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Lesco

Lesco

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623
Name
Tony
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all

I am posting here as I feel Ive moved up a notch now in my photography (beginner to interimidiate), I just need to get a couple of things right in my head, I am taking what I consider to be slightly above average photos, I can now work my camera in full manual mode if I need too. I just want some reassurance that Im on the right lines.

When I turn up for a photo session, be it outdoors practising or some nice landscape Ive seen, I am working to the following rules, and please correct me if I am wrong.

The first thing I check is my ISO, which if I have half decent light I leave at 200 and work in aperture priority mode (if the subject was moving I would use shutter priority) starting at around f/5.6 or maybe a stop either way depending on the light, when Ive taken my first photo I check it with the historyogram to make sure its peaking towards the middle, work on the basis that if the shutter speed goes anything beyond a 1/25th (although I need to check this as I cant remeber the exact speed) I cant hand hold and have to use a tripod, I always shoot in raw to give me more options within lightroom when editing.

Am I working along the right lines, are there any other tips you might have for a successful days shooting, I have been on the basic camera course and I am booking a portrait and landscape course in the New Year.
 
Your shutter speed also depends on the focal length of the lens. Shooting 1/25th might just about be ok on a 50mm but try it on a 200mm and you'll notice some issues, unless using a tripod.

The general rule is, if hand holding make sure that shutter speed is equal to or great than focal length.

Don't use the same aperture either, use the entire range. Lots of people use smaller apertures (f/8, f/11 + ) for landscapes, although some say that if you go the extremes (f/22, f/32) that you will get distortion.

Again, different rules depending on what you are photographing.:)
 
You need to work on the basis that ISO, Apature and shutter speed are points on a triangle. Make sense?
 
shabba said:
You need to work on the basis that ISO, Apature and shutter speed are points on a triangle. Make sense?
Click to expand...


Yes Shabba that does make sense, if you take away from one you have to make up on another, so bigger aperture faster shutter speed, smaller aperture slower shutter speed, I know its not as straight forward as that, and I understand that the higher the ISO the noiser the picture etc etc

Thanks guys for the advice, Im on the right lines thats a relief
 
Yep, and as long as you know the apature you want for the effect you want then adjust the ISO and shutter speed (if needed) accordingly.

As a rule I shoot in general with AV mode on ISO100 unless the shutter speed of 1/100 or less then I up the ISO. I choose the apature I want for each shot and again adust ISO if needed. Works for me, as I find manual too trial and error when doing general shooting, i.e where I don't have time to take many attempts at an image.

I use manual indoors though as I prefer the control.

I only use TV for shooting moving subjects, i.e panning shots of cars.
 
No worries, I'm terrible at explaing myself and I'm far from a pro, but if it helps you then great.

In AV I just check the shutter speed as I shoot, i.e via the screen on the top or via the actuall eye-piece view, if its sub 1/100sec I change the ISO up a bit.

As long as you know what apature to use for each general scenario then you are ok, if you dont then read up or just do some trial and error practice work.
 
Also in my head I have it as

- ISO 100 = sunny day
- ISO 200-400 = grey day
- ISO 500++ = indoors

As a general rule etc.
 
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