla,

Normally (and when I say this I am talking about a manual, non-digital camera) the aperture is controlled by the lens. The opening mechanism for the aperture is usually within the lens. I am pretty sure that aperture on even digital cameras are within the lens. In fact I am almost dead sure . The numbers on the base of the lens tell you range of apertures in the lens and the focal length. The focal length will be in mm. The range of apertures, and the focal length also will tell you something about the capabilities of the lens. A large focal length (>100mm) is a telephoto lens, and small (<100mm) is a normal lens. The range of apertures tells you if the lens is a "fast" or "slow" lens. A "fast" lens has a minimum aperture of close to or equal to f 1. This, as you can tell, will let in a lot of light. Great for low light stuff. A "slow" lens is one with a minimum aperture greater than or equal to f 5.6. Most telephotos are slow lenses. Digital cameras tend to have fairly slow lenses, usually a minimum aperture f 2.8 or slightly larger. Good all purpose lenses. I have an old Canon of my parents with a f 1.8 lens. That is fast! A good thing in a lens is also the range of apertures. The Canon f1.8 lens ranges from f1.8 to f16, a very usable range for any camera. Unfortunately for the small digitals of today, they have limited apertures (f2.8 to f8). It is an interesting tradeoff. Sorry, I ramble.

Dzerzhinski

[DKilla]

Ok, the other day I went out and tried some of this stuff on the town square while they were lighting all the Christmas decorations to start the holiday season off. When I got the pictures back of the choir singing they weren't too hot, they were blurry. I have a feeling that my shutter speed was too low and the fact that I didn't have a tripod or anything affected the pictures. I guess slow shutter speeds and cold weather don't mix with a shivering photographer.

If I were to pan something would it be better if I set a small f-number?

Also, I saw this really cool affect in a picture of a ballet dancer. She was in two different spots in the picture and a bunch blurred lines pretty much identfied her movement. How do you do that?!?

[Dzerzhinski46]

Dear DKilla,

I can sympathise with your problem. I had the same problem several weeks ago at my sister's concert. I had already loaded my old Canon (manual by the way ) with ISO 125 film, not the best film for indoor or night photography. I did get a few pictures and some turned out all right, but they were not the best. My best advice in low light is small f-number and a minimum shutter speed of 1/60th. I say 1/60th because that is about the minimum exposure were you will not get motion due to camera shake (or the photographer shivering!). If you can, use a higher ISO on your digital. Some digital cameras have an ISO control, but not all. If it is not too bothersome, use a tripod.

The ballet dancer picture is not too hard to make. Just use a tripod, long shutter speed, and a medium aperture (no flash please!). This gives a sense of motion to moving objects that would not normally be apparent in a photo. A humble example below .

Good luck,

Dzerzhinski