A tree, on the footpath where we usually walk Blue The Dog.
I don't know what sort of tree it is. Oh, sorry - was that important??
This is the shot I was trying for with the Pentax SLR yesterday, before the film got corrupted, and I posted that iPhone picture from the hardware shop instead. I'm glad I managed to get it right today, with the Nikon!
@francoisome
Well, I'm no expert! But the EXIF info is -
Camera: Nikon D3000
Exposure: 0.0125 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO Speed: 100
Focal Length: 28 mm
I shot this on "Aperture Priority" Manual mode. That means that I select the aperture - f4.5 - manually, and the the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to suit the aperture I have chosen.
I knew I wanted a shallow depth of field, because I wanted the tree in focus, but the background blurred, and that's why I chose a wide aperture (the lower the "f" number is, the wider the aperture settings will be - and a wider aperture gives you a shallower depth of field).
I also adjusted the auto-focus points on my camera, to shift them to the side of the frame that the tree was on, so I was sure that the right parts of the image would be in focus. (This is something which I only learnt how to do yesterday!)
In the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, there's something that looks like a dot-matrix grid, inside a darker lozenge; those dots are all the possible auto-focus points that the camera has.
At the moment, the centre dot is selected, so the focus will be in the centre of the viewfinder. However, you can use the compass arrows just to the right of the screen to move the selection about on the dot-matrix, and select different points for focus.
@beautifulthing
haha, don't worry - I haven't read the manual either. (Actually, thinking about it, I probably should!)
But I found out about that when I went into the London Camera Exchange in Norwich, and asked the (very helpful) assistant there a ton of questions about my dSLR. This was after he'd already helped to rescue the roll of film from my Pentax SLR after I'd buggered it up! Lovely shop - great service.
Barking up the wrong tree, possibly?
There is a company called Experience Seminars. They produce DVD manuals for Canons. I have one for my 5d, and found out a few things that never knew about my camera. Dunno if they do Nikon, but its gotta be worth a look if you don't get on with manuals.
@manek43509@howiemarsh That's a good idea! I learn better visually, and this manual is a fair bit daunting! I had a DVD like that for my D40, but now I have the D3000.
@manek43509 I'll have to see if I can figure that out on my point and shoot camera. There has to be a way. Thanks for your detailed instructions. I am so bookmarking this page.
@manek43509 I just have a little Nikon coolpix. I bought it for myself for Christmas. I like it because I can carry it around in my pocket so I can take pictures of anything I see.
Well, I'm no expert! But the EXIF info is -
Camera: Nikon D3000
Exposure: 0.0125 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO Speed: 100
Focal Length: 28 mm
I shot this on "Aperture Priority" Manual mode. That means that I select the aperture - f4.5 - manually, and the the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to suit the aperture I have chosen.
I knew I wanted a shallow depth of field, because I wanted the tree in focus, but the background blurred, and that's why I chose a wide aperture (the lower the "f" number is, the wider the aperture settings will be - and a wider aperture gives you a shallower depth of field).
I also adjusted the auto-focus points on my camera, to shift them to the side of the frame that the tree was on, so I was sure that the right parts of the image would be in focus. (This is something which I only learnt how to do yesterday!)
I hope that helps? Let me know how you get on!
@kerristephens
Thanks! :)
Have a look at this: http://twitpic.com/84elcd
In the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, there's something that looks like a dot-matrix grid, inside a darker lozenge; those dots are all the possible auto-focus points that the camera has.
At the moment, the centre dot is selected, so the focus will be in the centre of the viewfinder. However, you can use the compass arrows just to the right of the screen to move the selection about on the dot-matrix, and select different points for focus.
Does that help?
haha, don't worry - I haven't read the manual either. (Actually, thinking about it, I probably should!)
But I found out about that when I went into the London Camera Exchange in Norwich, and asked the (very helpful) assistant there a ton of questions about my dSLR. This was after he'd already helped to rescue the roll of film from my Pentax SLR after I'd buggered it up! Lovely shop - great service.
There is a company called Experience Seminars. They produce DVD manuals for Canons. I have one for my 5d, and found out a few things that never knew about my camera. Dunno if they do Nikon, but its gotta be worth a look if you don't get on with manuals.
Thanks - I'll check that out. :) (And perhaps @beautifulthing should too!)
Bahahahaha! Sorry, couldn't help it.
I do like the textures though. You know how I am.
Thank you. :)
@jinximages
You'd better watch it... I have the Bokeh Police on speed-dial. ;)
@francoisome
Hey, you're welcome! What camera do you have, then?