sarahcressphotographywinenightslrbasics

Photography Wine Nights…

Getting down to the basics of photography… …one glass at a time.

What do we know? What do we want to know?

What are the essential camera parts?

• Camera Body – The camera itself. This can be made out of any object, as long as it is light-tight.

• Aperture – The physical opening in the camera that allows light into your light-tight camera body.

• Shutter – A mechanism that controls when light enters the camera body.

• Film Plane – When light enters the camera body, this is the area inside the camera in which it hits. This is where you place your film or other light-sensitive material.

What is a SLR camera?

The single-lens reflex (SLR) camera uses an automatic moving mirror system which permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to non-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly different from what was captured on film.

What does the inside of a SLR camera look like?

What does the inside of a SLR camera look like?

Before the shot… During exposure…

What does the inside of a SLR camera look like?

What is shutter speed?

Shutter speed is the length of time the shutter stays open during exposure. When the shutter is open, light is allowed to go through the aperture and hit the film plane inside the camera body

Shutter speed is measure in fractions of a second. (ex. 2 is actually indicating ½ a second. 500 is indicating 1/500 of a second)

Where can you find your shutter speed?

Determining Shutter…The faster your shutter speed, the faster you can record motion. Depending upon the type of image you would like to take, you will use different shutter settings. Any picture that you take of something in motion can be a shutter-priority image.

Slow Shutter Speed Fast Shutter Speed

What is stop action?

You can create a stop action image by using an extremely fast shutter speed. The camera takes the exposure so quickly, that the object in motion is frozen.

What is blurred action?

You can create a blurred action image by using a slow shutter speed. The camera records all of the motion taking place during the time of exposure.

What is pan action?

You can create a pan action image by using a medium to fast shutter speed and physically following the object in motion with your camera.

What is aperture?

Aperture is the physical opening of your camera or lens that allows light into the camera body to hit the film plane. The larger the number the smaller the aperture opening.

Large Aperture Opening Small Aperture Opening

How do I set aperture?

You can set the aperture on an SLR camera using your aperture ring. The numbers that you see on your ring are referring to fractions of an inch. (ex. 22 is actually indicating 1/22 of an inch)

What is a large depth of field?A large depth of field is when everything in a photograph is in focus. This includes foreground, middle ground and background. To create a large depth of field image, you want to use a large number on your aperture ring. (ex. f/22)

What is a small depth of field?A small depth of field is when just a portion of a photograph is in focus and everything else is out of focus. To create a small depth of field image you want to use a smaller number on your aperture ring. (ex. f/5.6)

But I only have a point and shoot

Experiment with the various settings on your basic point and shoot camera to allow yourself more control over the ambience of your imagery. Specifically try out the macro setting to take interesting depth of field shots.

Image ideas… Use everyday objects…Use everyday objects…

With the holiday season upon us, the pressure is on to take beautifully captured images documenting the emotions of the time. Consider some basic ideas…

Image ideas…

Use unique props…Use unique props…

Image ideas…Go in close…Go in close…

Try atypical framing……Try atypical framing……

Image ideas…

Keep things simple and minimal…

Image ideas…

Play with effects…Play with effects…

Image ideas…

Get Outside…

Image ideas…

Use natural elements to help frame your imagery…

Image ideas…

Utilize window light…Utilize window light…

Image ideas…

Create your own studio…Create your own studio…

Image ideas…

Have fun with it!Have fun with it!