OUGD402 Photography Workshop

We were given a brief introduction to photography and the basics on camera function. We then had the task of experimenting with shutter speed, exposure and aperture. 

Aperture 'the opening in the lens':
The larger the opening, or wider the aperture, the more light you let in with each exposure. The smaller the opening, or narrower the aperture, the less light you let in. Aperture is measured in f-stops. A lower number represents a wider aperture and a higher number represents a narrower aperture.

Depth of Field:
Referring how much of the shot will be in focus. A wide aperture lets in more light and produces a shallow depth of field. A narrow aperture reduces the amount of light and produces a deeper focus.

Shutter Speed:
When you press the button to take a picture the aperture blades take a specific amount of time to close, known as the shutter speed. Typically measured in fractions of a second. Shutter speed is the length of time where the sensor is exposed to light. As well as controlling the amount of light that enters the camera, shutter speed has another interesting effect – slow shutter speeds show motion and blur, while fast shutter speeds can “freeze” motion. Choosing a shutter speed that’s too slow can mean that pictures lose their sharpness due to camera shake. It's very hard to hold the camera perfectly still while shooting a picture unless you use a tripod. 

ISO:
A measure of how sensitive it is to light. Lower numbers represent lower sensitivity to available light, while higher numbers mean more sensitivity. ISO introduces noise (on digital cameras) or grain (when using film) so a higher ISO produces this.

Testing:

Fast shutter speed with low aperture

Slow shutter speed with low aperture

Good balance of aperture and shutter speed

I found this workshop quite challenging as it was a very basic overview, so initially it took a fair few try's to work out how the settings work. I haven't done any manual photography before so this was all new to me, but I did notice that it could produce a more interesting effect and quality of image than on auto. Learning about a cameras manual settings is really important because I know within graphic design photography can become a big part so it is good to know at least the basics. I think this will also help me to take more considered photos during my projects. I am eager to learn more in depth about photography as I do have a strong appreciation for it.