So we’ve agreed that you’re looking to create technically correct images that are in-focus and not too bright (overexposed) or too dark (underexposed.) You’ve chosen a lens that gives you roughly the focal length you’re looking for depending on what you’re shooting.
Q: I chose a 105mm lens, but how do I get the flowers to go all blurry in the background when shooting portraits? I’ve got a 200mm lens so I can get close enough to him without getting wet, but how do I freeze the water that my son is splashing in the pool? My daughter is jumping on her bed; I have a 28mm lens. What do I use to make the other settings work so that I can freeze her in the air mid-jump?
A: Here’s the magic equation:
Exposure = ISO + Aperture + Shutter Speed
Here’s a flowchart to help get you thinking about what kind of images you want to make:
Learn it, know it, live it.
Next up: breaking down the details. Picking your own iso, aperture and shutter speed numbers is how a photographer differs from a camera. Knowing this, and what to look for in a camera and lens to help you, separates the men from machines.
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