Give Us Newbies a Photography "Problem" to Solve

[Shadowbox]

done

For example:

Location: Swamp
Subject: Frog
Ambient light: Dim/fog
Equipment: Dslr, flash, 18-55mm lens

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

For example:

Location: Swamp
Subject: Frog
Ambient light: Dim/fog
Equipment: Dslr, flash, 18-55mm lens

It's kinda difficult to play this game. All photography relies on using your light meter. It is your guide to the answers you seek.
There are also a few variables, like do you want to use a polarizer? Do you intend to use flash? What creative DoF effect do you want? How fast is your glass?

The answer to questions like this is pretty much "it depends".
It depends on the light meter, and my creative choices in relation to what the meter is telling me.

 

[Shadowbox]

done.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Yes, you will fumble around with your setting until it becomes second nature.

But you know what? I use my light meter. I know how my camera tends to expose, I know how to compensate for the creative intent I am trying to achive. But I still look at my light meter every time and change (fumble with) my settings accordingly. All you are trying to do, as I explained in great detail in another thread of yours, is get your meter to "zero".

It's gonna take time. Lots and lotsa time.

 

[Shadowbox]

I know that..:crazy:

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You know what?

How your light meter works?
How to expose correctly using it?
That it's gonna take time to have it be second nature?

 

[Compaq]

I've found that shooing manual really helps me understand exposure, as opposed to using the priority modes! It's one of the best ideas I've gotten on here!

 

[Overread36]

I can't tell what was happening with the early threads as it looks like Shadow has removed his photos?

I've found that shooing manual really helps me understand exposure, as opposed to using the priority modes! It's one of the best ideas I've gotten on here!

Remember whilst manual forces you to control all 3 key settings within the camera, the priority modes are just as powerful. The only difference is that in those modes the camera controls one setting whilst you control the other two - the camera then sets its setting based on the meter reading and applies any exposure compensation (ie over or under exposure) to the setting it has control over. It's little different to say setting your ISO and aperture and then balancing your shutter speed off that in manual mode - save that the camera is quicker in the priority modes than you are.

In the end of course once you know how to use each mode its not a case of one being superior over the others; but about knowing which will give you the best control in the given situations you're shooting in.

 

[Compaq]

I can't tell what was happening with the early threads as it looks like Shadow has removed his photos?

I've found that shooing manual really helps me understand exposure, as opposed to using the priority modes! It's one of the best ideas I've gotten on here!

Remember whilst manual forces you to control all 3 key settings within the camera, the priority modes are just as powerful. The only difference is that in those modes the camera controls one setting whilst you control the other two - the camera then sets its setting based on the meter reading and applies any exposure compensation (ie over or under exposure) to the setting it has control over. It's little different to say setting your ISO and aperture and then balancing your shutter speed off that in manual mode - save that the camera is quicker in the priority modes than you are.

In the end of course once you know how to use each mode its not a case of one being superior over the others; but about knowing which will give you the best control in the given situations you're shooting in.

Yeah, I see that the two are essentially (actually exactly the same) doing the same. The priority modes are faster than I am, but I actually didn't really understand how that exposure compensation worked until I set it all myself. Maybe I'm just slow in mind, it's actually obvious, but it has helped me nonetheless. When you really understand everything, everything becomes easier. And I'm not saying I'm there yet. But I'm beginning to understand. It's not difficult getting the meter at zero, but one must keep in mind the triangle and how each factor effects the resulting image. Sometimes one must make some sacrifices.. open aperture or increase ISO? In the end it's all the photographer's artistic expression that decides the exposure triangle.

When on exposure, I've seen some videos about flash photography.. And there's another exposure element, the flash itself, which isn't affected by the shutter speed. It becomes complicated, and I envy those who truly understand and master this! One day, perhaps........

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

In the end it's all the photographer's artistic expression that decides the exposure triangle.

:thumbup:

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I can't tell what was happening with the early threads as it looks like Shadow has removed her photos?

OMG! I can't believe how many people have hissy fits and delete their posts. Whatever. :roll:

 

[Ron Evers]

Being the odd man here, I wholeheartedly agree with Overread. You see, I almost exclusively use manual legacy lenses on a digital camera. This means I set the camera to Aperture priority & set the aperture on the lens so my variables are now ISO ONLY as the camera will determine the shutter speed. Of course I can adjust the shutter speed by adjusting the aperture on the lens itself or changing the ISO in camera.

Folks who really understand the exposure triangle will understand what I just said.