| So you've just bought a shiny new SLR camera huh? | | | | much variety with this control as there is with shutter |
| And a lens or two to go with it? That's great. Now all | | | | speed. You can choose to set a narrow aperture (long |
| you have to do is learn how to use it. I'm assuming | | | | depth of field) when you want the whole shot in focus, |
| here you bought an SLR camera because you want | | | | for instance a great, sweeping landscape, or a wider |
| to do a little bit more than take happy snaps at family | | | | aperture for portraits. |
| events and holidays. So for those new to photography | | | | Ok, so you've got your shutter speed sorted from |
| as anything more than that, this article aims to give you | | | | your aperture. Now we just have to put them |
| a little background on the basics of exposure to help | | | | together. Any SLR camera will have an inbuilt light |
| you on your way. | | | | meter. This little gadget measures the amount of light |
| Shutter speed | | | | you will need to create a correct exposure. It is usually |
| There are two elements to creating a "correct | | | | in the form of a little bar with a too high (+) and a too |
| exposure". These are aperture, and shutter speed, | | | | low (-) sign at each end. It is simply a matter of |
| which we will look at first. When you press the trigger | | | | balancing one against the other so that the meter is |
| button on your camera to take a picture, it opens a set | | | | centered. Once you've done that you can press the |
| of sliders, like opening a window. How long it stays | | | | button! That's all there is to it. |
| open, depends on how you set the shutter speed. | | | | ISO |
| Shutter speeds can range from extremely fast (ie 1 | | | | Another choice that will effect your exposure is the |
| 8000 of a second), to very slow (30 seconds), or even | | | | ISO you use. With film cameras, this means the speed |
| infinity if your camera has a bulb setting. These are | | | | of film that you use. If you use a 100 speed film, your |
| extreme shutter speeds and not often used, except | | | | ISO is 100. Digital cameras also have an adjustable ISO |
| by people who shoot fast moving subjects, or in very | | | | speed. It's just in the form of turning a dial instead of |
| low light. For most of us, we tend to stick to | | | | loading a different film. A general rule is to use the |
| somewhere in the middle. As a general rule, the faster | | | | lowest ISO you can get away with. Higher ISO films or |
| the shutter speed, the sharper your photo will be. For | | | | digital settings can result in noisy (grainy) pictures. They |
| most people, anything at 1/60 of a second or above is | | | | do, however, allow you more freedom in your |
| acceptable when hand holding a camera. Lower if you | | | | exposures in that you can shoot with less available |
| have a particularly steady hand. If you need to use | | | | light. Experiment with your particular camera, see what |
| slower shutter speeds, you will need to use a tripod or | | | | you can get away with. Remember that the quality |
| rest your camera on a steady surface. These slow | | | | required will be different for everyone. If you only want |
| speeds can be particularly useful for creating blurred | | | | to make small prints to put in an album, or just store |
| effects. For example the flowing water in a waterfall. | | | | the photos digitally on your computer, then you will not |
| Aperture | | | | need the same quality as if you want to make large |
| Ever wondered how photographers get their subjects | | | | prints to hang on your wall. |
| to really stand out by blurring the background? The | | | | So there is some food for thought for those starting |
| secret (which really is no secret) is adjusting the | | | | out in photography and looking to do more than just |
| aperture. The aperture changes the depth of field in | | | | point and shoot. Now it's time to go out there and |
| your photo. Depth of field is how much of the image is | | | | shoot. Experiment with different settings. Try new |
| in focus. For example, if you have a depth of field of 4 | | | | things. The technical side of photography you can read |
| meters, anything within that distance of the subject | | | | about anywhere. The creative side, well, that's up to |
| you are focusing on will also be in focus. There is as | | | | you. |