Photography Friday {More Metering Tips}

Are you grasping the way each of the elements of the exposure triangle work together!?!?  I think Albert Einstein’s quote totally applies to photography as well, “I have no special talent.  I am only passionately curious.”  The more curious we are about photography, the better we will become!  So let me give you a pat on the back and tell you, AWESOME job sticking with it…your curiosity is totally going to pay off big time…with memories that can never be taken away and pictures that others will adore!  As we work on metering again this week, I want to give you a couple tips that will hopefully help it mesh even better for you!!!

 

For starters, here’s a little review of the parts of the exposure triangle.  Remember that the slightest change in lighting…even as much as from angling your camera towards the window and then back down towards your subject most likely will lead to your light meter needing adjusting, requiring you to change your dial a bit!  Remember, we want every image to be captured where the meter reads, on the center line or just slightly to the left!  Accurate metering is the total ticket to awesome pics!

Aperture

Brightest: Least Depth of Field {F1.8 – F22} Most Depth of Field:  Darkest

Shutter Speed

Brightest: Slowest Shutter Speed {30 – 1/8000} Fastest Shutter Speed:  Darkest

ISO

Brightest: Most Light Sensitive {3200 – 100} Least Light Sensitive:  Darkest

Now for a couple of metering tips…

First, make sure that you are using your viewfinder to double check that you are on the meter line or just to the left.  If you use the back of your lcd screen and then put your eye back in the viewfinder, and then, click the shot, there’s a good chance you’ve lost the perfect exposure you initially set up!!!  Squint your eye and keep it in the viewfinder until you’ve captured that million dollar shot!!!

Next, right along with looking through the viewfinder to monitor your metering, definitely use your viewfinder to make sure the little square that is lit up in your viewfinder is pointing to your subject!  This will ensure that your subject is totally sharp and in focus!  Especially when you are using a prime lens and getting some awesome blur with your low aperture, it’s important that you are paying attention to what is in focus and what is blurred.  And because the viewfinder is SUPER small, it’s not a bad idea to pull your eye away from the viewfinder after a few shots and double check on your  LCD playback screen that you truly did capture a BLASTING shot!!!  It’s way easier to try again when everything is still set up!

And last {for now}, a little reminder for those of you using your kit lens {ie.18-55}, the more you zoom in with your kit lens, the less your aperture will lower.  With the change in aperture being affected when you zoom, you will also have to adjust the other components of the exposure triangle!!!  I think we covered that in our Photography: Questions and Answers course, but it’s real important to keep in mind when you’re using your manual settings!

With all that said, let’s move on with a little application!  Remember that as you look through your viewfinder, this is what you’re seeing…

As always attempt to shoot somewhere that allows you to capture as much natural light as possible!  {At the same time, try to avoid harsh lights which often causes shadows}.  Grab your camera!  In your menu, switch your ISO to 400.  Just a reminder {for those of us with Nikon cameras}, this involves two changes:  1. Switch your ISO sensitivity auto control to OFF and it will stay in this mode until you change it back to auto.  2. Switch your ISO setting to 400.  With your ISO and Aperture set, it’s time to meter the Shutter Speed!  Before we begin, remember what we’ve learned prior about Shutter Speed.

1. If you are taking a picture of your child dancing, jumping or playing sports, you will want to use a faster shutter speed, such as 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000.
2. If you are taking pictures of your child holding up the number of fingers that represent their age or a frozen still smile picture, or taking a family portrait, you will want to set your shutter speed to 1/60, 1/80, 1/100.
3. If you are taking a picture of a craft or food, you will be best setting your camera’s shutter speed low…sometimes as low as 1/30.  However, anything under 1/60 will be prone to have a little blur, unless you have an INCREDIBLY steady hand or are using a tripod.
4. If you are taking a picture and want to include a little motion in your picture, such as taking a picture of a spinning ride at the fair or a waterfall, you will want a super slow shutter speed, such as 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8.  {When you get down that low the shutter is staying open for full second counts}.  You will DEFINITELY need a tripod and remote for these settings. {I absolutely LOVE my camera remote!!}

Now with your ISO set to 400 and your Aperture set to f/5.6, turn your Main Command Dial and notice your Shutter Speed number rising and lowering as you do.  At the same time, the meter line will move left and right.  Keep in mind the numbers I mentioned above as you do this.  If you have moved the Shutter Speed to 30 and your meter line is still not balanced, you know from our previous lesson that any lower and you may end up with a blurred picture.  Go back to your ISO and adjust it to 800.  Repeat moving your Main Command Dial and try to balance your meter.  Stud likes to capture a picture when the meter line reads a dash or two to the left of the 0.   This is your chance to explore!  For each of us will require a different Shutter Speed based on how much additional light our camera’s processor to capture the picture perfectly!!!  You may want to keep a journal of your practice from hereon.  Just jot down the date, time, location, and lighting.  Then, write down, ISO____, Aperture____, and where you liked your Shutter Speed BEST____.   For me, it was early evening before I had a chance to take pics because Little B is doing a dance camp this week and our schedule is way different than usual.  I started at an ISO 400, but quickly knew it wasn’t going to cut it!  TOO DARK!  I had to bump my ISO all the way to ISO 1250 in order to keep my aperture at F/5.6.

If you have a prime lens it’s time to give it a try at a lower aperture.  Set your ISO to 200 and switch your aperture to f/1.8.   Repeat the exercise above.  Turn your Main Command Dial and notice your Shutter Speed number rising and lowering as you do.  At the same time, the meter line will again, move left and right.  Keep in mind the numbers I mentioned above as you do this.  If you have moved the Shutter Speed to 30 and your meter line is still not balanced you know that any lower and you may end up with a blurred picture.  Go back to your ISO and adjust it to 800.  Repeat moving your Main Command Dial and try to balance your meter.  Remember, as I told you in our f/5.6 exercise, Stud likes to capture a picture when the meter line reads a dash or two to the left of the 0.   Have a blast exploring and learning your camera!  Each of us will require a different Shutter Speed based on how much light our camera’s processor needs to capture the picture perfectly!!!  In this picture, I lowered my aperture and ISO and I think the quality is a little better!!!  With time you are going to see a trend and be able to play around with the exposure to help your camera take great pictures even in poor -ish lighting situations!  Is it starting to come more natural for you! When you find the right metering, capture the picture!  Impressive, right!  Add your results to your photography journal!!!

Subscribe, Learn More, or connect with Aimee on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Subscribe to Barns & Noodles for Aimee's favorite recipes. It's Overflowing is an amazon affiliate.

---