Wietrzny-Schlender

=== Depth of Field is the range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp. It's very important to understand DOF because it varies depending on camera type, aperture, and focus distance. For example, aperture has a big impact on DOF because the larger the aperture, the smaller the DOF, and vise versa. ===

=== The exposure triangle explains the three, main elements that need to be considered when dealing with exposure: ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. The concept of the exposure triangle is very important because each of the three elements relate to light and how it enters and interacts with the camera. 1. ISO measures the sensitivity to the image sensor on a camera. The lower the ISO, the less sensitive your camera is to light and the finer grain, and vise versa. Additionally, when you decide to select and your ISO manually, it'll begin to impact the aperture and shutter speed needed for a well exposed shot. For example, if you bumped your ISO up from 100 to 400, you'll notice that you can capture photos at a higher shutter speed and smaller aperture. To choose the ISO setting, be sure to ask yourself the following questions: ===

=== 2. Aperture is the opening of the lens. When you take a picture with your camera, a hole opens up that allows the image sensor to see what you're trying to capture. The aperture that you select impacts the size of the hole. The larger the hole, the more light that comes through, and vise versa. Aperture is measured in ‘f-stops’. In a side note, it’s important to remember that large apertures (where lots of light gets through) are given f/stop smaller numbers and smaller apertures (where less light gets through) have larger f/stop numbers. For example, f/2 is a much larger aperture than f/22. Lastly, there are many results that can occur when you change the aperture on a camer a, but the most noticeable one is the depth of field. Large DOF means that almost all of your image will be in focus, no matter the distance from the camera. Small (or shallow) DOF means that only part of the image will be in focus and the rest will appear out of focus. ===

===3. Shutter Speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open. It’s measured in seconds– or in most cases fractions of seconds. The bigger the denominator, the faster the speed. For example, 1/1000 is much faster than 1/30. Also, the slower the shutter speed, the more likely you’ll need to use a tripod to prevent blurry or out of focus photos. Remember that thinking about shutter speed by itself, without ISO and aperture, will result in a poor photo. As you alter the shutter speed, you’ll need to change ISO and/or aperture to compensate for it. For example, if you speed up your shutter speed one stop, you’re effectively letting half as much light into your camera. To compensate for this you’ll probably need to increase your aperture one stop. The other option would be to choose a faster ISO setting. ===

===Focus is very important in photos because it decides what the photographer is attempting to emphasis in the photo, and what the viewer is supposed to look at. Also, make sure to take your time and be patient to focus the camera, while holding it steady to get the best shot. Although soft focus can be interesting, it can’t be used as an excuse for poorly focused images. Lastly, to get good focus in a in a digital SLR photograph, make sure to think about the depth of field and the distance you are from your subject. ===

=== There are 5 compositional techniques that are used in photography to enhance the photo that you are taking. When taking a photo, it is important to keep these techniques in mind to make it more appealing. The first compositional technique is known as the "Rule of Thirds." This rule is put into place to split up the photo into 9 parts. The photo is metaphorically split into thirds, both horizontally, and vertically. It is great to have a point of interest where each of the thirds intersect. Also, when using the rule of thirds, the composition can be improved by not placing the image in the center. If it is placed off to the side, in the bottom half, or very enlarged, it makes the image more eye catching. === === The second compositional technique is "Fill the Frame." Photos really capture somebodies attention when they are blown up and you can see the detail in the photo. You can zoom in by using a zoom feature on your camera, or simply moving closer to the subject. Rather than having white space, let your photo soak up the attention in the frame. === === Another technique is known as having a "Level Horizon." This can come in handy when you use the rule of thirds to level the photo. Some cameras have the setting of rule of thirds to help the photographer level the photo. You do not want to have your shot ruined by having a crooked horizon line. "Framing" can also really add to the overall composition of your photo. It gives the image a sense of depth and layers and leads the eye to the main focal point of the photo. You can use things such as windows, doorways, decorations, and more. This added depth to the photo can improve the color as well, depending on the colors of the frame and what is beyond it. The last compositional technique is incorporating "Leading Lines." An example would be a hallway where it is narrow and there are lines leading back into the photo from where the walls are aligned. Other examples include train tracks and fences. These leading lines create movement in the piece and draws the eye of the viewer. Often times, the leading lines will lead to your focal point because the viewer's eyes will follow those lines to the subject. The type of leading lines can also affect the mood of the photo. Curvy lines create harmony and gracefulness. If you incorporate lines that are diagonal or jagged, it can create a harsh appeal. Leading lines really have an interesting role and it is good to play with the composition of the photo for the best outcome. Sometimes the leading lines can be placed in the middle depending on where they are leading. All of these compositional techniques can enhance the photos that you take. Keep these techniques in mind before you take a shot. Think about what can be incorporated to make the piece more interesting to any viewer. ===

=== There are two main lighting techniques. This lighting comes from either natural sources or artificial sources. One place a natural source of light is found outdoors. This would be from the sun, moonlight, natural firelight, sun coming through the clouds, etc. It can also be found indoors. This would be the natural light found coming through a window in a room or it could be from firelight, or a candle flame. An artificial light source is is something that is created by man that gives off light. This includes studio light (bounce light, fill light, light from a computer screen), light in the room, or a flash of some sort, such as a flash from a phone camera. You would use natural light if you are wanting a photo outdoors, or something from a window inside. Artificial light is mostly used when there isn't much natural light available and you want your photo to be well lit. Artificial light is used when we get our school portraits done, to better light the students faces. ===

=== In Introduction to Digital Media, we have had experience working with artificial light sources such as a lamp to light our faces in experimentation. We also have taken many photos using natural light when we take a picture of the scenery around us, or we are with our friends on a sunny day. Amanda and I have taken many pictures so we have had experience with multiple light sources. ===