Graham Joyce |
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Apertures and Shutter Speeds
Hi there. I'm very new to photography and I'm having real problems with understanding when to use certain apertures and shutter speeds. I've tried reading up on the subject, but still I can't grasp the fundamentals of this subject. Is there any way that someone could explain to me in as simple terms as possible how and when you know what to use. I'm sure some of you use some unwritten rules that you go by. Your advice would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
September 02, 2004
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Andy |
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This may help: http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/QnAdetail.php?threadID=11132
September 02, 2004
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BetterPhoto Member |
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Graham-
Here are some basic suggestions:
- 1/60 of a second shutter speed is considered the threshold shutter speed. If you use a slower shutter speed of 1/30, 1/15, all the way to 1/second, you need to use a tripod as your handholding vibration could result in blurry pictures. You use these shutter speeds when you want to blur action, panning with a moving subject, or shooting a waterfall.
- On the other side of 1/60 are 1/125, 1/250, and so on. These are fast shutter speeds, in which you can handhold your camera. These are used for stopping action: a skier in mid-air, a race car, etc.
- Now your aperture's effect on your pictures is basically related to the depth of your focus. The simplest way to explain would be if you laid a tape measure on the ground and focused on 12 feet. At f/22, you would see (this is hypothetical for the explanation) 8 feet and 20 feet on the tape measure, in focus. At f/2.8 and focused on 12 feet, you would see 10 1/2 feet and 14 feet in focus and everything before and after out of focus. So the larger the number on the lens, the smaller the aperture size, the greater the depth of focus, or field. The smaller the aperture number, the bigger the aperture size, and the lesser of depth of focus. Also keep in mind that if you meter your subject, and it says f/8 at 1/60 second and you want more depth of field, that f/11 at 1/30, f/16 at 1/15, f/22 at 1/8 are all the same exposure.
Charlie Borland
www.borlandphoto.com
September 02, 2004
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R.M. Fusco |
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The latter of Charlie's explanation is called reciprocity. You can change the aperture to change the DOF, as long as you follow with a change in SS.
September 03, 2004
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Graham Joyce |
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Thank you. That has really helped.
September 07, 2004
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