Camera Techniques

the baSICs

How to take a self portrait...

Insert battery and SD card, check it turns on properly.
Attach quick release plate (must always be on before leaving class)
Secure on tripod (if needed)
Using the DSLR you can set the timer to capture once you have framed and marked your spot.
Note that you will need to take multiple photos to workout where you want to be in relation to the frame.
Do not rely on editing your photo...the less editing you need to do, the better!

CAMERA MODES

creative mode

In this mode you can blur backgrounds, play with colour and apply various filters.

It can also be set to take 2 photos at once: One neutral and one with chosen filter.

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Monochrome sepia (S)
Monochrome neutral (N)
Monochrome green (G)
Soft focus
Miniature
Toy Camera
Monochrome blue (B)
Grainy black and white
Vivid
Fish eye
Monochrome purple (P)

SCENE MODES

Portrait Mode: Used when taking photo’s of faces (CU -MCU). Blur the backgrounds and creates natural looking skin tones. Auto Flash.

Landscape Mode: Large depth of field, and more vibrant colours. No flash and small aperture.

Macro Mode (close up) : This is used for close ups. Aperture is small and neutral colours. Flash is usually set to auto.

Action Mode: Used to capture moving objects. Fast shutter speed, continuous autofocus and flash off.

Depending on the camera, they can offer other scene modes like: Firework, Night, Food, Candlelight...

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Capture examples of each of the scenes:

Action
Landscape
Portrait
Macro (close up)

exposure (m)

Exposure is the process of letting light through the camera lens to illuminate (expose) the digital sensor and produce an image.

The 3 elements that are important to making this happen are the:

Aperture in the lens
Shutter in the Camera
Sensitivity to light of the sensor (ISO)

Technically there is no formula for the ‘right’ exposure...it’s up to the individual as to what they think looks good.

Aperture and depth of field

The aperture is literally the hole (or iris) in the camera’s lens that allows light to pass through to the sensor.

When you increase the size of the aperture or open up the lens, you allow more light to reach the sensor. This reduces the depth of field, so less of the scene appears in focus. (f stands for focal length). The bigger the focal length the less background blur.

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