Sunday, February 3, 2013

it's all about the f~stop...



This week's Beyond lesson is all about the fabulous f~stop.  This magical feature allows for some real creativity behind the lens....it allows you to capture those dreamy images.  The lower the number of your f~stop...the more blur to your image.  The higher the number of your f~stop...the more sharpness to your image.  In the manual mode you can choose your focal point, choose your f~stop, adjust your exposure and click!  I used f~5.6  in the photo above.

The dreamier the better?  Not always....  

Sometimes the lowest f~stops give too much of a blur that make the colours go mushy and  you might have a difficult time focusing because the focal plane is sooo narrow....everything seems just alittle too much out of focus.  Here is the same shot using f~2.5



And if the f~stop goes too high...you loose the that magic.  F~10.0


As you increase your f~stop, your opening gets smaller...thus allowing less light into your camera.  To compensate for this you really need to adjust your exposure...i usually shoot above the 0 compensation mark to get that "light look".   I also went into light room and adjusted the white balance and adjusted my whites...Love that lightroom!!  

I hope your week brings you all kind of dreamy magic both in front and behind your lens!

Until next time...
nancyjean

12 comments:

  1. Love how you showed the steps you went through with each f-stop. That is interesting that you usually shoot above zero. I am many times at zero, or slightly above or below.

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  2. Very nicely done - and explained so well.

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  3. Fun shot! I LOVE conversation hearts!!!

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  4. Great post I usually have to underexpose to get the look I want..,cameras really vary don't they ? I love your love hearts they make great props....

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    1. I'm always a little underexposed...I can lighten it and maintain detail I want. But that's just me...

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  5. Great post. f/5.6 looks just right--sweet photo!

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  6. LOL...I just can't help but think of an orange heart that says "My Pet"...cuz as a kid I never got what that meant. Wonderful explanation...

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  7. I usually meter off my 12% grey card...a cannon girl. This sometimes results in a +1/3 or +2/3.

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  8. What an informative post, and beautiful photos! I have a point-and-shoot camera, so this is all new to me. I appreciate the info you provided - it's very helpful for when I start learning with a manual camera. My husband has a Canon - I guess it's time for me to borrow it!

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  9. so interesting to see the stages of the photo. Great props to photograph too!

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  10. I was just taking pictures of conversation hearts today with some of these thoughts in mind...what a great post and fabulous pictures!

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  11. this is a great post & lovely images

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