DAY 51

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Camera Settings

FOR A WELL-ADJUSTED SHUTTERBUG

Because so many cameras are different from each other, it’s best to read your camera manual’s section on settings to see exactly what type of camera you have and what settings are available.

The three main fully adjustable camera settings we will cover are ISO, shutter speed and aperture. These features are always available on SLR cameras and may be available on point and shoots.

ISO refers to how sensitive the film is to light. This designation isn’t just for film cameras; many digital cameras also have settings that let you choose how sensitive the sensor will be to light.

Shutter speed is in seconds or fractions of a second. It regulates the length of time that light is allowed to expose the film or fall on a digital camera sensor. It is also the main setting considered if stopping the action of the subject is required. The faster the subject is moving, the faster the shutter speed should be.

Aperture, also referred to as the f/stop, is the setting that controls the size of the opening on the lens that allows light into the camera. The smaller the aperture number, the larger the opening. This is the main setting considered if a large area of the scene needs to be in focus. The smaller the aperture number, the less depth of field, or area of focus. The larger the aperture number, the larger or deeper the area in focus. —CWN