TIPS
If you take a picture using a digital camera with manual settings, the following information can help you make that perfect picture. There are several manual settings on the camera: the shutter speed Tv, the aperture Av, or opening of the lens to let more or less light enter, and the ISO light sensitivity, which is helpful for various light situations. You can adjust one of these and let the camera automatically set the others, or you can set each one manually. Taking a picture of something quickly forces the user to set the camera on “automatic” for all three settings. Taking a photo at graduation does not give you time to play with the settings.
Diagram Credit: https://dslr-cameraphotography.blogspot.com/
ISO – (International Organization for Standardization) – Brightness Control.
Shutter Speed – Tv – Freeze or Blur Motion.
Aperture – Av – Control Depth of Field.
White Balance – Perfect Colors Every Time.
Focus Modes – Sharp Images Every Time.
Exposure Compensation – Brighten or Darken Your Photos.
- Decide what subject you want in the picture. Consider a close-up or a partial view instead of a broad view. Ask yourself if it will excite a viewer. Instead of including a bunch of flowers, take a picture of one flower or just a part of the flower. Let the viewer think about it.
- Focus needs to be your top priority. Nothing is worse than an out-of-focus picture. Use a tripod. If you have the option, use a remote. Pressing on the camera button causes the camera to move. An alternate option is to use the timer. A 10-second timer works best if the object is not moving. Refer to the camera manual for instructions on how to use manual focus. Each company uses a different method. This way, you can focus on what must be in focus in the photo.
Note: If taking a picture of the graduate receiving his or her diploma from the President, set the focus manually using a graduate as a test. When your child is receiving their diploma, your subjects will be in focus. Be sure to stand in the same place and not move. The other added benefit is that your camera will not hesitate trying to find the right focus point.
- If you are taking pictures of waterfalls, consider taking the photo at a slower speed. The standard speed is 1/60 of a second. Try taking the picture at 1/30 sec or 1/15 sec. This will make the water seem silky. This can only be done using a tripod. If you want to photograph water droplets, such as at a fountain, you must speed up the shutter. The faster the speed, the more focused the droplets of water.
- ISO measures light sensitivity. A low ISO of 100 will result in a clear picture. A high ISO, such as 6400, is great for taking a photo in low-light settings, but while the picture is brighter, it is also grainier. Always try to take the picture at the lowest ISO setting that the situation allows.
- The Av, also referred to as F-stop, adjusts the opening of the lens, letting light into the camera. A low F-stop lets more light in, and a high F-stop lets in less. What is the difference between a low F-stop and a high F-stop? It affects the depth of field that will be in focus. If you want the entire photo area to be in focus, you need a higher f-stop. Use a f-stop of F13 or higher. If you want the center of the picture in focus and the background and foreground out of focus, you need to use a low f-stop.
NOTE: ISO, F-stop, and shutter speed all work in tandem. If you lower the F-stop, you will need to increase the shutter speed or lower the ISO. A high F-stop will result in most of the picture being in focus. A low F-stop will focus only on the center of the picture and blur things in the background. In bright sun, there is a limit as to how low you can set your F-stop. A slower shutter speed will also mean more light entering the picture and the need to adjust the aperture. Adjusting one setting and letting the camera adjust the rest may make picture-taking easier, but if you are not satisfied with the result, try adjusting each setting manually.