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Learn to take pictures with a SLR camera. Three common misconceptions and six life tips

I am glad to welcome you, dear reader. In touch with you, Timur Mustaev. As you can see, this blog has already covered many aspects of shooting landscapes, interiors, sports, and more. I did not talk about shooting people, although this is one of the most popular genres of our business.

Sometimes it is portrait photography that moves people to buy a digital camera, and after that beginners begin to look at the world in a new way. But we have already talked about the world, so now I will tell you how to photograph people correctly and what you may need for this.

Angle

In general, when photographing people, you need to take into account many aspects: angle, background, lighting, behavior with the model. It is worth starting with the choice of angle. Why? If we have a poor understanding of how a person can look from different angles, then how do we get a beautiful picture with his participation? So, the first thing you need to understand is what kind of photo the person himself wants: full-length, waist-high or just the face, and the poses can be completely different. Based on this, already determine the angle.

In the first case, there is only one unique condition for a successful shot: you need to shoot a person from the level of the chest or waist of the model, if we are talking about full length photography. Otherwise, the proportions of the human figure may be distorted by the optics of your camera and the picture will not be as beautiful as we would like.

Shooting, for example, from eye level will be beneficial when working with a bust portrait, and if you shoot from an angle below the waist or above the head, such photographs can be considered caricatured or playful.

Speaking about the look at the model, it is worth mentioning that a portrait strictly “on the forehead” very rarely turns out to be successful. Therefore, the person being photographed should be viewed approximately ¼ of a turn, as this can visually reduce the cheeks and hide asymmetrical facial features.

Also, don't act like photography is work, boring and monotonous. It may be true, but creating such an atmosphere on the set is not worth it. Otherwise, the photographed person may behave stiffly and stiffly, be shy. You need to try to avoid this in order to obtain the highest quality result.

Background

It can be both the most important part of photography and be useless. Everything here depends on you: if you want, shoot outdoors, lame, plain white background, indoors – there are no restrictions. However, one should remember a few simple rules so as not to spoil the photo with anything superfluous.

First of all, you should look at the lampposts, trees, bushes, diagonals, the horizon - at all the lines of the frame, and make sure that they do not “cut” the person into pieces, do not go out of the head and would not enter it. Try to make the background as adequate as possible.

If you decide to work at home or in the studio - choose the most neutral background. Plaid wallpaper in bright colors is a bad option for a background. It is better to use an absolutely one-color background or discreet shades so that they do not distract attention from the person.

Lighting

It depends on how your model will look in the photo. With this parameter, you can both ruin everything and save an initially hopeless picture. There are several tips for shooting in various conditions. I propose to consider some of them.

The first tip is to beware of the bright midday sun if you work outside. As paradoxical as it may sound, too bright sun can damage the picture. Why? It will make the model squint, the shadows on the face will be deeper and sharper, and you can also just get overexposed objects. Therefore, many recommend working early in the morning or in the evening, or on a cloudy day.

Second - try to shoot in the shade if the clear sun caught you by surprise. It is better, by the way, to use the shadow of the building so that it is uniform. As you know, the leaves of trees have small gaps between them, through which unwanted light can enter the model.

Third - if you still can't find a suitable shade, avoid shooting against the sun. It is impossible for the model to squint, but I don’t want to get a black silhouette either. Therefore, I recommend to become sideways to the sun's rays: this is how some kind of compromise will be reached.

If you have to shoot against the light, use an external flash in fill light mode. Yes, it is an external flash that should be used in such a situation: the built-in one will definitely not be enough. The same advice will be relevant for shooting at sunset, with the only difference being that our flash will play the role of the main light. Another useful accessory can be or.

Once in the studio, everything becomes a little easier. There are a couple of basic rules here, without which it will be very difficult to get an even high quality photo. It is necessary to use lighting devices with the same color temperature, use soft diffused light, and also abandon fluorescent lamps.

Important Notes

Among other things, it is impossible not to say about some details that are knocked out of the description of the choice of angle or background. First of all, this is the processing of the received photo. It is worth remembering that you need to carefully frame it, select the most natural color balance and preserve the natural skin color of the model.

Also, don't cut people's body parts. It doesn't matter if it's the head, legs or arms. An exception can be considered only certain genres of portraiture, such as half-length, chest or knee-length.

When working with a model, you should also remember a few important tips so as not to confuse a person. A photo session in such conditions will be flour for both participants in the process, and the result will be an unpleasant result.

First tip: don't force your gaze into the frame. This can be done only in very rare exceptions when absolutely necessary.
The second piece of advice: keeping a model smiling all the time isn't always the best option. Sometimes a pensive, sad, resentful or cunning face can look more beautiful than a smile.

Don't miss this and get a masterpiece shot.

You can also try to photograph the model before the process itself: this will help to get a more natural facial expression, real human emotions, and this is the most important thing in photographing people.

If possible, try to shoot in , which will help you better edit your shot after shooting.

(if you have a NIKON) or My first MIRROR(if you have CANON) - It is from this course that I recommend starting to become a photographer. It contains all the basics for a correct understanding of the very essence of photography. Everything is shown on practical examples, which is important!
- Here the photo processing itself is already underway. From which side is it better to approach editing, how to do it correctly so that, for example, the skin is not “rubber”, and so on. Lots of practical examples and tips. This video course is designed specifically for photographers!

My first MIRROR— for owners of CANON photographic equipment.

Digital SLR for beginners 2.0- for owners of NIKON photographic equipment.

Photoshop for photographer 3.0. VIP

That's all for today. I told you what it takes to shoot a person in all the scenarios that come to my mind. I hope you enjoyed it and share this article with your friends who own reflex camera. If you have done this, I advise you to subscribe to blog updates. There will only be more such texts in the future. Goodbye!

All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.

Beginners often wonder how to take high-quality and beautiful photos? Indeed, after all, a novice master, having bought an expensive SLR camera, immediately hopes to get beautiful and high-quality pictures. This does not work for everyone and not always. We have prepared a list of recommendations, following which you can create attractive photos. It will be about creating initially thoughtful and attractive photographs. The task of a beginner photographer is to learn how to take attractive photos instinctively, and spend as little time and effort on processing as possible.

How to take good photos. Think about the frame

Image: Gary Mac Parland

A photograph is not created when you press the shutter button, it is created when you see a potential shot. A photograph can be born in your imagination, at the moment when you come up with a shot, or looking at a beautiful story. Think about what attracted you to this image? Why do you want to photograph it? What do you want to show in your photo?

When thinking about an image, it is first important to understand what exactly you want to show. Decide what settings to apply, what aperture, shutter speed, white balance and focal length to set. The settings depend on what kind of picture you want to see in the end, as well as on lighting conditions. environment.

How to take good photos. Composition

Image: Gary Mac Parland

Every time you look into the viewfinder or the display, you need to think about the composition future photography and placement of objects within the frame. There are many rules of composition, most of which came to the world of photography from classical painting, such as the rule of the golden ratio and the golden spiral.

Perhaps the most famous and commonly used is the Rule of Thirds: it is a simple yet effective way of composing an image.

To understand what the rule of thirds is, imagine two lines crossing the frame horizontally and two vertically. As a result, you will get 9 squares, three in each row. The principle is to place the key elements of the image on the borders of the central square and along imaginary lines.

The use of leading lines, emphasis on the foreground, and leading lines also help reinforce the picture. Leading lines will add dynamics to the image and help viewers pay attention to important points photos.

Foreground objects can serve as a beautiful frame for the frame, be something like a natural frame. When photographing a landscape, look for beautiful flowers or rocks in the foreground.

Don't be lazy and don't forget to move all the time looking for the perfect shot.

First of all, when looking through the viewfinder and trying to take a picture, it is worth paying attention not only to how the subject itself looks, but also to how it harmonizes with other elements of the environment that fall into the photo. Of course, you can trim or remove the excess by processing later, but by foreseeing everything in advance, you will free yourself from unnecessary work.

golden spiral

This is a more complex compositional model, in which the important elements of the frame are placed in a spiral. The rosebud used in the example is perhaps the simplest and most obvious example of spiral composition.

How to take good photos. basic settings

Before you start taking pictures, make sure that the basic camera settings are set correctly. Often, masters forget to double-check what parameters are set on the camera, because of this, the pictures are unsuccessful.

First of all, check if the memory card is in place. It may seem obvious, but sometimes, deciding that she is always in the camera, photographers forget to make sure that everything is in order with her. Of course, you need to check the presence of a memory card at home, until it's too late to fix it. It must be formatted before shooting.

Next, set the file type: JPEG or RAW. The RAW format is preferable if you plan to process images in the future. When choosing JPEG, decide on the file size. Set the maximum image size, with minimum compression, for optimal photo quality.

Finally, don't forget to check things like white balance, autofocus mode, exposure settings, etc.

How to take good photos. Aperture to control depth of field

Aperture is one of the most important parameters of your camera. Aperture not only regulates the amount of light passing through the lens, but also controls the depth of field.

For best results, aperture should be between f/8-f/11. However, the optimal setting is not always convenient for specific scenes. For a shallower depth of field and better background blur, the aperture value should be around f/3.2. Also, by shooting at a large aperture, you can . For greater depth of field and crisp backgrounds, the aperture is set to f/16-32.

Blurring the background and (or) foreground is necessary to draw the viewer's attention to a specific element of the frame. On the other hand, a small aperture (for example, f/36) will allow you to reveal the fullness of the photo, depicting everything in great detail. IN landscape photography It is customary to shoot with a small opening of the aperture in order to show the scene most clearly.

How to take good photos. Use fast shutter speeds for creative effect

The aperture controls the amount of light passing through the lens, and the shutter, in turn, controls the amount of time the light enters the sensor. Depending on this, photos may be clear or show motion blur. Shutter speed helps control movement in the frame.

If you are shooting a seascape and want to depict a smooth blur of water, then you need to set the shutter speed to a few seconds. If your task is to show a clear jump, or jerk during a sporting event or photographing animals, then the shutter speed should be 1/800 sec. or faster. It all depends on the purpose of the shoot. The easiest way to control shutter speed is to set the shutter priority mode.

When shooting with a tripod and having a remote control with you, you are practically unlimited in choosing a shutter speed. When shooting handheld, you cannot shoot well with a slow shutter speed, as the pictures will look blurry. The shutter speed must be no less than one divided by the focal length.

Of course, the image stabilization system helps in creating a clear frame, but its possibilities are not limitless and it does not hurt to be careful.

How to take good photos. white balance

The color of the world around us is constantly changing due to light - whether it is the light of the sun or an artificial light source. Each of these sources has its own color temperature, which is measured in degrees Kelvin. The lower the temperature, the warmer (more orange) the light, the higher the temperature, the colder (more blue) the light.

Visually, we do not notice changes and do not see a difference in the color of the light, but the camera is very sensitive and captures any fluctuation in the temperature of the light. Used to compensate for light distortion.

For example, when looking at a sunset, your eyes recognize that the warm orange color of the sun and sky is natural, and you perceive it “correctly”. But the camera just captures a scene with too much warm light and tries to fix it. The automatic white balance mode in this case may correct the color incorrectly. For this reason, it is better to use the preset white balance settings (such as daylight or cloudy) or select manual white balance.

If you shoot in JPEG format, initially wrong white balance is difficult to fix, even by correcting it in a graphics editor. When shooting in RAW format, changing the white balance is possible when converting files.

How to take good photos. ISO setting

The ISO setting on the camera controls the sensitivity of the sensor to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the sensor becomes, and the less light is needed to create a bright shot. A high sensitivity value will result in a grainy frame. Graininess is called "noise" or color noise (colored spots appear).

Depending on the quality and level of the camera, performance and noise reduction may vary. Some cameras are better at shooting at high ISOs, while others are worse. In any case, it is advisable to use the lowest ISO value. However, when shooting at a fast shutter speed and opening the aperture slightly, lowering the sensitivity will not work.

Using flash

Photo: Valentin Kazars

If you're shooting in low light and don't want to set a high ISO, then you'll most likely need to shoot with a flash. Some cameras have different flash modes to suit different types of shooting.

Don't forget that you can use flash in daylight. This is necessary to fill in the shadows and create more harmonious photos.

How to take good photos. Manual focus

When taking pictures with an advanced camera, you can focus not only automatically, but also manually. When shooting with auto focus, you have a choice between several modes. You can focus on several or on one point, burst shooting is also possible. With manual focusing, the master aims at the subject manually.

When photographing a moving subject, give preference to continuous shooting. This way the camera will focus while keeping the subject in constant focus. When shooting a static object, choose a focus on one point

Manual focus

In some shooting situations the best choice will be manual focus. In this case, by scrolling the focus ring on the subject, you focus on a specific area. Manual focus is preferred for sports and photographers wildlife. You also need to focus manually when the subject is in the background, because the camera automatically focuses on the nearest object.

At first glance, it may seem that focusing manually when shooting moving objects can be difficult, because an athlete, car or running animal is moving too fast. But you can focus on certain place, in advance, and when the subject passes through the area of focus, you can take the shot.

Using hyperfocal distance

Starting from the border of the hyperfroctal distance, objects in the frame become sharp. The border changes depending on the focal length and diaphragms.

You have the ability to determine the hyperfocal distance for various focal lengths and apertures at www.dofmaster.com.

How to take good photos. View photos

Once you've taken a photo, or a series of shots, immediately check how they look right in the camera. In this case, you need not just to see how the images turned out, but to evaluate the histograms of the frame. Histograms will help you make sure that the exposure and white balance settings are correct. If the main part of the histogram is shifted to the left, then the image is too dark; if to the right, then the image is overexposed. In this case, you need to change the exposure setting.

Checking the frame is especially important if the camera's viewfinder doesn't offer 100% coverage because so, the shot is different from what you saw in the viewfinder.

In case the photos don't look the way they should, in terms of composition or settings, then you will have a chance to change everything.

How to take good photos. Viewing and editing images

The main recommendations for creating high-quality and beautiful photos. By sticking to them and remembering them while taking photos, you will surely make nice photos which take the least amount of time to process. If it so happens that when you come home and, after viewing the material, it turns out that there are flaws in the photographs, you will have to devote some time to processing them.

View all photos, evaluate them in terms of composition, lighting, color, focus, depth of field and exposure. Delete without regret those frames that even Photoshop will not help, such pictures will only take up space on your computer in vain. In the end, even if 10 photos from one shoot turn out to be beautiful, this is already a good result.

Suppose you have purchased a "SLR". And you have a question: how to take pictures with a SLR camera? How is it different from soap? Let's discuss this issue today. This article will be the first in the "Learning to photograph" section.

Differences between a "mirror" and a "soap box"

First of all, let's discuss the difference between a "reflex camera" and a "soap box". In fact, this is the difference in shooting between these types of cameras. By the way, we discussed the types of cameras in a separate article.

A DSLR has a viewfinder. That is, unlike compacts, a pentaprism or pentamirror viewfinder is much more often used for sighting in "reflex cameras". Why is “looking through the window” better than a screen, you ask. Everything is simple. Firstly, the viewfinder helps with framing - you have a frame, and you can see the borders of the frame even before you press the shutter button. Yes, the screen also has a frame, but it feels completely different. Secondly, the "reflex cameras", paradoxically, have a mirror viewfinder. Its design assumes that you see a picture in real time. And this picture is alive, not digitized. Hence, there are no delays when moving the camera, no flickering and other annoyances associated with the use of LCDs or electronic viewfinders.

SLR cameras support manual settings. Always. Yes, there are no “DSLRs” that do not have control over aperture, shutter speed and ISO (more on these parameters below). This seriously distinguishes a SLR from many compacts - after all, even “soap dishes” for 10-15 thousand rubles do not always have the ability to manually correct the exposure using three classic parameters.

SLR cameras have a larger matrix. Physically more. The Matrix is the main element cameras. The matrix in the camera is as important as, for example, the engine in a car. And the larger the matrix, the more details it can capture. Have you seen how much clearer the pictures taken by the "SLR" come out? Another plus of a large matrix is the possibility of obtaining best results when shooting in low light.

SLR cameras have interchangeable lenses. That is, the carcass is only part of the camera. This gives great opportunities for creative implementation - this is one of the main advantages of SLR cameras.

How to take pictures with a SLR camera? Camera control

So, we have discussed the main differences between the two classes of cameras. Now it's time to talk about the main features of shooting with a SLR camera. First, let's talk about camera control, without this it will be difficult to understand .

Grip. Due to ergonomics and large size, as well, you need to hold a SLR camera differently than a soap dish. The right hand should lie on the handle, and the left should support the lens from below. The position of the hand on the lens allows you to quickly change the zoom in case you use a lens with a variable focal length (for example, standard lenses like 18-55mm, 18-105mm, 18-135mm, etc.). That is, once again - SLR cameras do not have a “zoom button”. Zooming is carried out by mechanically turning the zoom ring located on the lens. And, for God's sake, do not put your hand on top of the lens - personally, my heart bleeds as soon as I see this.

On the left - how to keep your hand on the lens, and on the right - how NOT to

sighting. We have already talked with you above about the viewfinder. It is preferable, of course, using it to build a frame. However, this is not always convenient. Therefore, in modern SLR cameras, sighting using the screen is implemented at the proper level. This mode is called LiveView. It should be noted that video shooting is possible only in this mode. Also note that the viewfinder is not available when LiveView is enabled.

Camera charging. Unlike most soap dishes, a reflex camera does not need to be connected to the mains for charging - the battery is simply removed from it and inserted into a special charger. Of course, this is more convenient than connecting the entire camera to the network.

Camera controls. Of course, cameras from different companies differ in terms of control, but their principles are approximately the same. Consider the elements of SLR cameras that distinguish them from "soap dishes" and may be unusual.

Many "DSLRs" have a large dial for selecting shooting modes. It contains the classic options: "Auto" (A +), P, A (Av), S (Tv), M. Without brackets, the designations for Nikon are presented, different Canon values \u200b\u200bare written in brackets. From left to right, these modes indicate: fully automatic mode, automatic mode with a choice of parameters, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, manual (manual) mode. There are other modes (story) on the wheel, but they are not the main ones.
In addition to the mode dial on the body of the camera, depending on the brand and model, there are the following important controls: a video start button (different from the shutter button, usually red), a switch lever between the viewfinder and the screen, an ISO button, an exposure button, etc.
Depending on the model, there are one or two additional control wheels that help with changing settings when shooting in manual modes. The wheels are usually located under the thumb and forefinger of the right hand (the younger line of cameras has only 1 wheel).
Older cameras have a second screen (top), which displays the main settings of the cameras.
Switching between automatic and manual focus can be done using a separate lever on the body (Nikon), using a lever on the lens (Nikon, Canon), or other methods. To clarify this point, I recommend that you read the instructions, since, depending on the manufacturer, this function is implemented differently.

On the left you can see the shooting mode control wheel,
on the right is an additional screen

A + mode ("Auto") and scene modes. I fully understand that dealing with manual settings not everyone wants. It is for those who are not interested in this, but only the shooting process itself is important, they came up with the “Auto” mode. It is also called the "Green Zone", as this mode is usually depicted as a green camera or a green letter "A +". In this mode, the camera selects the settings itself. In modern cameras, this mode is implemented quite tolerably. Of course, the "machine" is not perfect - it is not able to understand your creative intent. Another issue is the so-called "story modes". They are on amateur "DSLRs". These are modes like "portrait", "fireworks", "landscape", etc. These are also automatic modes, but adapting to a specific situation. Also well suited for people who do not want to understand technical issues.

Mode A (Av) - aperture priority mode. This mode is considered manual. It allows you to control the opening of the lens aperture. In this case, the smaller the f-number, the greater the opening. For example, f/1.4 is the maximum aperture for modern Nikon lenses- at this value, the aperture is maximally open. By increasing the f-number, we clamp the aperture. The principle itself is quite simple here - the more the aperture is open, the more light passes through the lens. All a beginner needs to know is that for portraits and shooting in low light, it is best to use the widest aperture for a particular lens, and for landscapes, an aperture between f/5.6 and f/11. The more you open the aperture, the more the background will be blurred. Of course, an open aperture is only one of the components of a beautiful blur (“bokeh”), but this is a topic for another article.

Mode S (Tv) - shutter priority mode. Less sought after by amateurs, but no less important. Allows you to set the shutter speed, that is, the speed at which the picture will be taken. Speed is usually measured in fractions of a second. For example, 1/200 sec, 1/1000 sec, 1/2 sec, 1 sec. In practice, in cameras this can be denoted differently - 200 (for 1/200 sec), 2 (for 1/2 sec), 1 '' (for 1 second). There is not enough to tell here, if briefly the essence is this. If you are shooting fast moving subjects, it is preferable to set short exposure(1/1000 sec, for example). If you are shooting in poor lighting, then it is better to make the shutter speed longer, depending on the focal length of the camera (for an 18-55mm camera, for example, when shooting at 18mm, you can set the shutter speed to 1/30). The longer the shutter speed, the more light enters the matrix through the lens. Again, talking about exposure is a topic for a separate article. The main thing to remember is that the longer the shutter speed, the more blurry the picture will be, the shorter the shutter speed, the clearer it will be. This is a very simplified explanation, but the only one possible within the framework of today's article.

Mode M - manual, manual shooting mode. Everything is simple here, both shutter speed and aperture are adjusted manually.

ISO - matrix light sensitivity. This setting stands alone. Together with shutter speed and aperture, this setting affects the exposure of the image. The minimum ISO is usually 100, the maximum depends on modern technologies. The best cameras today are capable of producing acceptable quality at ISO 12800. What does "acceptable quality" mean? The fact is that the higher the ISO, the brighter the picture, on the one hand, but on the other hand, the more “noisy” it is. I think all of you have seen digital noise in photos from "soap dishes".

How to take pictures with a SLR camera? A few practical examples

As you probably already understood, this topic is limitless. And for one article we will not analyze it. Instead of trying to cover everything at once, I will give examples of settings that should be used in a given situation. This will be useful to those who have just started to study materiel and who are interested in it. For those who just need to take pictures, there is an "Auto" mode, which was written about above.

Shooting a portrait with an 18-55mm lens. You need to get as close as possible to the subject by unscrewing the zoom by 55mm. In A (aperture priority) mode, set to the lowest possible value (probably 5.6 for this lens). Set the ISO to auto mode. Make a frame. The portrait can be anything - from full-length to facial. With these settings, you will get the maximum possible blur with minimal distortion. We are talking about shooting a portrait outdoors during daylight hours.

Shooting a landscape with an 18-55mm lens. The focal length is chosen according to the circumstances. Maximum amount space will fit into the frame at 18mm. In A mode, the aperture can be clamped down to f/9. ISO is better to set the minimum (100). With these settings, we will get the sharpest possible shot. Of course, we are talking about shooting landscapes during daylight hours.

Shooting architecture with an 18-55mm lens. For the narrow streets of small towns, it is best to set the minimum focal length (18mm). In aperture priority mode, again, set f / 7.1 or f / 9. ISO is best set to the minimum value (100). With these settings during the day, we will get the maximum sharpness in the frame, which is important when shooting architecture.

We shoot macro with an 18-55mm lens. We choose focal length according to the circumstances, depending on the subject of shooting. In order to get as much sharpness as possible in aperture priority mode, you need to set the value from f / 11 to f / 22. This is especially true for shooting at 55mm at maximum zoom. ISO should not be set above 400. Of course, there must be a lot of light to shoot macro at a strong approximation.

Filming at sports competitions. Regardless of the lens, in order to freeze the movement, you need to set a fast shutter speed. The shorter the better. 1/1000 is enough. Thus, you need to select the S (Tv) mode and select the appropriate value. ISO can be set to auto, during the day it will not be too high.

conclusions

Perhaps this is where I would like to stop. You can write here for a very long time. But I'm afraid that in the end there will be a book, not an article. Thus, the remaining issues not considered, we will analyze in the framework of clarifying articles. As for this material, I hope it will help you at least a little deal with your reflex camera and understand its main differences from the "soap dish". Let me take a bow for this. All good shots and a good choice!

Video "How to take pictures with a SLR camera"

On the topic of this article, 2 videos were shot. The first is theoretical, in which I talk about the regimes that exist. And the second is practical, in which I walk around the city and take pictures, commenting on the camera settings.

Especially for needlewomen who do not know how to independently learn how to properly photograph handmade products so that they look worthy of the best needlework magazines in photographs, and prepared this article.

Tatyana herself learned how to take “delicious” pictures of her works (those who are familiar with Tatyana’s work know how beautiful, soft, professional photos She does her work!

And now Tanya shares her accumulated knowledge and experience with the readers of Krestik!

With each craft, you don’t run into a professional photographer’s studio, so you need to learn how to shoot your products on your own at a good amateur level. Few of the needlewomen have special rooms at home with good light or a set of lighting fixtures. Most often we have to photograph in low light conditions, and in such a situation, no matter how good and expensive our camera is, the automatic (or “intelligent”) shooting mode does not good results. In this article we will learn how to take pictures with a SLR camera (SLR), consider basic concepts photos and learn how to shoot in mode aperture priority.

Why in this particular mode? Because the aperture directly affects the depth of field, which has a very great importance in subject photography.

Aperture priority mode

Aperture priority mode is usually denoted by the letters "A" or "Av". You can find out how to turn it on on your camera in the instructions for the camera, which will not be superfluous to read 🙂

Aperture priority mode designation on a Canon camera

What is diaphragm? This is a light-tight shutter made of several petals that adjusts the size of the hole that allows light to flow inside the camera.

The wider the "hole" - the more light enters the matrix, respectively, the narrower the "hole" - the less light. It turns out that with a fully open aperture, the picture will be brighter than with the maximum closed.

The degree of aperture opening is indicated by the letter F, a fraction and numbers from 1.4 to 22. The smaller the number, the larger the aperture, the larger the number, the smaller the aperture. This inverse relationship is often confusing for beginners in photography. To make it easier to understand the essence and learn how to take pictures correctly, I specially made the following picture for beginners:

The range of aperture values may vary depending on the lens. Conventional lenses are mainly adjustable from F / 1.8 to F / 16.

On Canon cameras, the aperture value is displayed at the top of the display and is adjusted by turning the dial. You can read about how this is done on your cameras in the instructions for the camera.

Aperture value on the display Canon camera

Aperture control on a Canon camera

Depth of field

The depth of field directly depends on the aperture - the depth of the sharply depicted space, in other words, depth of field. This is the region of space in which objects are sharp. It extends some distance in front of and behind the focus point.

The wider the aperture is open, the shorter this distance, and accordingly, the further the aperture is closed, the longer the depth of field.

In the picture below, the focus is on the heads of the pins inside the needle bar. In the first photo (when the aperture is wide open), the depth of field is very shallow: even the clasp lock, which is a little closer to the camera than the pins, is already slightly out of focus. And the wooden spool, which is a little further from the camera than the pins, is already blurry too.

Aperture 1.8

In the second and third shots (at medium apertures), both the clasp lock and the coil are already becoming clearer, and bricks are beginning to emerge in the background.

Aperture 4

Aperture 5.6

And in the last picture (at the maximum closed aperture), even the bricks of the wall against the background are already quite sharp.

Aperture 22

Depth of field is one of essential tools in photography, and they just need to learn how to master them, especially when it comes to product photography, which is what we do.

With the right depth of field, we can focus the viewer's attention on the subject, hide the flaws in the background, give the photo more artistry and, as a result, learn how to take beautiful pictures even with an ordinary DSLR.

Checking your camera's capabilities

DOF largely depends on the focal length of the lens used.

In order to find out and evaluate the capabilities of your particular camera and lens, run simple exercise: put several objects obliquely on the table - each next one should stand a little further and to the right (or left) from the previous one. Set the aperture to the extreme (fully open), and take several shots, changing the aperture value by one stop with each shot.

In this case, always focus on the same point and do not change the distance from the camera to objects (use a tripod or other equipment).

So, after you have chosen the aperture value that suits you, that is, the main object is depicted sharply, and everything else is sufficiently blurred, it may turn out that the picture is too dark or vice versa too light.

Light sensitivity (ISO)

You can correct the situation by adjusting photosensitivity(ISO) - the sensitivity of the camera matrix to the amount of light received. The range of values depends on the camera and ranges from 100 to 6400. Many cameras have a separate button for adjusting ISO. You can find out how to adjust the sensitivity of your camera in the instructions for it.

ISO on Canon camera display

ISO control on a Canon camera

The ISO value is displayed on the camera screen.

The smaller it is, the darker the image will be, the higher the value, the brighter the image.

But the higher the light sensitivity of the matrix, the more digital noise (or “grains”) in the photo, which can be seen in the next two pictures. Setting high ISO values \u200b\u200b(1600 and higher) makes sense if you shoot in conditions of severe lack of light. Most often, values of 100-800 are optimal.

exposition

Another tool for adjusting the light in the photo - exposition. That is, the amount of light that hits the camera's sensor to create a picture. On Canon cameras, to adjust the exposure, you usually need to hold down a special button and turn the wheel. The exposure values are displayed on the screen and usually range from -2 to +2.

Canon camera display exposure and control

The default exposure is 0. Negative exposure makes the photo darker, positive exposure makes it brighter.

If you're shooting in low light conditions, a plus exposure shift can help you bring the brightness of your photo up to an acceptable level. And vice versa: if the lighting is too bright, and there is no way to dim it, then the exposure shift to “minus” will darken the picture a little.

However, it should be remembered that along with the light areas of the photo, the dark areas also become darker, the details are lost, the shadows become deeper.

Exposure -2

Exposure -1

And with “overexposure”, already bright areas can become dazzling white.

Exposure +1

Exposure +2

Therefore, in conventional product photography, given that we are trying to capture the real colors and details of our work, and not create a surreal picture, extreme exposure should not be used.

Exposure 0

Excerpt

When we shoot in Aperture Priority and manually adjust aperture, ISO, and exposure, our cameras automatically adjust the shutter speed to meet the conditions we set.

Excerpt- this is the length of time during which the shutter of the camera is open and light enters the camera.

It is measured in fractions of a second or seconds (sometimes, of course, hours, but this is not our case). The display shows the shutter speed either as a fraction (for example, 1/100) or as a whole number with a seconds sign (1′). In the first case, the shutter speed is one hundredth of a second (short), and in the second - a whole second (long).

Shutter speed on Canon camera display

With a sufficiently long shutter speed (about a second or more), "stirring" inevitably occurs - blurring the frame due to hand trembling. And there are two solutions to this problem.

First way

Tripod and 2-second shutter release delay. With a tripod, perhaps, everything is clear, and the shutter setting is usually turned on with a button with a clock icon, after which you need to select the 2s mode.

Self-timer 2 seconds on Canon camera display

Now, in order to take a picture, you need to press the shutter button and remove your hands from the camera. After two seconds, the still camera will take a nice, clear picture.

Second way

Change exposure, sensitivity and aperture settings. If the camera gives you a too long shutter speed, it means that in order to fulfill the settings you specified, it has to keep the shutter open for a long time in order to let in the right amount of light to the matrix. Try lowering the ISO, changing the exposure. Of course, the photo may become darker, and you will have to open the aperture wider, sacrificing depth of field.

Here we come to the essence of shooting in manual mode:

In order to achieve the desired result (to convey real colors or to implement an artistic concept), it is necessary to choose the optimal combination of all camera parameters.

Now you know how to take pictures with a SLR camera. If you can’t find such a combination of settings and take a high-quality photo, then you need to work on lighting, and we’ll talk about this in the next article.

Great work and good photos!

Hello readers of my blog! I'm in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. So, you have decided to master the art of photography? Maybe you want to read something from the theory first, or maybe immediately turn to practice? Both options are not bad, and the main thing here is to start! I suggest that you start learning photography from scratch in the form of several stages. In principle, some of them can be interchanged, if desired, however, it is important to follow the plan. It is consistency and focus that will help you not only when studying photography, but in any other business, if you take it seriously.

Do you have a festival of colors Holi? This is an Indian holiday, where all people smear each other with food, dry paints, of different colors. In our city, it is already in its 4th year. And only this year, I managed to get on this interesting show. As you probably know, I studied in India for one year, received a master's degree, you can read about this in the "About the Author" section, and so, there I got acquainted with this holiday, one might say from head to toe.

Did you like the holiday? Would you like to participate in such an event? What do you think about it?

Let's continue our topic of the article.

Several large blocks can be distinguished:

Technical block. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are the most important parameters to master in order to understand the imaging system. There is a lot of information about them on the Internet, on my blog, you can also find the necessary information, and everything is written in plain language. In addition, try to study internal mechanisms your camera.
Aesthetics. When you look at your own or someone else's photo creation, does something catch you? Yes, it happens. A feeling of peace may arise, a photograph may cause awe, tenderness, or, conversely, excitement, anxiety. This is the subjective experience when perceiving a photograph. The picture gives us certain emotions, we like to look at the moment captured on it, especially if it is original enough, it looks harmonious. Better yet, tell a story. This is achieved by visual and expressive means, which are also worth reading about separately: this is the perspective, and the combination of colors, and the proportions of objects, etc.
Composition. Everything that photography does can be expressed in one phrase - it carries meaning. And all of the above is aimed precisely at expressing your thought. It is the semantic orientation of the frame that makes it truly valuable. The main idea can be contained in a certain social message, admiration for an image or view, an unusual lighting solution, etc. It is also important to learn how to see the frame - interesting moments, shooting point, light, and so on.

How often do you purposefully examine and study pictures with curiosity professional photographers? I can say that this is a great way to learn photography, as you learn from a specific well-known example. I advise you to pay more attention to the pictures of specialists, to actively analyze your own photos. Do not be afraid of criticism from the outside! In most cases, it is useful.

Two important tips.

Very detailed and not one or even two, but 3 and 4 times, read the instructions for your SLR camera. Remember all the key points that are written in it.
After an in-depth study of the instructions, I would recommend you the courses "" (who has NIKON) or " My first MIRROR"(Who has CANON). Very wonderful video courses that explain all the basics of photography in a simple and understandable language. The courses will be very useful for beginners.

Camera selection

There are a lot of camera models now. There are kenon, nikon, sony ... At the initial stage, the company is not so important, each of them has advantages and disadvantages. In principle, you can learn the basics of photography on the “soap box”. But I advise you to immediately take a mirror, not too expensive. And choose a lens called “universal”, for example, usually with entry-level SLR cameras, whale lenses are sold, 18-55 mm. or 55-105 mm., it is better to take the second one. If money allows, you can buy, even more versatile, 18-200 mm. It is suitable for many shooting situations, whether landscape shooting, portrait or subject photography and will give you the opportunity to experiment while you learn photography. A budget DSLR and a versatile lens are the perfect combination for those who are just starting to dive into the world of photography.

The above lenses are available from both Nikon and Canon.

Simple rules for good shots

At the end of the article, I put together a few points that will make it easier and easier to create interesting photos. Especially for beginners, they should be studied carefully. So:

Exposure is a very useful thing. You can see a scale in your viewfinder in your camera. So this is it. If you are already familiar with the various modes of the device, but are not sure whether you are setting the shooting parameters correctly, contact it for help. The metering value should be around 0, then the picture will turn out to be well lit - and not dark, and not overexposed.
Use the built-in flash as a last resort - it gives a bright, but absolutely flat and ugly image, especially when shooting people, it unpleasantly hits the light directly into the eyes. Consider purchasing external flash- She will help you more than once in the future.
Photographed objects (people) can be of different shapes and be in different positions. The main rule here is: if the object is stretched upwards (a glass, a tower, a tree, a standing person), then choose a vertical frame, if it is extended to the side (building, car, road), therefore, it is horizontal.
My favorite theme is the horizon, that is, the line between the earth (water surface) and the sky. With rare exceptions, it should always be straight! Keep an eye on it, don't shoot mindlessly. If, when viewing, there is a feeling that you are falling, this is clearly a bad impression that will remain from your photographic work.
If your hands are not yet accustomed to holding the camera tightly, take a tripod with you if possible. It will stabilize the camera, and the pictures will be clearer. And it's better to always use tripods, I do that.
Master graphic editor. For example, you can start with a simple and functional Lightroom utility. It is very powerful for photo processing. Personally, I have been using it for a long time. Even a little photo processing in it will greatly improve your picture. 95 percent of all frames need some retouching! There are many courses on lightroom, but not all of them are of high quality. I would advise you to watch the course "". It is very simple and understandable.

I hope you already have something clear in your head? Read my articles, starting with the very first. Consistent reading of them will form the correct thinking and concept of photography in your head, and you will begin to understand the basics of photography.

Digital SLR for beginners 2.0- for owners of a NIKON SLR camera.

My first MIRROR- for owners of a CANON SLR camera.

Lightroom is an indispensable tool for the modern photographer.

See you soon, my dear readers! On my blog, we have already dealt with many important concepts. useful information more and more, and I again encourage you to read my blog, comment and subscribe to it. Don't forget to share with your friends on social media. Don't miss any important information! See you soon!