Photography is an art form where we get to relive the past, get to share with our creativity and capture these moments in time. When one is starting, it is important to know how to set up a camera to learn how to master the craft. The guide will give you a basic understanding of the basics of photography, as well as the various settings of the camera, and their influence on your photographs. At the end, you will have a strong base in which you can advance your photography.
The Fundamentals of the Camera Settings
It is imperative to know that photography is a matter of light before going into specific settings. The main objective is to regulate the amount of light that gets to the camera sensor so as to form a well-exposed image. This is accomplished using three important settings which consist of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. These aspects combine to create the exposure triangle which is the core of photography.
1. Aperture
Aperture is the opening of the lens through which light is passing. It is expressed in f-stops (e.g. f/1.8, f/4, f/16). The exposure and depth of field are influenced by the size of the aperture.
Smaller Apertures (e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8): They permit more light into the camera, and thus are the best ones to use in low-light situations. Apertures that are larger result in a shallow depth of field, i.e. the background becomes blurred and the subject is prominent. This effect has been applied in the case of portrait photography to highlight the subject.
Smaller Apertures (e.g., f/8, f/16): These admit less light and cause the depth of field to be greater, and this will result in the scene being in focus. When you need to have the foreground and the background of the picture sharp, smaller apertures can be used in landscape photography.
2. Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is the duration of time that the camera has its shutter open to allow light to fall on the sensor. It is measured by seconds or fractions of seconds (e.g. 1/1000, 1/60, 2). The exposure and motion blur are influenced by the shutter speed.
Quick Shutter (e.g., 1/1000, 1/500): They are ideal when the subject is in motion and fast such as in the case of an athlete or a wildlife animal. Motion blur can be prevented by having a faster shutter speed.
Slow Shutter Speeds (e.g., 1/30, 1″): More light can pass through them and can produce motion blur, which can be creatively used to indicate movement. Incidentally, the smooth movement of a waterfall or the movement of city streets can be captured by using a slow shutter speed. Nonetheless, low shutter speed can only be used with the help of a tripod to prevent shaking of the camera.
3. ISO
The ISO determines the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. The lower the ISO (e.g. 100 or 200), the less the sensitivity, the higher the ISO (e.g. 1600 or 3200), the higher the sensitivity. ISO has a bearing on the exposure and the quality of the image.
Low ISO (i.e. 100 or 200): This setting produces cleaner images that are less grained (noise), and is ideally suited to bright light situations.
High ISO (e.g., 1600 or 3200): This is useful when shooting in low light, but may give a noisy image and this can adversely affect the quality of a photo. A balance between ISO and aperture and shutter speed should be considered to obtain the optimum exposure with the least noise.
The Exposure Triangle
It is important to know the interaction of aperture, shutter speed and ISO in order to get the desired exposure in your photos. This association can be referred to as the exposure triangle. The following is how these settings can be balanced:
When you open the aperture (and the f-stop is smaller) to allow more light in you might have to raise the shutter speed or reduce the ISO lest you overexpose.
When you reduce the speed of the shutter to allow more light to hit the film you may have to close the aperture (increase in f-stop number) or reduce the ISO in order to achieve the correct exposure.
On the other hand, when you raise the ISO to sensitize the sensor to more light, you might have to close the aperture or raise the shutter rate so that you do not overexpose the sensor.
Additional Camera Settings
White Balance
White balance balances the camera temperament with regards to color so that the colors look natural in various lighting conditions. Various sources of light (e.g., sunlight, fluorescent, tungsten) have different temperatures of colors, and this can change the way colors are represented in your photographs.
Auto White Balance (AWB): The white balance can automatically be set so that the camera corrects the white balance according to the light condition.
Preset White Balance: You can select special settings to various lighting conditions like Daylight, Cloudy and Tungsten in order to produce more precise colors.
Focus Modes
Learning focus modes plays a key role in capture of sharp shots. The majority of cameras have a number of focus modes which include:
Single-Point Autofocus: When using this mode, you can choose a certain point in the image and focus on it. It is best when used in portraits or motionless objects.
Continuous Autofocus: this is used on the moveable objects and is therefore applicable in sports or wildlife photography.
Manual Focus: This mode enables you to have total control of the focus and fine tuning of the focus, especially when dealing with difficult lighting conditions or in taking macro photos.
Journalist Basic Guidelines
Drill: When one practices, they will learn best by trying out various settings. Pull out your camera and attempt to use the aperture, the shutter speed and the ISO to determine their effect on your pictures.
Invoking the Histogram: Invoking the histogram gives you a graphical view of the exposure of your picture. Get to know how to read the histogram to make sure that you are getting a well-balanced exposure.
Shoot in Manual Mode: Although the automatic settings are convenient, the ability to shoot in manual mode gives you the chance of being in complete control of your settings on the camera and also enables you to comprehend the effects that each setting has on your photos.
Record Notes: Use a note taking notebook to write the settings of every picture you have taken and what you think worked and what did not work. The practice will ensure that you have a better learning process.
Become a member of a Photography Community: Interact with other photographers, both on the internet and in real life. It is possible to share your work and get feedback, which can be very helpful and motivating.
Conclusion
Knowledge about camera settings is the basic knowledge that any novice photographer should have. Learning the exposure triangle, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, white balance, and focus mode will enable you to have creative control of your work in photography. Through trial and error, you will be able to create your own personal aesthetic and take beautiful pictures.
When you are starting photography, always keep in mind that all great photographers began as amateurs. Learning is an enjoyable process, be inquisitive and above all, enjoy taking pictures of the surrounding world! Regardless of the kind of photography you engage in such as landscapes, portraits, or street scenes, the skills you hone will be a great foundation that would make your love of photography a good and a fulfilling experience.