Photo Tips

Below is a short list of information I have gleaned from books and magazines that I find useful, and carry round in my camera bag in case I have a momentary mental block and can't remember what to do.

1. Exposure

2 components to exposure:

1.1 Shutter speed
Measured in fractions of a second (e.g. 30, 60, 90, 125, 250, 500, 1000)
Faster speed = higher number = shorter exposure

1.2 Aperture
Measured in F-Stops (e.g. 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22)
Larger aperture = lower F-Stop = more light let in

2. Depth of Field (amount of picture in focus)

Use Aperture priority mode

2.1 Wide DoF (everything in focus)
Smaller aperture (high F-Stop) = wider DoF
Wider angled lens = wider DoF

2.2 Shallow DoF (only subject in focus)
Larger aperture (low F-Stop) = shallower DoF
Zoomier angled lens = shallower DoF

3. Photo Types

3.1 Silhouette
Meter off bright background or sky, then recompose
Close aperture a little (increase f-stop)

3.2 Into Sun (without silhouetting)
Meter off "Grey Card" or subject that is not directly into the sun, then recompose
Open aperture a little (decrease f-stop)

3.3 Backlit (dark subject with bright background)
Meter off "Grey Card", or neutral subject in the dark foreground (out of the sun)
Meter off the back of suntanned hand out of the sun
Meter off the subject up close, then recompose
Use fill-in flash

3.4 Bright subjects:

3.4.1 General rules (e.g. sunny granite)
Use 81a filter
Meter off "Grey Card", or neutral subject in the sun
Meter off the back of suntanned hand in the sun
Meter off the sky
Open aperture 0.5 ? 1 stop (decrease f-stop)

3.4.2 Snow
Open aperture (e.g. open f/11 to between f/5.6 and f/8, 1 to 1.5 stops)

3.5 Action
Use shutter priority mode
Adjust to fast shutter speed to freezing moving subject (e.g. sprinter, racing car)
Adjust to slow shutter speed to blurring moving subject (e.g. flowing water)

3.6 Night-time
Use fully manual settings
Adjust shutter to "bulb exposure" mode (manual exposure)
Use cable release to hold exposure open as long as desired (and tripod)

4.0 Sunny 16 Rule

Can be used in bright sunlight when metering is not working well
Set aperture to f/16
Set Shutter speed to reciprocal of the film’s ISO rating
e.g for ISO 64 use 1/60, for ISO 100 use 1/125, etc.

5.0 Useful Filters

Skylight - to protect lenses and reduce UV light a little
Warming - 81a to reduce blueing of snow, etc.
Polarizing - reduces haze, reflections, and UV light (don’t use when taking pix of rainbows)
Neutral Density (Split or Graduated) - for darkening whole or part of picture