 Understanding Aperture – Shutter Speed - ISO

f stops F stops = The measurement of the aperture setting in a camera lens

We will discuss how to do this in a future lesson or watch how at Adorama.com f/2 has a larger opening f/16 has a smaller opening Set it to a low aperture if you want a blurred background, or a high aperture if you want everything to be in focus.

The exposure meter allows you to keep your exposure triangle balanced.

WHEN CAMERA IS SET TO “A”  Turn the dial in back of the camera until you reach your desired f stop  Notice when you change the f stop, that the camera will automatically change the shutter speed for you.  Pay close attention to the meter – when it is at 0 that’s when the exposure is perfect! Portraits & Stills Turn Dial here

Shutter speed is how fast the camera records the picture.

WHEN CAMERA IS SET TO “S”  Turn the dial in back of the camera until you reach your desired shutter speed.  Notice when you change the f stop, that the camera will automatically change the shutter speed for you.  If your aperture number starts flashing, that means that the shutter speed you selected is too high to or too low to correctly expose the picture. Moving Objects Turn Dial here

 ISO is the 3 rd component to the Exposure Triangle and it measures the sensitivity of the image sensor.  If you have your Aperture and Shutter Speed the way you want and you still have too little or too much light, try resetting your ISO  The lower the number the less sensitive your camera is to light and the finer the grain.  Higher ISO settings are generally used in darker situations to get faster shutter speeds – but they can be grainier.

 Click the Menu button  Use the round dial with the up & down arrows plus the OK button to maneuver around & make selections  Make sure the Camera icon is selected  Scroll down to ISO Sensitivity  Select ISO setting for desired lighting NIKON CAMERA SETTINGS Very Bright light Outside settings Indoor settings Very low light

 Shooting in Manual Mode (“M” on dial) allows the photographer complete control over all settings.  Things to consider:  Pictures tend to come out blurrier, even if you are shooting a still object or person, so use a tripod.  Lighting is extremely important – so pay close attention to the meter when adjusting all 3 exposure settings.  It is really difficult to capture motion in Manual Mode so keep things steady!

 Hold down the button with the +/- signs on it  At the same time turn the dial with your thumb until you reach your desired f stop Dial +/- button

 Click the button with the ____ signs on it, then release it  Then turn the dial with your thumb until you reach your desired shutter speed Dial Button

 You still change the ISO the same as with the other settings  Just remember to try different ISO settings to get different results. NIKON CAMERA SETTINGS Very Bright light Outside settings Indoor settings Very low light

 Light – Is the subject well lit? Lighting is everything!  Grain – Do I want a grainy shot or one without noise? Check the ISO settings.  Tripod – Do I need a tripod? Even the slightest movement will cause the picture to be out of focus.  Moving Subject – Is my subject moving or stationary? So should I be in “A” or “S” mode?  Settings – Have I checked all settings and is the meter balanced?  Plan of Action – Have a well thought out plan of what, who and where you will be shooting before you begin shooting.