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PRESENTATION NAME How to use depth of field and shutter speed to improve your digital photos By Laurie Miller Company Name Use the arrows at the bottom of the pages to advance the slide.

Have you ever thought you were going to have a great photograph only to have the camera take a photo that looked completely different from what you imagined?

Huh! Those pictures didn’t come out right! Both are blurry, and I used the automatic setting on my camera. What’s wrong???? 1

How would you like to take a professional style photograph that focuses on the subject, has clear images and shows the action that is occurring in the photograph? PRESENTATION NAME Company Name 1

This can be accomplished through a clear understanding of: • Shutter Speeds • and • Aperture Settings • on the manual setting of your digital SLR. PRESENTATION NAME Company Name 1

And …………

Can turn these photos: Blurry due to motion Blurry & unclear due to depth of field 1 Into these photos: Deeper depth of field Motion frozen 1

At the end of this Learning Module: Learners will be able to use shutter and aperture settings to identify the steps used to create a new photograph that has shallow/deep depth of field and freeze/blurred motion based on an existing photograph. • The prerequisite skills for this learning module are: • Understand basic concepts of photo composition • Identify basic parts of an SLR digital camera • Set camera to manual mode

This learning module has 7 sections: • Review of prerequisite skills • Locate the aperture and shutter • Explain and Interpret shutter speed • Explain the functions of the aperture and • interpret f-stop readings • Differentiate between blurred and freeze motion • Differentiate between shallow and deep depth of field • Describe the relationship between shutter speed and aperture • settings when analyzing the composition of a photo You will be given practice at the end of each section before you move to the next section and quizzed at the end of the whole module.

Section 1: Review of prerequisite skills.

Let’s begin with a quick review of the 4 basic points of composition: • Simplicity – the photograph should include only what you want the viewer to see. • Contrast – Place light subjects on dark backgrounds and vice versa • Rule of Thirds - Divide the photograph into thirds to achieve balance and interest • Framing – have something in the foreground to give a sense of where the viewer is

Let’s see what you remember: What 3 points of composition are exemplified in the photograph below and how? Simplicity Contrast Framing Rule of thirds Subject Color Click for answers

Let’s see what you remember: What 3 points of composition are exemplified in the photograph below and how? Simplicity Contrast Framing Rule of thirds Subject Color Answer: a. Simplicity – The photo shows only the spider b. Contrast – the spider is a bright light color on a darker background d. Rule of thirds – the spider is in the upper third of the photo to create interest

Now to review some terms and mechanics of SLR Digital cameras: Mode dial Shutter button Grip Lens Click on the word to review the function of each feature If you are confident you know all the terms and their functions then click on the arrow to skip the review

Shutter button: Push the shutter button to take a picture. Mode dial Shutter button Grip Lens Click on the next word you would like to review If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

Mode Dial: This dial changes the mode your camera is in such as manual, automatic, portrait or landscape. Mode dial Shutter button Top view of the mode dial Grip Lens Click on the next word you would like to review If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

Grip: Mode dial Shutter button Where you place your right hand when taking a photo to steady the camera Grip Lens Click on the next word you would like to review If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

Lens: Mode dial Shutter button Focuses the camera on the image to be stored on digital media Grip Lens Click on the next word you would like to review If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

Let’s see what you remember: Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper State the name and function of each numbered part 1 2 3 Click here to check your answers 4

Answers: Mode Dial: This dial changes the mode your camera is in such as manual, automatic, portrait or landscape. Shutter button: Push the shutter button to take a picture Grip: Where you place your right hand when taking a photo to steady the camera Lens: Focuses the camera on the image to be stored on digital media

Now that we have reviewed photo composition and basic terms let’s end the review by putting your SLR Camera in manual mode:

Using the Mode Dial you can put your SLR digital camera in manual mode so you have the control to adjust your shutter speed and aperture opening. and…. Remember this is your mode dial You want to set it to M for manual mode

Let’s see what you remember! Which part of the SLR digital camera allows you to change your camera to a manual setting? a. Shutter b. Grip c. Mode Dial d. Lens What letter represent manual setting? a. P b. M c. AV d. Man Click for answers

Answers: Which part of the SLR digital camera allows you to change your camera to a manual setting? your mode dial a. Shutter b. Grip c. Mode Dial d. Lens What letter represent manual setting? a. P b. M c. AV d. Man

Section 2: Locate the aperture and shutter on the camera

The aperture of a camera is located in the photographic lens behind the glass lens of a camera. Image sensor http://media.wiley.com/assets/1007 The shutter of a camera is located in the body of the camera, behind the aperture and in front of the surface that captures the image.

Your Turn! On the diagram: identify where the aperture is located identify where the shutter is located Click here for answer

Answer: The shutter of a camera is located in the body of the camera, behind the aperture and in front of the surface that captures the image. The aperture of a camera is located in the photographic lens behind the glass lens of a camera.

R Section 3: Explain and Interpret shutter speed on the camera

Remember the photograph of the baby at the beginning of this module - how his hands looked blurry? This was caused by a low shutter speed. The shutter determines how long the image sensor is being exposed to light or the scene being photographed, and is measured in fractions of seconds. For instance, a shutter speed of 250 would let you know that the image sensor has been exposed to light for 1/250th of a second.

The higher the shutter speed the shorter the image sensor is exposed to the image. The lower the shutter speed the longer the camera is exposed to the image. Photographic image Shutter speed 1000 500 250 125 60 30 15 8 4 2 1 ½ ¼ What you see on the camera screen http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg For instance, 1000 means the shutter is open for 1/1000th of a second and excellent for catching motion in a brief moment in time. A shutter speed of 30 means the shutter is open for 1/30th of a second and can blur a person in action due to the longer exposure.

In general, the guideline for catching action shots is to use a shutter speed 250 or above and for blurred motion use a shutter speed 30 or below. http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg

Your Turn! 1. Which shutter speed is faster: 250 or 30? Why? If you want to catch a clear picture of runners in the Olympics as they cross the finish line where should you set your shutter speed? a. 125 b. 500 c. 30 d. 1/250 3. What shutter speed was likely used to create the lines of car lights in the photograph? a. 125 b. 500 c. 15 d. 1000 Click here for answers

Answers: 1. Which shutter speed is faster: 250 or 30? Why? 250 because the shutter is opening and closing at a rate of 1/250th of a second and 30 is opening and closing at 1/30th of a second. 1/250th < 1/30th If you want to catch a clear picture of runners in the Olympics as they cross the finish line where should you set your shutter speed? a. 125 b. 500 c. 30 d. 1/250 3. What shutter speed was likely used to create the lines of car lights in the photograph? a. 125 b. 500 c. 15 d. 1000 To review the concept click here To move on click here

The higher the shutter speed the shorter the camera is exposed to the image. The lower the shutter speed the longer the camera is exposed to the image. Photographic image What you see on the camera screen 1000 500 250 125 60 30 15 8 4 2 1 ½ ¼ http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg In general, the guideline for catching action shots is to use a shutter speed 250 or above and for blurred motion use a shutter speed 30 or below. The Olympic runner is an example of an action shot and the line of car lines an example of blurred motion.

R Section 4: Explain the function of the aperture and interpret f-stop readings

Remember the picture of the clocks at the beginning – how the second clock was blurry? This was caused by a low aperture setting. 1 The aperture is a circular opening behind your lens that determines the size of the hole that allows light into the camera. The size of the aperture is indicated by its f-stopand is measured by the lens focal length divided by the diameter of the aperture opening. The aperture works like the pupil in your eye. In darker places it needs to be open wider and in brighter places it needs to be smaller.

F-stops are the reverse of what you might think. The larger the f-stop number the smaller the circumference of the aperture and the smaller the f-stop number the larger the circumference of the aperture. silverstrandphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010 So, an f-stop of 16 means that less light gets into the camera than an f-stop of 4.5.

Your Turn! Based on the diagrams below determine which aperture setting will let more light in and which will let less light in? 2. Which f-stop will let in the least amount of light? f/16 f/2.8 f/5.6 f/8 3. What is the relationship between the opening of the aperture and the f-stop setting? Click here for answers

Answers: Based on the diagrams below determine which aperture setting will let more light in and which will let less light in? This will have a larger f-stop because it is a smaller circle This will have a smaller f-stop because it is a larger circle 2. Which f-stop will let in the least amount of light? f/16 f/2.8 f/5.6 f/8 3. What is the relationship between the opening of the aperture and the f-stop setting? As the aperture opens wider to allow more light in the f-stop setting gets smaller and vice versa. To move on click here To review the concepts click here

F-stops are the reverse of what you might think. The larger the f-stop number the smaller the circumference of the aperture and the smaller the f-stop number the larger the circumference of the aperture. silverstrandphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010 So, an f-stop of 16 means that less light gets into the camera than an f-stop of 4.5.

R Section 5: Differentiate between blurred and freeze motion

Recall from Section 3:

So, when the shutter speed is increased, the exposure of the image sensor to the light is decreased because the shutter is moving faster. This allows your camera to “freeze” the motion. Fast shutter speed 1 However, when the shutter speed is decreased, the exposure of the image sensor to the light is increased because the shutter is moving slower. This allows your camera to “blur” the motion. Slow shutter speed 1

Your Turn! 1. Given the photo below what was likely the shutter speed setting and how could you adjust the shutter speed to create a blurred photo next time? 1 The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to increase the shutter speed to 1000 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to decrease the shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 250 and you would have to increase the shutter speed to 500 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to decrease the shutter speed to blur the motion

2. Why does increasing the shutter speed freeze motion? Given the photograph below, describe what shutter speed was needed to blur the flags? 1 A shutter speed greater than 250 A shutter speed greater than 500 A shutter speed less than 250 A shutter speed less than 60 BONUS: Why is the lady in the middle of the photo not blurry? Click here for answers

Answers: 1. Given the photo below what was likely the shutter speed setting and how could you adjust the shutter speed to create a blurred photo next time? 1 The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to increase the shutter speed to 1000 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to decrease the shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 250 and you would have to increase the shutter speed to 500 to blur the motion The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to decrease the shutter speed to blur the motion Click here for explanation

2. Why does increasing the shutter speed freeze motion? By increasing the shutter speed you are reducing the amount of time that the image sensor is exposed to the image being captured, so you are less likely to get motion within a shorter period of time. Given the photograph below, describe what shutter speed was needed to blur the flags? 1 A shutter speed greater than 250 A shutter speed greater than 500 A shutter speed less than 250 A shutter speed less than 60 BONUS: Why is the lady in the middle of the photo not blurry? The lady is still so it doesn’t matter if the shutter speed is slower Click here for explanation

To freeze and action like in the photograph of the boy playing basketball, the camera needs to have a shutter speed above 125. To blur an image the camera need to have a shutter speed below 60 So the correct answers is: The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to decrease the shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion Return to answers

To blur an action like in the photograph of the lady praying in the middle of the flags, the camera needs to have a shutter speed below 60. Since the lady isn’t moving she still appears frozen even though the shutter setting is low. Return to answers

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