adjusting f/ help

[maverickphoto]

Ive been reading my book and in it it says to point the camera at like the sky or the ground to adjust f/ then returning to the subject. So how would i know when i should be looking up or down?

 

[Steph]

If you want to expose for the ground point your camera to the ground. If you want to expose for the sky point your camera to the sky. I think you should read the book again: what you quoted from the book does not really make sense on its own and out of context. What are you trying to achieve?

 

[tirediron]

Agree with Steph, something sounds a little out of whack. With the modern matrix metering in most DSLRs, you generally only need to point the camera at the subject. There are exceptions of course, but without a little more info, I don't think we can help. What camera? What book?

 

[maverickphoto]

I'll have to let you know what im trying to say when i get home. I have been re-reading the first couple of chapters. Just to make sure I understand. I was going from memory, LOL of course ive only read the first 2 chap.

jason

 

[maulrat]

I think I know what you're trying to get at. I believe you are trying to find the correct exposure by using your meter. Perhaps your book is trying to guide you on how to use your f# (aperture) to obtain the correct exposure. I am a newbie so I maybe doing this the wrong way. I usually use my f to first control my background. If I want a nice bokeh behind my subject, I set a lower f# (usually somewhere around 2.8 or lower). If I want a focussed background or the background is my subject, I would set my f# higher (usually 16+).

Remember the smaller f#, the larger the aperture; hence, more light comes in so from there I would adjust my shutter speed accordingly. I usually adjust my exposure through my shutter speeds before cranking on my aperture. If it turns out that my shutter speed is a little long, it may unfotunately give me more of a chance for producing a blurry picture due to camera movement. Then try raising your f# a click. For exposure metering, I try as much possible not to raise the ISO above 200 outdoor or 400 indoor unless I absolutely have to. If I am completely wrong on how I go about setting my exposure, just spank me and call me Charlie.