Week 2 Photography

 Photography Project Week 2:

The auto mode, available in all modern DSLRs, is straightforward and user-friendly. It's convenient for capturing well-exposed photos without much hassle. However, in more intricate environments or specific scenarios, the limitations of auto mode become evident. In such cases, it's beneficial to switch to semi-automatic or fully manual modes to gain more control over the shot. In manual mode, the photographer is in charge of adjusting the lens aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Aperture is determined by the f-stop numbers (e.g., 1.4, 2.0, 9.0, etc.). It regulates the size of the aperture, affecting both the depth of field and the amount of light reaching the sensor.

Shutter speed indicates the duration the shutter remains open. It can range from several seconds to fractions of a second, such as 1/4000 on certain cameras. A longer shutter speed or exposure allows more light to enter, ideal for capturing still scenes like starry skies, light trails, or neon-lit cities. Conversely, a fast shutter speed is vital for scenes with movement, such as sports events or birds in flight. This quicker speed freezes the action but  result in decreased exposure.

ISO, on the other hand, denotes the sensor's sensitivity to light. Higher ISO values are used in low light conditions to brighten the image, but at the cost of potential noise or graininess. Conversely, lower ISO is used in well-lit scenarios.

Personally, I prefer using manual mode and letting the camera adjust the ISO automatically.

In the attached images, I've experimented with varying exposure settings to illustrate how these parameters influence the final shot.

Image 1:

- Aperture: 1/36

- Shutter speed: 1/125 sec

- ISO: 6400

Image 2:

- Aperture: 1/5.6 (more light less depth of field)

- Shutter speed: 1/125 sec

- ISO: 1000 

Image 3:

- Aperture: 1/5.6

- Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec

- ISO: 3200 (using flash)

Image 4:

- Aperture: 1/9

- Shutter speed: 1/4000 sec

- ISO: 3200 (using flash)

conclusion

Using manual mode requires practice and understanding, but mastering it can elevate your photography to a new level, unlocking endless creative possibilities with the camera.