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PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICSLEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL

PART ONE

WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY?

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY?

Fundamentally photography is capturingthe way light falls on an object.

The word photography means“drawing with light”.

So, if you don’t have light, you won’t have a photo.

To be able to capture the light you needto understand where it comes from & how to control it.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

THREE TYPES OF LIGHT SOURCE

SEEING THE LIGHT

Natural Light*

Camera or Studio Flash

Ambient Light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

QUALITY OF LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

Hard or Soft Light

Direct or Indirect Light

Natural or Flash Light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ANGLE OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

Front

Back

Side

Top

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

FRONT LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

BACK LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

https://learn.zoner.com/shooting-portraits-against-the-light/

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Can you correct bad backlight?

Yes.

But the easiest way, without getting technical,is to move yourself, or your subject, so that the light isn’t behind them.

Back light can be used creatively.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SIDE LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

TOP LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Light from below Level with camera Light from aboveeg. mid-day sun

Light Position

https://www.diyphotography.net/here-is-how-the-position-of-light-changes-your-portraits/

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Front, back & side light isn’t just for portraits.

The following three photos are all of the same trees, taken on thesame day within a few minutes of each other.

The only difference is where I was standing in relation to the subject.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Front light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Back light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

Side light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

BALANCING THE LIGHT

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/things-we-love-reflectors

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SEEING THE LIGHT

source: http://xgavalda.blogspot.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

When you take a photo you are essentially controllinghow much light enters the camera.

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

There are three elements that affect how much light reaches the sensor.

SEEING THE LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

APERTURE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

APERTURE

How wide the shutter opens to let light into the camera.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

APERTURE

A smaller opening, doesn’t let in much light but more of the photo is in focus. A wider opening, lets in more light but less of your photo in focus.

This is also known as Depth of Field (DOF).

(Ironically, and just to confuse, the wider the aperture, the smaller the number.)

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Shot at f2.8

APERTURE

Shot at f16PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHAT APERTURE?

PORTRAITSSubject in focus, blurred background.

LANDSCAPEWhole image in focus fromforeground to background.

WHAT APERTURE?

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHAT APERTURE?

f2.8 f4 f5.6 - f8 f8 - f11

WHAT APERTURE?

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

How fast the shutter opens & closes to let the light reach the sensor.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

Shutter speed is denoted in fractions of a second.The higher the number, the smaller the fraction & the faster the shutter speed is.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

A faster speed won’t let much light through to the sensor & so motion is stopped.

A slower speed, when the shutter is open for longer, lets inmore light but increases motion blur or camera shake.

SHUTTER SPEED

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Shot at 1/15 secondBlurring motion

Shot at 1/500Freezing motion

SHUTTER SPEED

WHAT SHUTTER SPEED?

Shot at 1/125 Shot at 1/60

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

A fast shutter speed freezes a water droplet

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

A slow shutter speed shows the movement of water

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

SHUTTER SPEED

A slow shutter speed shows themovement of light

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ISO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ISO

How sensitive the camera sensor is to light & how quickly it reacts.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ISO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

The less sensitive the sensor is, the less light it absorbs & the smoother the images are.

The more sensitive the sensor is, the more light it absorbs & the grainier the images are.

ISO

ALWAYS CHOOSE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE ISO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ISO

ISO 100 ISO 6400

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

ISO

ISO 100 ISO 6400

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

All three elements need to be perfectly balanced toachieve a correctly exposed photo.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - FROM AUTO TO MANUAL

EXPOSURE TRIANGLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

TAKING A PHOTO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

AUTO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

The camera does it all for you.But, it doesn’t know what you are photographing.

AUTO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

P Mode

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

An advanced version of Auto.

The camera does it all for you but you are able to override some ofit’s decisions using Exposure Compensation.

P

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

You want this to be a 0 before taking a photo.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

PRIORITY SHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Av, Tv & S MODE

You control the ISO.

Av - Aperture priority - You control the Aperture,the camera selects the relevant Shutter Speed

Tv OR S - Shutter Speed priority - You control the Shutter Speed, the camera selects the relevant Aperture

A middle ground between auto & manual where you control two of thethree elements & the camera controls the third.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Av MODE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Av MODE

Look for the light.

Select the ISO for the time of day & conditions. Choose the lowest possible ISO for the highest quality image.

Set the exposure compensation to 0.

Choose your Aperture based on lighting & required DoF. The camera will select the Shutter Speed required to get a balanced exposure.

Take a test shot. Make adjustments as needed:

Want a brighter photo? Take the expire compensation to the right to add more light;the camera will slow the Shutter Speed accordingly.

Want a darker photo? Take the exposure compensation to the left to reduce the light;the camera will increase the Shutter Speed accordingly

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Tv or S MODE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Tv OR S MODE

Look for the light.

Select the ISO for the time of day & conditions. Choose the lowest possible ISO for the highest quality image.

Set the exposure compensation to 0.

Choose your Shutter Speed based on lighting & how much you want the movement frozen or blurred. The camera will select the Aperture required to get a balanced exposure.

Take a test shot. Make adjustments as needed:

Want a brighter photo? Take the expire compensation to the right to add more light;the camera will widen the Aperture accordingly.

Want a darker photo? Take the exposure compensation to the left to reduce the light;the camera will narrow the Aperture accordingly.

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

MANUAL

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Look for the light.

Select the ISO for the time of day & conditions.Choose the lowest possible ISO for the highest quality image.

Choose your Aperture considering the depth of field required for your subjectas well as the light needed.

Take some test shots to find your Shutter Speed.

Start shooting & make adjustments as needed.

TAKING A PHOTO - MANUAL MODE

MANUAL MODE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHAT IS A STOP?

STOP!

A stop is a doubling or halving of the amount of light let in when taking a photo.

For example, if you increase the exposure by one stop,you will double the amount of light entering the lens.

Decreasing one stop will halve the amount of light.

A stop is the gap between settings.f2.8 to f4 is one stop. f2.8 to f5.6 is two stops.

1/1000 to 1/500 is one stop.ISO 400 to ISO 800 is one stop.

TAKING A PHOTO - MANUAL MODE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

+ 1 APERTURE STOP = -1 SHUTTER SPEED STOP

TAKING A PHOTO - MANUAL MODE

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

+1 Stop on ApertureMoving from f5.6 to f4 DOUBLES the amount of light entering the camera

-1 Stop on Shutter SpeedMoving from 1/125 sec to 1/250 sec HALVES the amount of light entering the camera

EQUALS THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT ENTERING THE CAMERA

Add one Aperture you need to take one on Shutter Speed (or ISO)

TAKING A PHOTO - MANUAL MODE

+1 Stop on Aperture = -1 Stop on Shutter Speed

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

+2 Stops on Shutter SpeedMoving from 1/250 to 1/60 DOUBLES & DOUBLES AGAIN the amount

of light entering the camera

-1 Stop on ApertureMoving from f8 to f11 HALVES the amount of light entering the camera

-1 Stop on ISOMoving from ISO 400 to ISO 200 HALVES the amount of light entering the camera

EQUALS THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT ENTERING THE CAMERA

Add two Shutter Speed you need to take two stops away from Aperture &/or ISO

TAKING A PHOTO - MANUAL MODE

+2 Stops on Shutter Speed = -1 Stop Aperture + -1 Stop on ISO

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHY IS A PHOTO TOO DARK?

TROUBLESHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

TROUBLESHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

You need to increase the amount of light entering the camera.

You can adjust any of the three exposure elements to achieve this.

Choose a larger aperture to allow more light through your lens & to the sensor.(Remember this will also affect your depth of field so less of your scene will be in focus.)

So, if focus is important;

Slow the shutter speed to allow more light to reach the sensor.But don’t go too slow & always try to stay in the safe zone depending on your subject.

OR

Increase the ISO sensitivity to help the sensor absorb more light (but keep in mind to try & shoot on as low a ISO as possible to avoid a grainy photo).

TROUBLESHOOTING

IF A PHOTO IS TOO DARK…

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

WHY IS A PHOTO TOO LIGHT?

TROUBLESHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

TROUBLESHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

You need to reduce the amount of light entering the camera.

You can adjust any of the three exposure elements to achieve this.

Choose a smaller aperture to allow less light through your lens & to the sensor.(Remember this will also affect your depth of field so more of your scene will be in focus.)

Increase the shutter speed to allow less light to reach the sensor (there’s no need to worry about your shutter being too fast, we are only worried about it being too slow).

Lower the ISO to reduce the amount of light absorbed by the sensor. This is usually a good place to start as you always want to shoot with the lowest ISO possible to get a

higher quality image.

TROUBLESHOOTING

IF A PHOTO IS TOO LIGHT…

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

PHOTO IS BLURRY?(But the focus is correct)

TROUBLESHOOTING

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

TROUBLESHOOTING

Shot at1/4 second exposureThe blur is ‘camera shake’

Shot at 1/100 second exposureStopping the motion blur

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

Check the shutter speed - is it too slow?

Check the aperture - is is too wide?

TROUBLESHOOTING

IF A PHOTO IS BLURRY(But the focus is correct)

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

QUESTIONS

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

THANK YOU

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS - LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL PART 1

“Bringing brands to life with creative & powerful imagery”

©Ally Whitlock Photography 2020

PERSONAL BRANDING, HEADSHOTS & EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY