Know Your Camera

This is a talk I put together in one evening ahead of a fun semi-monthly event we have at the office.

Transcript

1. Know Your Camera 
   by pk2 
   

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3. The way things   
   used to be. 
   

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5. imaging
   systems
   

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6. imaging
   systems
   (4 components)
   

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8. light-sensitive
   surface
   

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10. a lens
    

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12. a light source
    

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13. a light source
    (a subject)
    

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15. an aperture
    

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17. CREATIVE
    CONTROL MEANS
    MORE KNOBS
    

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19. CAMERA MECHANICS
    focal length
    shutter speed
    f-stop
    ISO sensitivity (not today)
    

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20. FOCAL LENGTH (mm)
    

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21. FOCAL LENGTH (mm)
    

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22. FOCAL LENGTH (mm)
    

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23. FOCAL LENGTH (mm)
    

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24. SHUTTER SPEED 
    

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25. SHUTTER SPEED 
    (watch the sliver)
    

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26. F-STOP
    

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27. F-STOP
    

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28. double
    half
    F-STOP
    

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29. f = focal length
    diameter of aperture
    F-STOP
    

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30. f = 50mm
    6.3mm
    F-STOP
    

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31. f
    8
    F-STOP
    

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32. f
    8
    F-STOP
    -ish
    

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33. DOUBLE HALF WHAT? 
    

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34. the area of the aperture about
    doubles each half step of the
    aperture diameter
    F-STOP
    don’t bother processing this
    

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35. f-stops are ratios that tell
    you how much light you’re
    letting into the camera.
    F-STOP
    okay, now process
    

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37. FOCAL LENGTH
    F-STOP
    SHUTTER SPEED
    

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38. shutter: 1/320th
    

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39. 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/320 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
    (shutter speed in seconds)
    aperture: f/4.5
    

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41. (you)
    

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42. (are ready)
    

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43. COMPOSITION 
    DEPTH OF FIELD 
    EXPOSURE 
    

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44. COMPOSITION 
    DEPTH OF FIELD 
    EXPOSURE 
    

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45. carry your camera
    turn off your flash
    do interesting things
    find a subject and work it
    (don’t center anything, no matter how tempting)
    

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46. “I’m not sure how to
    use my camera.”
    

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47. Sample Starter Settings:
    50mm
    f/5.6
    ISO 1000
    

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48. NOW GO DO
    INTERESTING THINGS
    (and point your camera at them)
    

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49. FIND A LESS-OBVIOUS SHOT 
    

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50. TRAVEL.
     
    

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51. SERIOUSLY, TRAVEL.
     
    

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52. PHOTOGRAPH PEOPLE.
     
    (they’re amazing) 
    FRAME SUBJECTS OFF-CENTER
     
    

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53. “MAY I TAKE YOUR PHOTO?”
     
    (take away the anxiety by asking. offer to email a copy) 
    

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54. I realize this is centered. 
    

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55. BE PATIENT
     
    

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56. BE LOUD
     
    

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57. EXPERIMENT!
     
    (this was my first try at astrophotography) 
    

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58. EXPERIMENT!
     
    (this was last month) 
    

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59. (and finally) 
    FIND MOMENTS
     
    

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60. Thanks!
    

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