“And by all your powers combined, I AM CAPTAIN PLANET!”
Note: That was written up there to get your attention (LOL). But as a preacher once said, “We’re going somewhere” with this, we do mean that….
Photography, as you could see in the previous posts (and if you haven’t read them, check them out by clicking on the links to the right) is an interesting subject! As we covered previously, a camera is composed of 4 elements: 1) ISO, 2) Shutter Speed, 3) Aperture, and 4) Lighting. With all these “powers” together, you have a camera. Now, over the past couple of years, various technologies (especially through the phone) have been “catching up” to the professional market, albeit in its own way. Many of these phones are able to take absolutely awesome shots, especially ones that are outside. The sharpness and clarity of these images are beginning to rival professional cameras in terms of their sharpness.
Take, for instance, the iPhone 6 Plus. We use this every day to take “candid” pictures of the scenery over time, and compared to previous phones we’ve had, this one has had us taking more pictures than ever before. BUT, at the end of the day, it still does not compare to the qualities that a professional, or dedicated camera can bring to the table. For instance, within the iPhone, you really can’t control the camera settings manually; all you can do is click the button to take the picture, and Apple does the rest in making sure the image is properly exposed and sharp….
And so, in comes the dedicated camera, such as the Canon T5i that are sold in stores like Best Buy, Sam’s BJ’s and other retail outlets. On these cameras, they have an “M” or “Manual” setting on them, which “segways” into our next point: The best way to learn photography is to 1) put the camera on the “M” setting, 2) find out how to change the ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture (as a start), and then 3) start taking pictures!
For instance, choose a nice, scenic spot and set your camera to the following settings: ISO 100, Shutter Speed of 1/80th, and an Aperture of f/6.3. Then, take a picture starting with your ISO at 100, then take another picture at ISO 200, then at ISO 400, etc. You’ll then begin to see how the ISO affects the picture. Repeat this exercise with the Shutter Speed, and then again with your Aperture….
In fact, send us an example of your shots in the Comments area below, and we can give you some feedback on it! Are you game???….
We look forward to your responses!