Aperture for Depth of Field

This week I found a gem of a quote: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – Ansel Adams   Enough said! 😉  Speaking of focus… I have generally been thinking of aperture (the size of the lens opening) in terms of the amount of light that is let in when the shutter is released. However, aperture also determines how much of the picture is in focus (depth of field). (Click here and... Read More

Adding Texture

Another double-post Wednesday! This week I have been playing in Photoshop with the pictures from last week’s (hasty) post. Just consider those the “before” pictures! After some cropping and edits, here is my row of trees, revisited: autumn changes The primary change was adding a “texture” called the Difference Maker. Aptly named! It is a JPG image, a simple textured rectangle of graduated browns and tans. I dragged it in over the photo and changed... Read More

Silhouettes from home

I made a whirlwind trip home last week and am still recovering. The exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed) will have to wait. Instead, here are a few shots from last week.  The light there is different from the light here. The sun hits the fields and makes them look like green velvet, and the seed heads in the ditches glow like rows of sparklers. This is a shot of the TREES, which actually change color at home: changing colors f/10, shutter speed 1/160, ISO 400 Some... Read More

Bonus post! More "flash off" mode

I’m doing double duty today, with two posts! (I’ll make up for it next week, as there won’t be a post.) I’m loving “flash off” mode. Yesterday my son made a very sharp cap for himself, using a colander and a chain of plastic rings. At first I took this shot in “auto.” so aliens can't read his thoughts I was disappointed that the flash washed out the points of light on his face from the colander holes. (Why didn’t I realize... Read More

ISO (I'm… So Obsessed?)

Like a techno-nerd, I’m fascinated with metadata lately. I’ve discovered that even when the camera is set on “auto,” I can go back and see what the camera chose for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Seeing what I should have chosen in previous situations takes away some of the intimidation factor of beginning to shoot in manual modes. In the coming weeks I plan to explore the “exposure triangle” (ISO, shutter speed, and aperture) – WITHOUT... Read More