So, I just started shooting in manual focus and at first it was challenging but I do notice a difference in my shots. Now I'm ready to learn manual mode. I've been shooting in aperture a lot, adjusting here and there, but I feel like I just keep it the same for the most part. Anyway I know that when you adjust shutter speed, aperture, and iso, they pretty much need to all be adjusted together- at least that's what a fellow photographer told me. I am curious- just to have a base to start off on, what do you usually do for sunset lighting? Last night I had my iso at 400, aperture at 4.5, and shutter speed was adjusting manually. And this is what I got..
I really want to get a soft creamy feel to my pictures w/out sacrificing color. So I guess I'm asking for a lot lol I just want somewhere to start and I feel like I'm lost in all of this. Do you think iso too high? What should shutter have been at?
I'm going to guess you want the blurry background? To get the feel for aperture, I would pick a subject such a as a flower, then start taking shots at with a wide open aperture (e.g. 2.8 or 3.5) and continue taking shots each time making your aperture smaller (f22 or greater). Remember a smaller aperture appears as a higher aperture number on your camera. If in manual mode, you'll have to adjust your shutter speed until your exposure meter reflects a proper exposure. You may need a tripod when shooting at f22 or more. Then compare. Also focal length of a zoom lens plays into the equation and the distance of the background to your subject also influences the blurry background. Btw your shot above you should be shooting at ISO 100 or 200. 400 is extreme when taking outdoor shots with sun. Hope this helps......
or get a diffusion filter for your lens, that will give a creamy dreamy look to your pics (or to improvise smear a spare uv filter with vaseline or shoot through a pair of tights :))
@brianl Thank you! I figured my iso was too high.. I just didn't change it from the other night. My aperture only goes to 4.5 so I know I'll have to get another lens eventually. I am just more curious about settings and how to change them at different times. I just don't know where to start. I feel like I keep the same settings all the time and just hope it works lol. So I wanted a little more knowledge on why you would change in what type of light if that makes any sense?
@meagang. I would recommend reading "understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It will help you understand what settings to use in different lighting conditions. It's written in such a way that it simplifies photography which makes it ez to learn. It is a best seller. I refer to this book a lot + take his classes. Give it a try. Not expensive either.
I think of what I want out of the shot and start with how much of the background plays a part of the image and how much I want in focus.
Once I know this i will set the aperture to around that setting. For example if I want blurry background I will set it at a lower number.
From there I will then work on my ISO. Normally it will be around 100-200 mark but this really determines on if I am n daylight or darkness. The darker the place the higher I will set the ISO.
From there I set the shutter speed to what ever shutter speed I need to expose the image.
Now lets take a step back. There are a few settings here but how do I know where to start.
If I am going to shoot at f2.8 I will turn the camera on aperture priority mode, set the aperture to f2.8 and the ISO to 100 and take test shot. I will then look at the settings of the camera and transfer them into the manual mode settings. Now having said that if the shutter speed slower than 1/60 I will adjust the ISO to keep the shutter speed faster than 1/60 - This is as slow as I try to go when hand holding.
From there it becomes artistic on what decisions you need to make for the look you are after.
Will all that said, the only real time I shoot in manual mode is when I am using strobes or doing a portrait session. Why only then? because once I have the lighting set I dont want the camera changing the setting because it thinks it knows better.
99% of the time I shot in aperture priority mode.
Now onto your photo. If you reduced your ISO you would of had to open up your aperture or slow your shutter speed and looking at the info you could of increased your shutter speed up to 1/250 (double the speed it was set at) and that would of given you the ability to decrease your ISO by the same amount (ie. half it from 400 to 200 ISO). This would of given you the exact same exposure but with a lower ISO.
Its all about trade offs. Think of it as a three legged chair.... You need all three legs to be in sync or the chair is not straight. If you move the ground under the chair you need to change the length of the legs so the chair stays straight. Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed are those legs.
@agima Wow thank you so much this helps tremendously!! I knew all three were linked together I just didn't know how if that makes any sense. So if Iso goes down, shutter or aperture go up. And thanks for letting me know you shoot in aperture a lot. I really love that setting but wasn't sure if I should start practicing on manual in order to learn more about the other setttings. Anyway, Thank you thank you thank you I feel like I have a base to start with!
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I think of what I want out of the shot and start with how much of the background plays a part of the image and how much I want in focus.
Once I know this i will set the aperture to around that setting. For example if I want blurry background I will set it at a lower number.
From there I will then work on my ISO. Normally it will be around 100-200 mark but this really determines on if I am n daylight or darkness. The darker the place the higher I will set the ISO.
From there I set the shutter speed to what ever shutter speed I need to expose the image.
Now lets take a step back. There are a few settings here but how do I know where to start.
If I am going to shoot at f2.8 I will turn the camera on aperture priority mode, set the aperture to f2.8 and the ISO to 100 and take test shot. I will then look at the settings of the camera and transfer them into the manual mode settings. Now having said that if the shutter speed slower than 1/60 I will adjust the ISO to keep the shutter speed faster than 1/60 - This is as slow as I try to go when hand holding.
From there it becomes artistic on what decisions you need to make for the look you are after.
Will all that said, the only real time I shoot in manual mode is when I am using strobes or doing a portrait session. Why only then? because once I have the lighting set I dont want the camera changing the setting because it thinks it knows better.
99% of the time I shot in aperture priority mode.
Now onto your photo. If you reduced your ISO you would of had to open up your aperture or slow your shutter speed and looking at the info you could of increased your shutter speed up to 1/250 (double the speed it was set at) and that would of given you the ability to decrease your ISO by the same amount (ie. half it from 400 to 200 ISO). This would of given you the exact same exposure but with a lower ISO.
Its all about trade offs. Think of it as a three legged chair.... You need all three legs to be in sync or the chair is not straight. If you move the ground under the chair you need to change the length of the legs so the chair stays straight. Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed are those legs.
Increase the ISO = The more light comes in
Slower shutter speed = The more light that comes in
Smaller F stop = The more light that comes in.
So when you adjust one up you have to adjust either one or both of the other two in equal terms if you want to keep the same exposure.