30 Days of Photography Tips… Day 2

DAY #2!

TIP #2: When setting up your manual camera settings, set your aperture second.

When you have your camera on manual [M], and after setting your ISO  first, I would recommend setting your aperture second. Aperture is the hole or opening in your lens that lets in light. The size of the opening determines how much light comes into your camera as well as how sharp or blurry the background is going to be in your image.

The aperture setting is also known and referred to as “F-stop”. These terms can be used interchangeable. The smaller the F-stop number, the more light that will be able to enter your camera. For example, F2.0 will allow a lot more light to come into your camera than the setting F16. You can keep learning about aperture more here.

Aperture is what you use to control and create that blurry loveliness behind the subject, often referred to as bokeh. This picture below was taken with an aperture of F2.8 and the leaves and sunlight have become blurry and soft behind the little girl.

2 Comments

  1. Anisa Ray on November 2, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Hi Cory. BEAUTIFUL photos. I am so in love with the quality. Recently I also purchased the 5D. I originally wanted the 7D but I love the colors this camera can create when I get it right that is. lol. Super difficult sometimes especially the white balance.

    However, I was wondering what focus point do you normally use? I leave mines on the all points (where all dots are blue), and autofocus. I normally use my 50mm 1.4. I’m having a lot of trouble focusing the dot where i want it. For example, sometimes, it focuses on the neck and not the eyes. But i feel like if i leave it on only one dot being the center dot, it’s going to break the rule of thirds at all times leaving my subjects straight in the middle! I am so frustrated with trying to figure out how to keep my focus where I want it especially with my babies constantly moving. lol

    help! Thank you so much!



  2. Cori Derksen on November 2, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    Just be patient…focus point is for day #6…(center focus point).
    wait til day 6 and then feel free if you have more questions. :)