Photography course: In the land of the blind…. Lesson 1

I’m the one-eyed Queen in the land of the blind that is called Photography. I’ve posted about being lonely at the top and therefore having to write a short and simple course for my loyal subjects (two friends) who own a fancy camera, but haven’t a clue what to do with all the different settings on it, so we can be one-eyed Queens together, here. I’m sure there are many blind people in the Blogland of Photography too. (What can be worse than being a blind photographer?) People who own a fancy camera, but only use the automatic setting(s), because they don’t know about aperture and shutter speed. I used to be one of them. But not any more! I know a thing or two now and am willing to share my limited knowledge with you. We can all be one-eyed Kings and Queens together! World domination will be only a small step further.

The only thing is, I’m not quite sure about all the technical photography terms in English. But I’ll try to make sense anyway. And this course (ahum) is not meant for users of the digital point-and-shoot cameras, although they will probably get some useful information and tips out of this too, but for people who have a digital SLR camera.

If you decide to join us on our quest for world domination becoming a better photographer, please post your photos and notify me that you’ve done so (please include the link to that post). I’d be interested to see if what I’m trying to explain is clear enough. If you have any questions concerning the ‘lessons’ please ask them in the comments section of that ‘lesson’. I’ll answer them there too. You can of course also find lots of websites about photography, written by people who really know what they are talking about, but they will be less fun. Of course. 

 

Lesson 1: Aperture and focus

What makes a good photo? Good light, nice subject, sharpness. They are all things that make a nice photo. But it won’t necessarily be an interesting photo. You, as the photographer, have the tools to make a photo nice AND interesting too. You have the power! Or you will have if you understand your camera.

One of the tools you have is aperture. Aperture is the wideness of the opening of your lens. Yes. Think about it. You have the power to make the lens opening wider or smaller. Did you know that? And the aperture has a big effect on your photo. I will tell you why and how, but first you have to check something on your camera. Grab your camera and the instruction manual.

Turn on your camera, put it on the P-mode, look through the viewfinder (remove the lens cap if you can’t see a thing) as if you are taking a photo, and then press the shutter button halfway down. You will see the point(s) that your camera focuses on light up (shortly). You want to set your camera so that it will only focus on the middle point. The point in the centre of your viewfinder. If that is the only one that lights up when you press the shutter halfway, we have lift off! Somewhere in the instruction manual of your camera it will explain how you can do this.

Now, your camera focuses only on the centre of the image and I will tell you about the width of the lens opening and what effect it has on the photo. Keep the instruction manual within reach. You may need it.

I use a Canon EOS 40D. Canon has an Av setting (Nikon has A I believe) for aperture. So, put your camera in ‘creative mode’, the mode that lets you choose other settings than the ‘automatic’ ones and choose the Av or A setting (or whatever it is on your camera). You can now adjust the width of your lens opening and your camera will choose a shutter speed that allows enough light into the camera to get a well lit photo. I can do this by turning one of the wheels on my camera. Check your manual how to adjust it on your camera.

The width of your lens opening is indicated by the F (or f) number. The LOWER the F number, the LARGER the lens opening. I know that it doesn’t make sense, but it is important that you remember it.

LOW F number = LARGE lens opening = LESS sharpness in the background

A low F number, large lens opening, means that there is less sharpness in the background (and even in the foreground). So the only thing that will be in focus is your subject. Also, because the lens opening is wide, more light will get into the camera and your shutter speed will be quite fast. If there is enough light around that is.

Try this: put two or three objects (for instance apples or cups) on a table, in a diagonal line. Now, make sure that you’ve adjusted your aperture to the lowest (or smallest) F number your lens will allow you to choose (different lenses allow for different F numbers), for instance F5.6, and focus on the first object in the line. Take a photo.

See that the first apple is in focus and the other two are a bit blurred? This shot is taken with F5.6.

Now focus on the second object and take a shot (this is why you want your camera to focus on the centre point and not on points around it).

See how your eye immediately is drawn to the second apple? You have the power to make people look where you want them to look. Even the third apple isn’t quite in focus. The newspaper in the background is blurred too.

Now choose the highest F number your camera allows you to choose and take another photo. Everything will be in focus. Front- and background. Your shutter speed will be noticeably longer (try to keep your camera still), because the lens opening will be much smaller, allowing less light into the camera. Your camera will keep the lens open for longer to allow enough light into the camera to get a decent photo. If your photo is too dark, try a lower F number and then even a lower F number. You’ll see the difference.

So, if you want to show one particular thing in your photo and the rest isn’t important, at least not for that photo, choose a low F number. It doesn’t always have to be the lowest one your camera allows. See what works for that subject matter.

Good luck.