Monday, September 20, 2010

How To Use Your Camera - Shutter Priority or Time Value settings

Different camera makers call this by different names. Nikon calls it "Shutter Priority,"while Canon calls it "Time Value" and represents it by the symbol Tv on their shooting mode dial. Other cameras will have the same or similar terms that reference the same function.

As you learn how to use your camera, one of the features you will want to gain control over is shutter speed. By setting your camera to the "S" on a Nikon mode dial you will have selected Shutter Priority Mode. When the camera is in this mode you can choose how fast or how slow your shutter will work. At the same time, your camera will calculate what aperture will be appropriate to give you the best exposure based on it's light meter reading and your selected shutter speed. 

The best times to us this option is when you know you want your camera to shoot at a certain speed, but you are unsure about the other exposure elements or you know you won't have time to consider them. This can be when you want to stop action, or possibly add a blur effect to some action. For instance lets say you want to shoot pictures of a waterfall with the water appearing silky. You would use a very slow shutter speed. The camera will open or close the aperture accordingly so you get the best exposure. Another example would be when you want to pan a subject, that is you are watching your son or daughter as they ride past you on their new bike. You focus on their face and using a moderately fast shutter speed you snap the shutter as they go by. The effect will be a clear view of the moving subject, with a blurry background.

I have created collection of books and other resources that will provide in depth detail about these subjects and more, if you are interested you can look at this simple website to find just about everything that is available to help you learn to use your camera. I am particularly fond of the books of Bryon Peterson. He shoots in the same geographic areas that I do and I can relate to his subject matter.

How To Use Your Camera - Books

Dwains Picks

Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Photography Tips

Here are a few things you can do to improve your photography that will apply regardless of what camera you use. These are the basics that every photographer should know and do to get reasonably good pictures out of any camera.

Make sure you have a clean lens. Don't just blow the dust off, but use a clean cloth suitable for cleaning lenses and do it right.

Set up so your camera is stable and won't move as you press the shutter. You can do this a number of ways. If you will be handholding the camera, hold your elbows in against your sides, and stand with your feet apart with one slightly forward of the other. You can also lean against a solid object like a light pole, tree, building or whatever. The best method though is to use a tripod or monopod. I have both but I like to carry the tripod best. If I want to use it as a monopod I just extend only one leg and us it as I would a monopod. I'll add instructions about to how to use these tools later.

Finally the "First" basic thing you need to do is read your manual and learn what all the parts of your camera are for and how to use them. If you understand how your meter works and what white balence is you'll go a long way to getting that shot you want when the light is wierd and you are wondering why your pictures are all dark or yellow instead of like what you saw on the monitor or in the viewfinder.

I'll expand on all these topics in the coming weeks and months so you'll want to check back and see what I've added from time to time.