photo-basics

Exposure

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 06:54:32 +0100

My last post tells us about the ISO settings available in the digital cameras and how to play with them.Lets advance now to the next level. The Exposure, is a blend of three things Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO.When these three things are mixed in right proportion 'the best' is the OUTCOME.
This post will now give you a brief idea about Aperture, Shutter Speed and Exposure. Lets start with Aperture.

Aperture -
Aperture is how big or small the opening in your lens is. It is also referred to as the F-stop. In general, the larger the F-stop number, less light the lens lets in. On the other hand smaller the F-stop, more the light lens lets in. It also affects the 'depth of field'. DOF refers to how much of your scene is in focus. Lower the F-stop smaller the depth of field and more the F-stop larger the depth of field that is more of the image in focus.

Shutter Speed -
Shutter Speed is how long the shutter opens to allow the sensor to be exposed to light. Longer the shutter speed indicates more light is allowed to reach the sensor. But keep in mind this causes the motion blur. So using tripod is advisable while capturing at slow shutter speeds. Higher shutter speeds allows you to capture objects in motion.

A good exposure happens when these three things are blended together in such a way that the image isn't too dark or overexposed (too light).

So go out and take your chances. Adjust the settings and capture those beautiful moments.

The ISO

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:50:11 +0100

The ISO for beginners look like a devil of this science. But it is not. ISO abbreviated for International Standards Organization is a standard for the camera sensor sensitivity. On a camera one can find ISO 100,200,400,800,1600 up to 6400 as the ISO settings. ISO gives one the sensitivity of the camera sensor. If the light around is sufficient for the photo capture, then least ISO i.e. ISO 100 is selected. As the Light level around goes on decreasing the ISO value goes on increasing.
So take your camera and try changing the ISO settings of the camera and take the perfect click.

Camera

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:03:02 +0100

So what is a camera anyway? Your camera is a tool. No different than a wood carver's chisels. The chisels do not make finely crafted artwork, the wood carver does. It is the same way with your camera.The camera does not make the photograph, you do. Never allow yourself to feel like the camera is in control.The camera is your tool and you must use it as a tool.

Broken down to its essential elements, the camera is a box that controls the amount of light that reaches a piece of light sensitive film or other surface inside. The original cameras did not even have a glass lens. The first cameras used a tiny hole in the front of the box to allow in light and to focus the image onto the viewing surface. This is the same principle as when children punch a pinhole into a piece of paper in order to watch a solar eclipse projected through the pinhole and onto the ground.

Today's cameras use glass lenses to focus and capture light much more quickly and to allow us to magnify images. Film is much more sensitive and finely detailed than the first film surfaces and now we also have digital sensors that sometimes take the place of film. Today's cameras also have shutters that control the light from reaching the film or sensor with the touch of a button and have powerful flashes to help illuminate scenes. The camera has come a long way from its humble beginnings, but it is still just a box that controls the amount of light that reaches a piece of film.

Photography

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:01 +0100

Photography as defined by the Dictionary.com is the process or art of producing images of objects on sensitized surfaces by the chemical action of light or of other forms of radiant energy, as x-rays, gamma rays, or cosmic rays.

But I think it is the art of capturing emotions in almost everything around yourself. It may be the serenity in the silhouette effect created by sun with the tree. It could be the peace we hear in the sea waves. Or the freedom of the water ripples etc.