I’ve had a DSLR camera for over six years now (previously an Olympus E510, I switched to a Canon 60D last summer). Though I’ve made some effort to get to grips with the more technical side of things, I’ve tended to just go for it and see what works best when I’m actually taking photos.
Right from the start, I have avoided sticking my camera on auto but wouldn’t say I’ve always known precisely what I need to adjust to get the results I want. There have also been (disappointing) times when a photo is nowhere near as good as I’d expected it to be once it’s up on the computer screen. In a bid to improve and get more out of my camera, last month I attended a digital photography workshop.
Generously hosted by the Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield and Pandora of Going Digital, the session was aimed at getting us ‘off auto’ but was equally suited to myself as a not-beginner-but-could-do-better. The workshop covered all of the basics such as depth of field, exposure, ISO, and so on, but the value for me really lay in discovering how these functions interact with each other. We were also shown the shortcut buttons for our specific camera brands – I’d really recommend taking a moment to learn these as it makes altering the settings on the go a much more manageable task!
Operating in aperture-priority mode is ideal as it gives you a lot of freedom and control over most of the camera’s settings. Most importantly, you can be more responsive to fast changing situations and different conditions than in manual mode. I wanted to share here the five most important elements in setting up your camera but also some tips on how these impact upon each other…
- Aperture – this refers to how much light is allowed to enter the lens and is used to control the depth of field (i.e. how much of the image is in focus).
Top tip: A small f-number (e.g. f/1.8) will let in a lot of light and create a shallow depth of field for a blurred background, whilst a large f-number (e.g. f/22) will result in more of the image being in focus for a large depth of field.
- Shutter Speed – as you would expect, this is how long the shutter stays open for when a photo is being taken. A faster shutter speed gives a sharper image whilst a slower speed can be used to create movement.
Top tip: In aperture-priority mode, the shutter speed changes automatically according to the other setting you use. For example, creating a large depth of field will slow down the shutter speed. You can compensate for this by using a high ISO setting.
- ISO – the ISO affects the sensitivity to light. In darker conditions, a higher ISO will give you a quicker shutter speed to still achieve sharper images.
Top tip: A high ISO will however result in a grainier image so it is advisable to use a tripod in low light so you can balance the slower shutter speed with a lower ISO to keep the photo clearer and sharper.
- White Balance – this setting compensates for different light conditions to give the most accurate colours in an image.
Top tip: If you are shooting indoors the ‘tungsten’ setting will add a blue tint to counteract the orange cast a light bulb gives.
- Exposure – exposure determines how light or dark an image will be. Sometimes even with of the above factors set correctly, an image will be too bright or too dark to our eyes; moving the exposure up or down will manually correct it.
Top tip: Upping the exposure will slow down the shutter speed therefore a higher ISO may be needed to still get a sharp image.
I hope to share some more photography tips in the future as I endeavour to improve myself but in the meantime you can find some fantastic landscape photography tips from Pandora here. Thanks to both Pandora and Millennium Hotels for a fantastic day!
Do you ever venture off auto? What are your essential photography tips?
Really great post! I’ve started experimenting outside the auto function & making efforts to learn how to shoot at night. It’s terrifying, but learning by doing is always a good thing!
That’s great to hear! I agree it can be a bit daunting and there’s the worry of finishing up with no usable photos, but on the other hand, the more you experiment the faster you learn and improve.
Your food photos are already so beautiful, I’ll look forward to seeing your night photography efforts :) My current challenge is taking food photos in the evenings now that they are getting darker for winter!
Thanks for the lovely compliment! I hear you on the evening shooting. I am a daylight chaser and try to get as much done during the day :) I hope the evening shoots go well!
This is so helpful, I’ve only got a basic compact camera, but I’ve just been fiddling with it and found all of these settings. Thank you so much!
I’m so happy to hear this has inspired you to have a play around with your camera! Even with a point and shoot, there is still so much functionality to get more out of it. I think getting to grips with some of the theory behind it makes it easier to spot and understand why a photo hasn’t come out as expected too, no matter what camera you’re using. I’ll look forward to seeing the results of your experimenting :)
I mostly use A (aperture) setting so that I can quickly choose the depth of field. Food looks great when it’s in focus but the background is blurred. I switch to S (shutter speed) when I’m shooting in low light.
I don’t know what lens you have on, but I find that a fixed lens with a large aperture makes things look amazing. The kit lenses usually don’t do as well with large apertures.
That is definitely one of the best things about shooting in aperture priority. I agree that a lens makes a big difference too – I often use a 50mm f1.8 prime lens and it is so much shaper at large apertures. It’s also incredible how slim you can make the depth of field, it’s so much fun to play around with.
I also have the Canon 60D and feel like I have only scratched the surface of what it can do. My favourite setting for shooting food is aperture priority, using a 50mm f1.4 lens, and learning how to manually adjust the exposure and focal point has been a great help too. On the go, I tend to stick with auto but no flash as it takes me too long to work out settings!
The more I learn about the camera the more I realise it can do, so I’m with you on that one! No flash is a must for me too. Have you got to grips with the shortcut buttons on it? I’ve found that has dramatically speeded up how much changing around I can do on the go because you can change them without having to look at the camera screen or even move it away from your face.
thanks heaps for sharing, these are some really good tips! x x
You’re welcome, I’m glad you have found them useful :)
I just figured out how to use my camera settings and I’m so appreciative of fellow bloggers who post things like this! It’s so hard to sift through pages and pages of books to find the important and easily applicable information. So, thanks!
I nominated you for a Liebster Award on my blog today, you can read more at http://veganheartbeats.com/2014/10/20/liebster-award/ . I love the graphics and typography on your site and really love that you share some of your secrets! Thanks!
Aw I’m so happy to hear that you’ve found the tips useful. I agree it can be overwhelming looking through books that cover everything rather than just finding the things you need to know. Thank you so much for the nomination and for dropping by, I really appreciate it :)
Great post, I really need to experiment more with my camera, I too have had the problem of thinking I have a great shot then once its on the computer I am horrified by it. Sounds like this workshop was well worth it.
It’s just the most disappointing feeling isn’t it? I’d really recommend doing a short workshop, it makes so much more sense going through it on the day with your camera in your hand and someone to guide you than trying to sift through books or websites trying to make sense of the theory. Let me know how your experiments go :)
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