Self Taught Photography: Shutter Speed and Aperture

How to Get Perfect Exposure:

 

 

Perfect exposure is the right aperture with the right shutter speed.

To a beginner photographer, such as myself, this can be very confusing. What is aperture and shutter speed? Why are these important? Surely automatic is just as good, right?

Actually, that’s inaccurate. If you want to advance in photography, to get the most out of your Digital SLR camera, and benefit from the creative possibilities, you must take the time to understand these two settings. After you read this and start practicing you will soon wonder why you were ever so intimidated by the manual mode.

Understanding Aperture and Shutter Speed is easier than you think.

Aperture is the hole that light has to pass through to form an image. It helps to control your depth of field and focus in your shot.

Shutter speed is how quickly your shutter closes or the amount of time the light is allowed to pass through the hole.

The faster it closes the sharper your picture will be, allowing you to capture images of fast moving objects. For examples; sports photography, children playing, shots of animals who won’t stay still, etc.

The slower it closes the more blurry it will be. This is because when your shutter is closing slower it gives your object a chance to move slightly in that time, making them appear blurry in your photograph. Perhaps you want an object or motion to appear blurry and so you will choose a slower shutter speed.

The two of them together.

Aperture and Shutter Speed are the two most important functions to learn when first learning photography. Once you have learned to control them, all other aspects of photography will become much easier to understand.

If you adjust either the aperture or shutter speed, you must adjust the other to compensate for the increase or decrease in light. If you don’t your picture may appear either underexposed (too dark), or overexposed (too light).

Here is a simple chart to help get you started:

Shutter Speed      Aperture

100                         F16
125                         F11
250                         F8
500                         F5.6
1000                       F4
2000                       F1.8

This chart is just a simple starting point. To get the right exposure you have to play around with your camera and figure it out yourself. When shooting in different lighting, you have to adjust your shutter speed and aperture to capture enough light.

The best way to learn anything is with practice! As I am currently doing myself!

What advice to you have for using shutter speed and aperture?

Thanks,
Cole

P.S. These are lessons that I was taught at D3 Artworks Inc.

Relaxing Nature Walks

Lately the only way I've been able to keep a level head and not go completely insane is by going for super long walks along the many trails here in Cambridge. It's a great way to escape, to clear my head, and to remind myself that there's so much more to life than money, careers and material possessions.

Every Spring we get a lot of flooding here because of the many rivers that snake through our city. It's troublesome for people like my Grandma who live close to the river, because her basement always floods, but apart from that problem I think it's a lot of fun.

Another great thing about living here is the wildlife. There are so many red tailed hawks, deer, coyotes, and a variety of other birds and critters. I love watching the different animals when we go on our walks.

View of the Grand River:

Lots of moss:

Nick walking ahead of me with his art supplies:

The park flooded:

Coyotes must have gotten hungry; deer jaw:

Greenhouse at Riverside Park:

 

More floods:

What helps you relax?

Thanks,
Cole

Reasons Why Anyone Can Enjoy Photography

 

Too many times I hear or read comments from people who think that the only way you are allowed to like photography is if you’re a professional, have gone to post-secondary or some other form of training and already know all the technical stuff that goes with it.

It’s disappointing because I really enjoy photography. As a complete amateur I usually have NO idea what I am doing when taking pictures. Just over the past couple of months I’ve been teaching myself how to adjust the shutter speed and aperture, that‘s how little I know. I’m not a math or science person, which makes that part of photography incredibly difficult for me to learn.

It just makes me really sad that there are so many people out there who make fun, or look down on people trying to learn the art of photography by themselves or simply do it for enjoyment.

So I started thinking a lot about why some people like photography and it turns out there are so many different reasons!

This is why I like photography:

• Capture moments worth remembering
• Express yourself creatively, use as a creative outlet
• Slow down and notice the beauty in things
• To show people your perspective and how you see things
• Share, connect and story tell
• To provoke emotions, make people think and question things
• Get a closer look, to help educate and inform

You don’t need a fancy degree or diploma to enjoy photography. You don’t have to fully understand how to use your camera and all of it’s settings. You don’t need to be considered a professional or an artist. 

Don't get me wrong though, I do think that going to post-secondary or having training in anything, even photography, is a huge accomplishment that people should be proud of! There is no shame in getting an education, or continuing to learn something you're passionate about. And there is definitely no shame in making a living doing something you love!

Just take pictures, and enjoy yourself!

What do you like about photography?

Thanks, 





Here are a few pictures I took with a slow shutter speed while swinging at the park with Sidney and Nick:

Nikon Giveaway! At erinbrans.com

I Love Nikon Cameras

 

Me and my Nikon :)

I'm a huge fan of Nikon cameras! I don't have the money to splurge on cameras, lenses or other accessories, but today when I checked my emails I was greeted with a wicked giveaway over at Erin Brans blog!  And I kind of freaked out, a lot. 

So head on over there and enter to win! And if you do win, you should give me the camera as a present. Just kidding :) ... Unless you really want to.

Thanks,

2013 Printable Calendar

FREE 2013 PRINTABLE CALENDAR

 

2013 Printable Calendar

Feel free to save and print my calendar. Each month features a photo taken by me.

Designed to be printed as a 5 x 7, would look good in a picture frame either on a desk or table top, or mounted on the wall!

Putting My Photography Out There

It's important for people to have hobbies/interests. In fact I have many but one of my favourites is photography. 

I consider myself a self-taught, amateur photographer. I would love to take a class or course, because learning can sometimes be faster and easier in a class setting. I mean, you have to put the time in and learn the exercises when you are in a class but at home I often get distracted by things that need to get done over the things I would rather be doing.

Anyway, that aside, I do take the time every now and then to go out with my camera and shoot some pictures. And since I secretly wish I could be a professional paid photographer I decided to make a Facebook page to show off my work to friends and acquaintances. This is an idea that is terrifying to think about it. I've never been the type to put my work out into the world to see. Which is exactly why I started that Facebook page, and exactly why I started this blog. You know, forcing myself out of my comfort zone. 

So maybe if you aren't too busy you could check it out, too?

Nicole Nemeth Photography

Thanks, 

Fitness Fridays, And Photography

Moving Train - Cole's Photography

Okay, can I just come up with a reasonable excuse as to why I didn't do so well this week? 

I had the flu, and didn't feel completely better until Wednesday. It really put a damper on my plans.

However, after that whole ordeal I did start eating breakfasts in the morning (so it’s only been three days…) and I have been going for walks.

I actually switched it up. 

Instead of extending my walk home from dropping Sidney off at school I decided to kill two birds with one stone and go for walks and work on my photography! On Wednesday I walked through Riverside Park, and yesterday I walked around my neighbourhood, taking pictures of anything that looked interesting enough. My boyfriend Nick was telling me about this abandoned nursery (like a flower  nursery?) and I figured that would be another great place to take pictures. So if I have the time today I want to go there and walk around. Otherwise, I’ll have to settle for a boring walk around the neighbourhood again and hit up the nursery another day.

It takes me a lot of energy to motivate myself. Sometimes when I don’t want to do something, like go for a walk, I have to make it more fun and interesting. I found that bringing my camera along does just that and therefore inspires me to want to go out! 

Some people like going with a friend, 

walking a certain trail or 

listening to their iPod. 

Not me. 

I like solitude, 

silence,

and fresh scenery. 

So, I’m sure I will continue this routine into the next week. 

As for my breakfasts… Well, on Wednesday I had a Muffet with milk and orange juice. Yesterday I had a bagel with cream cheese and I know that’s not the healthiest option but I really don’t care for most breakfast foods. Today I had a Bolthouse smoothie, which is just a fruit smoothie that comes already made from the grocery store. I’ll do better next week, for real. 

Now, I don’t feel comfortable enough in my two new routines to add another. Like I said, I was sick for half the week so I am going to stick with this for another week and hopefully next Friday I will tackle the more difficult tasks. Eeks!

Thanks,