FILE FORMATS

JPEG - (Joint Photographic Experts Group) Is the most popular image file format. This format (lowest quality) allows you to save large pictures into a tiny area, which is a compressed file. A 20 MG image will be become a 4 MB JPEG version. TIFF - (Tagged Image File Format) Captures images without compression and does not degrade the quality. This is a good choice if you have plenty of space on your memory card, and do not want to save it as a raw file. This format is only available on some cameras and is now replaced by raw. RAW - Captures a pure file without any image processing occurring in the camera.  A raw file is comparable to a film negative. This gives you more control when correcting your pictures in Photoshop or using the software provided by your cameras manufacturer.

 

FOCUS MODES / METERING MODES

One Shot - The focus locks when the shutter release is half pressed. Al Focus - Works the same as one shot, but the camera monitors the scene and if movement is noticed the focus mode changes to AL Servo. AL Servo - Focus works all the time. Multi Area Focus - Focuses using multiple focus points. The camera will focus on a number of objects within a scene. This setting can be less accurate than single focus. Manual - Use your lens to focus. Partial Metering (Canon), Spot Metering (Nikon) - Metering is weighted according the very center of the shot, a very small area of the frame. Center-Weighted Average Metering (Canon), Center-Weighted Metering (Nikon) - Gives priority to the center portion of the photograph, but also takes the surrounding area into consideration. This mode is between evaluative and partial metering. Overall Metering - In this mode, the entire frame is metered.

ZONE MODES

Basic Modes - Auto Focus, Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Portrait and Flash off. These modes are great for the beginner and should provide good results. Just look over your owners manual to understand the different icons placed on your dial. Advanced Modes - P (program) is a all purpose mode and is similar to auto focus. TV (shutter priority), you can set the shutter speed up or down. As an example, I use this mode when photographing birds. I speed up my shutter to 640 - 800.  AV (aperture priority), just sets your aperture to control your depth of field. M (manual), in this mode you can set your shutter speed and aperture. A-DEP (automatic depth of field), for obtaining a wide depth of field, between near subject and a far subject.

 

SETTINGS

ISO - Determines the images clarity or graininess. A lower (100) setting gives you a smoother crisper image, where a larger (800) setting gives you a rough textured image. However if you are taking outdoor pictures a ISO setting from 100 - 200 works best. F-STOP - is the setting that controls your depth of field. If you want only the center of the picture to be in focus, you would select a f-stop of f / 1.4 (the aperture is wide open). But if desire for more background clarity an f-stop of f / 16 - 22, would give you the best results. SHUTTER SPEED - For still subjects a shutter speed of 100 - 200 works well. When photographing a moving subject, a shutter speed of 400 - 800 helps to freeze the movement.

The combination of ISO, Aperture (f-stop) and Shutter Speed, is the exposure triangle.

 

WHITE BALANCE

The white balance options can effect background color as well as subject color. Most cameras have eight options to choose from.  Auto - where your camera selects the white balance for you. Daylight - great for outdoor pictures. It balances the colors using the temperature of sunlight as its standard. Shade - adds a bit or red to a scene. Helps to add the look of daylight in shaded areas. Tungsten -  this setting takes care of the overly yellow, orange casts that happen when taking indoor pictures without a flash. Cloudy - adds warmth to the background on a cloudy day. Fluorescent - for photographing commercial buildings where fluorescent lighting is used. Flash - adjust white balance for indoor flash pictures. Also helps to remove red-eye. Custom - mostly used for professional and studio work.

 

USING A TRIPOD

Tripods help to eliminate camera shake while taking pictures. If your camera doesn't have a stabilizer, camera shake can ruin your pictures. A tripod is a must when using a lower shutter speed, while photographing waterfalls or rapids. Also a tripod helps to level your camera so your subject is correctly squared into the frame. 

 

 

 

 

HOME