BEFORE YOU GO OUT...YOUR CAMERA SHOULD BE ON APERTURE SETTING WHICH IS (A) ON THE DIAL, as well as YOUR LENS SHOULD BE ON MANUAL (M)
Introduction
In the digital days of photography, it’s pretty easy to get a proper exposure. The cameras are so advanced now that the camera does a lot of the heavy lifting that just wasn’t possible in the days of film. You just have to give the camera either the aperture or shutter speed value and let the camera make the adjustments to the other. Simple huh? Not so fast.
Getting a correct exposure is only half the exposure battle. We need to ensure that we are choosing the shutter speed or aperture that is the correct creative option. Believe it or not, there are anywhere from 6-7 possible correct exposures for any given scene. Is one better than the rest for your composition? YES!
Bryan Peterson, author of Understanding Exposure, which is pretty much the bible for photography and a must read for all photographers, simplifies aperture by explaining that there are really only three apertures we need to know and applies easy to understand titles for each: single theme/isolation, who cares and storytelling.
Introduction
In the digital days of photography, it’s pretty easy to get a proper exposure. The cameras are so advanced now that the camera does a lot of the heavy lifting that just wasn’t possible in the days of film. You just have to give the camera either the aperture or shutter speed value and let the camera make the adjustments to the other. Simple huh? Not so fast.
Getting a correct exposure is only half the exposure battle. We need to ensure that we are choosing the shutter speed or aperture that is the correct creative option. Believe it or not, there are anywhere from 6-7 possible correct exposures for any given scene. Is one better than the rest for your composition? YES!
Bryan Peterson, author of Understanding Exposure, which is pretty much the bible for photography and a must read for all photographers, simplifies aperture by explaining that there are really only three apertures we need to know and applies easy to understand titles for each: single theme/isolation, who cares and storytelling.
Single Theme / Isolation
A single theme aperture refers to an image with very shallow depth of field. The depth of field is shallow meaning the the area in front of and behind the subject will take a blurred or not in focus look. This isolates the subject from the background and leaves no doubt as to the purpose/emphasis of the photo (see example to the right of the flower).
Single theme apertures are widely used for shooting portraits, flowers, and insects. They are also associated with stop action photography (sports) because of the fast shutter speeds that isolation apertures allow.
Aperture values: f/4 or larger (f/2.8, f/1.8, etc
A single theme aperture refers to an image with very shallow depth of field. The depth of field is shallow meaning the the area in front of and behind the subject will take a blurred or not in focus look. This isolates the subject from the background and leaves no doubt as to the purpose/emphasis of the photo (see example to the right of the flower).
Single theme apertures are widely used for shooting portraits, flowers, and insects. They are also associated with stop action photography (sports) because of the fast shutter speeds that isolation apertures allow.
Aperture values: f/4 or larger (f/2.8, f/1.8, etc
Who Cares
Who cares apertures refer to when depth of field isn’t a consideration. This typically happens when the subject and background are close together. Imagine a child leaning against a wall, or leaves on the grass. Both are examples of the subject and background being at the same focal length. Depth of field isn’t really important because the subjects are so close together that it would be very difficult to isolate one from the other. And we choose a who cares (medium) aperture over a small aperture (one that produces deep depth of field) in these situations so that we don’t have to deal with the slow shutter speeds that small apertures produce. Aperture values: f/8 – f/11 |
Storytelling
Storytelling apertures are when everything in the composition is important for telling the story. Everything needs to be in focus: the foreground, middle and background. Deep depth of field (small aperture) is required for a storytelling aperture. Because a small aperture is used, storytelling apertures generally require the use of a tripod Aperture values: f/16-f/22 (but primarily f/22) |
Assignment:
Exposure Control in Digital Photography
The Who Cares Aperture
- Submit three examples of each of the aperture categories. You must use the correct aperture value for each category.
- Under “Single Theme/Isolation” you must have different focal points
- Composition and exposure are equally important.
- Create a page called "Correct Expsosure" Upload all 9 images, with a write up under each one.
- Related Resources:
Exposure Control in Digital Photography
The Who Cares Aperture