Aperture Testing

[Second Hand Pat]

Guys, to help illustrate Paul's point on "Photography for Dummies"...me being the dummy. I decided to step out of auto mode into aperture mode and found a video on youtube to assist me in understanding the basics. Here are the notes I took while watching the video.


Aperture
Aperture is the opening and closing of the lens for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the amount of light entering the lens. The aperture is measured in the f-stop which is represented as a f/numeric where the smaller the numeric the larger the opening of the lens (lets in more light). So the larger the numeric the smaller the opening will be (lets in less light).

Suggest watching videos on shutter speed and ISO.

On a Nikon when placing the camera in Aperture mode, the camera will control shutter speed and ISO. Also in the window next to the on/off switch ensure the setting is AF-S which is AutoFocus – Single. F-stop is controlled by the red wheel on the front right side of the camera.


I learned quite a bit tonight starting with learning my way around the camera a little. I also learned that f-stop above f1.8 does no good in a low lite aquarium. :p

This is the video I watched and I will post some of my example photo shortly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3833CgvK7MU

[Second Hand Pat]

Lets just say the photos are no great. The first several I didn't even have the flash on. This is the best of the lot IMO. The angel on the left should be cropped as the flash washed the fish out.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7525/15862726841_2ab39b08c3_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qaJC3n)DSC_6069 (https://flic.kr/p/qaJC3n) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[rickztahone]

That is not a bad shot Pat, and looks to be very sharp. Flash allows you to stop down and in turn allows you to get sharper shots.

[pcsb23]

Flash complicates things as far as explaining the basics. For now, imo, it is better not to mention flash other than to say it is one way of adding extra light.

Also the aperture has no effect on the amount of light entering the lens, only on the amount of light that hits the sensor - I'm not being pedantic as there is an important point here and that is for any given lighting scenario, the amount of light entering the lens remains constant and the only way to reduce the amount of light entering the lens is to use filters of some sort. Filters are yet another topic btw.

If I get time I'll setup a simple demo to show the effects of aperture.

[Second Hand Pat]

Well, I am not trying to jump start this but to show how introducing one subject at a time is a way to keep your audience engaged, get them thinking, motivated and curious about their camera. I also think using some of the videos on YouTube might be useful learning tool as you can stop the video to take notes, replay the video to enforce concepts and learn at your own pace.

While my little training exercise was not conducted under the best conditions I still got quite a bit out of it so was definitely not a waste of time.

[pcsb23]

Pat, I wasn't suggesting it was a waste of time so not sure why you mention that. What I was trying to point out was that getting the basics down gets complicated when bringing in other factors that affect it and that the aperture controls the light hitting the sensor and not entering the lens.


... but to show how introducing one subject at a time is a way to keep your audience engaged, get them thinking, motivated and curious about their camera. ...I agree.



I also think using some of the videos on YouTube might be useful learning tool as you can stop the video to take notes, replay the video to enforce concepts and learn at your own pace.
Again I agree - provided they look at the right youtube vids, there is some utter tosh on there!

[Second Hand Pat]

Paul, I did not intent to suggest that you hinted it as a waste of time only the conditions under which I was playing do not allow to use the full range of f-stop.

[Second Hand Pat]

OK, I need a EXIF viewer :) Recommendations?

[rickztahone]

OK, I need a EXIF viewer :) Recommendations?

It is difficult for me to tell you which I have from work because I have a bad memory. I googled it though and found This one (http://exif-viewer.com/) which is fairly straight forward. This one of course you'd have to supply the code and then it will give you the exif data. The one I have at home allows you to right click and view the exif data of any photos that haven't had their exif stripped.

Are you trying to view exif data of your flickr photos by any chance?

[Second Hand Pat]

Rick, I want to see the EXIF data of my pics on my laptop.

[Len]

you should be able to right click the file and select properties. If you use chrome there is a plugin that will show the data if you hover your mouse over the photo as well if the exif is present.

[Second Hand Pat]

Firefox has a plugin also. Just not sure how to use it.

[Second Hand Pat]

Got it. Just right click on the file and go to properties :D

[rickztahone]

What type of program did your camera come with? Typically, they have a sorting mechanism that helps assist keep files organized. This same system supports exif viewer one way or the other.

[Second Hand Pat]

Think it's called Ex View.

[rickztahone]

something like this?
http://www.alldigi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Nikon-View-NX2.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

That's it but never used it. Guess it is time to shake that hand.

[rickztahone]

Well, yes and no.

Yes, this program might be a great way to start, but no because it is a bit limiting, at least from what I just read from it, and the reviews at the bottom.

It offers a converter which is a big plus. You can shoot in RAW mode and then it will convert it to another file format if you wish, jpeg being the most common.

Going solely off the pic I linked, I see it says filter on the top right. This may be a feature to filter by what lens you shot specific shots, or aperture/shutter speed/iso, but I really can't tell from just the pic.
Typically, you can right click on these programs, or you can hover, or single click on them and they will give you the exif data somewhere in the interactive screen.

Give it a shot, it is free after all :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Ricardo, I already uploaded the pictures from today. Took a bunch of pics but all jpeg. Many of the shots seem a bit out of focus but in some shots I am sure I was asking the lens to do things it was not meant to do (like macro).

[rickztahone]

Ricardo, I already uploaded the pictures from today. Took a bunch of pics but all jpeg. Many of the shots seem a bit out of focus but in some shots I am sure I was asking the lens to do things it was not meant to do (like macro).

Understandable. There is nothing wrong with shooting jpeg's, especially when you are delving in to the actual basics of photography. Later, it will be useful to have a RAW converter and work on the file on your own. Remember, shooting jpeg, you are allowing the camera to add certain things to the shot, like clarity, sharpness, noise reduction and things of that nature. Almost analagous to photobucket adding things to the uploaded pics we worked on last week?

[Second Hand Pat]

Maybe that is why the photos are not sharp? or the lighting are a bit muted.

[Discus-n00b]

I've actually put my copyright into my EXIF data now, where ever the picture goes you should be able to see EXIF data and my name. Its an option through my camera and its settings. Something to keep in mind that others may want to do regarding EXIF data.

[Second Hand Pat]

I've actually put my copyright into my EXIF data now, where ever the picture goes you should be able to see EXIF data and my name. Its an option through my camera and its settings. Something to keep in mind that others may want to do regarding EXIF data.

That is a great idea Matt. I wonder if the Nikon has that feature. I will be developing my own little watermark also once I start taking some noteworthy pictures.

[rickztahone]

I've actually put my copyright into my EXIF data now, where ever the picture goes you should be able to see EXIF data and my name. Its an option through my camera and its settings. Something to keep in mind that others may want to do regarding EXIF data.

Great point. I add my copyright from upload through CS6 and it gets embedded in my EXIF data.

[Second Hand Pat]

Here's a few of the fun pictures from today. This is Gypsy who is a little border terrier and is hunting in the oak branch.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8583/15871179341_9c70f96eda_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qbtWF8)DSC_6102 (https://flic.kr/p/qbtWF8) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15253485743_0198fc8075_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/peU6Tv)DSC_6118 (https://flic.kr/p/peU6Tv) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15873122055_6b063e35d2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qbDUbc)DSC_6106 (https://flic.kr/p/qbDUbc) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[rickztahone]

DSC_6106 is the keeper here Pat :). The others suffer from lack of sharpness because the focus is not actually on your pooch. There is something called spot center that will focus to that one point where you point it to. This allows you to tell the camera, "hey, it is THIS in particular I want in focus".

Additionally, I see other shots in your Flickr, 6053 is a rather nice one as well :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Ricardo, It seemed when there was something, like the branch in the foreground the camera would focus on that vs the pooch. So I wonder if AF-S should have been something else.

On 6053 the fstop was f4 so it seems like everything is in focus.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8616/15245082043_8e5c144226_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pea2L8)DSC_6053 (https://flic.kr/p/pea2L8) by plh (https://www.flickr.com/people/129594174@N08/), on Flickr

[rickztahone]

AF-S (Auto focus single) means that the camera will make a beep sound when it finds its focus and will not budge again, unless you remove your finger from half press.

AF-C (Auto focus continuous) will allow the camera to keep looking for a subject no matter what. Typically, you use this setting when dealing with a moving subject, such as sports, or a small little pooch :)