Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode |  |
- Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode
- The Future of Space Imagery
- Jewelry Brand Photography Tips
| Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode Posted: 15 Jun 2013 04:42 PM PDT Quick Announcement for the Dads Today: Some popular multimedia training guides on sale until midnight – Essential Camera Skills, Super Photo Editing Skills, and Simple Wedding Photography. Digital photography has given almost anyone with a camera the potential to become a creative photographer. These days even compact cameras offer features that once were only found on ‘serious’ SLR cameras.  “Autumn on the Virgin River Zion National Park” captured by nathan mccreery The trouble is, most people who have grown up with point-and-shoot cameras have very little idea what these features are all about. After buying a good digital camera with the best intentions, they soon give up and switch to automatic. Are the settings on your camera really so hard to understand? Of course not, but it can seem that way at the start, especially if they are not explained to you in simple terms you can understand. The two settings you need to understand here are Aperture and Shutter Speed. Aperture is the size of the hole that lets the light in for your photo. The larger the hole, the brighter the exposure. The shutter speed is the length of time given to each exposure. Slower shutter speeds allow more light, resulting in a brighter exposure. By finding the right balance of these two settings, you and/or your camera control whether your photo is overexposed, underexposed, or just right. With your camera set to Manual mode, you control both settings. If this seems daunting, you can start with the semi-automatic functions, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority. How do the semi-automatic functions work? They allow you to choose one setting (either aperture or shutter speed), while the camera chooses the other. That way you can be a little bit creative, but with the safety net of knowing your camera will make sure your exposure is correct. It is a good halfway point between automatic and manual. Aperture PriorityLet’s start with Aperture Priority. This function allows you to set the aperture on your camera; the camera chooses the shutter speed for you.  “Enduring Freedom” captured by Mark Feliciano (Click Image to See More From Mark Feliciano) The aperture controls depth of field (the area in front and behind the main subject that will be in focus). When you set a wide aperture, you reduce the depth of field; when you choose a smaller aperture, you will have a greater depth of field. Obviously when you change the aperture, you change the level of light in your exposure. The camera will compensate by adjusting the shutter speed. So when you operate your camera in Aperture Priority mode, you have control over the depth of field, but your camera still makes sure your exposure is correct. The catch here is, you still need to keep track of what your shutter speed is doing. If it falls to a very slow speed, you need to use a tripod to eliminate camera vibrations. Shutter PriorityHow about Shutter Priority? Here you set the shutter speed, and the camera balances the exposure by setting the aperture. This is a great system if you are working with moving subjects. Sometimes you may want to freeze a moving subject with a fast shutter speed, or create a motion effect with a slower shutter speed. Meanwhile the camera compensates for the changes in shutter speed by adjusting the aperture. Shutter priority may be a better option for some beginners. It is much easier to stay aware of when to use your tripod. Also, when your camera manages the aperture, it controls the depth of field, which is not usually as critical as the shutter speed. You may not always get exactly what you want, but you won’t get any catastrophic failures. These two semi-automatic functions appear to offer you the best of both worlds. You get to be a bit creative, and try out your photography skills, while your camera’s high-tech hardware makes sure you don’t overexpose or underexpose the photo. So far, it sounds perfect. So why should you learn to operate your camera in Manual mode? The answer is simple. Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority both work on the assumption that your camera’s reading of the exposure is always correct. Unfortunately, that is not always true. In fact, sometimes you have to be smarter than your camera. Manual ModeImagine you are photographing a flower in the sun, but the background is in the shade. This simple situation can be all it takes to confuse your camera. It may expose for the background, brightening the exposure and totally overexposing the flower.  “3 On the Window” captured by Alex Lewis (Click Image to See More From Alex Lewis) In this situation, semi-automatic settings will not solve the problem. You could reduce the brightness of the exposure by (for example) reducing the size of the aperture. The camera would simply adjust the shutter speed to compensate, maintaining what it believes to be the correct exposure. What you need to do is switch the camera to Manual. Then you can adjust both settings and create an image that is slightly darker, bringing your flowers into perfect exposure. This is not just a hypothetical exercise. Situations arise all the time that require you to out-think your camera. If you understand how to operate your manual settings, you can take control, and you won’t be left blaming your camera for ‘the one that got away.’ About the Author: For Further Training, Father’s Day Sale!There is a popular downloadable multimedia guide with videos that teaches you how to take control over your camera, and get creative and confident with your photography. By combining illustrations, text, photos and video, it will help you get control in no time. Includes a bonus Field Guide—a printable pocket guide with some of the most essential information beautifully laid out inside. The publisher is offering this training bundle for 20% off today for Father’s Day, ending soon. It can be found here: Extremely Essential Camera Skills Go to full article: Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode |
| Posted: 15 Jun 2013 02:25 PM PDT You’ve heard of the Hubble Telescope, the famous piece of space engineering launched in 1990 to capture more detailed images of the stars and galaxies. What you may not know is that engineers are working to create a new telescope to further their knowledge of the final frontier. This new telescope, called the James Webb Space Telescope, can capture infrared images and is scheduled to launch in 2018. This video explains more of what the Webb will be able to accomplish (for those of you reading this by email, the video can be seen here): The Advantages of the Webb Space Telescope:
 Size comparison of Hubble vs. Webb mirror  Infrared image showing planets and stars visible through the Eagle Nebula Go to full article: The Future of Space Imagery |
| Jewelry Brand Photography Tips Posted: 15 Jun 2013 01:11 PM PDT Doing commercial photography work for a jewelry line sounds easy enough, but shooting the shiny ornaments presents certain challenges. For one, a photographer must be adept in both closeup photography and portrait photography to present a complete picture of the product and the lifestyle associated with it. In the video below, photographer Nick Fancher takes us on a behind-the-scenes look at how he went about shooting pieces from Leo’s Wisdom, a line of handmade jewelry for men (for those of you reading this by email, the video can be seen here): Nick uses a pair of Canon L lenses, the 35mm f/1.4 wide-angle and the 70-200mm f/4 telephoto, to turn his ideas into images. He employs both ambient light and triggered strobes to correctly expose his subjects, and he puts props — whether it be an antique bottle to hang a necklace on or the interior of a sprawling mansion to serve as portrait environment — to good use.
The next time you see dazzling images of jewelry in your favorite glossy magazine, you know what it took to make them. Go to full article: Jewelry Brand Photography Tips |
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