Photography Workshop DSLR Demystified! (C) Suren

DSLR?? What’s that? DSLR - Digital single-lens reflex cameras Uses a mechanical mirror system and a pentaprism to direct light from the lens to a optical view finder. DSLR allow an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure. (C) Suren

Why DSLR’s? The most sophisticated way of capturing images in this modern world. Bringing best interest in your captured images -meaning, viewers will be interested only when they see an effect where the human eyes cannot manipulate and that’s where DSLR comes in! Agreed? (C) Suren

What a non-pro do with DSLR’s? Work in Full-Auto mode! Change the color theme of menu sets! Drive the lenses back and forth pretending to be a pro! ;) Jump between Auto and manual mode – before shooting every snap! Change the lenses often. Open the flash even when the Sun is right in subject`s face straight! :D Point’n Shoot. Taking self snaps with the DSLR. Last but not least, Showing Off!! (C) Suren

So? What’s the Point? The point is – DSLR IS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY and not for saving your memories (a cell phone cam could serve this purpose! ) Photography is an ART! You could bring life to even a dead tree with your DSLR! Remember – your DSLR is your third eye! (C) Suren

Fair enough! What next? Basic Points to Handle your DSLR! 1 st of all, Patience! 2 nd of all, Creativity/Framing. Basic knowledge about tech-terms & controls. Clear understanding about the scene modes! (setting macro mode in wedding group photo and a portrait mode in a zoo will end up in an instant comedy) ;) Knowing your DSLR’s limits. Go through your DSLR’s Manual before start using. (Why not? We even read instant noodle’s cooking instructions before opening it) (C) Suren

Oh Please! Cut to the Chase! Fine…. Let’s discuss Full-Auto mode in DSLR’s… Full-Auto mode is a demon which will possess your DSLR and its actions from focus to flash! (in a good way). It makes your life easier by auto-adjusting the DSLR’s settings so that we will not moan at a bleached picture ;) Modern cameras have custom auto-modes called Scene modes to suit your environment. (C) Suren

Scene-Modes Scene Modes are nothing but subject-biased Auto-modes which will bias the camera controls compatible to your subjects like Portrait, Landscape, Sports/Action, Macro etc. These modes are generic settings for your DSLR based upon the subject BUT you cannot have your DSLR work for you in your way. There’s also a “P” program which often allows a little user control over auto setting the exposure and aperture. All the above are for the fuss-free shooting people but if you want to be a professional/serious photographer – its time to be a ring-master of your DSLR. (C) Suren

So how to take control of my DSLR?? Full – Manual Mode. Aperture Priority AE. (Semi-Auto) Shutter Priority AE. (Semi-Auto) NB: I would advice the beginners not to use Full Manual mode until you become familiar with those above stated semi-auto modes. (C) Suren

Let’s see the generic controls: (C) Suren

Aperture Priority AE I would recommend this to 96% of DSLR photographers because its useful to take almost any type of subjects. Its very popular because it allows you to set the aperture value manually BUT it sets the shutter speed automatically based upon your aperture value. In your DSLR mode dial, its usually labelled as ‘A’ or ‘Av’ based upon your make. (C) Suren

Aperture Priority AE This mode is very popular among DSLR users because it gives you more control over depth- of-field (DOF) in your shots. I usually use this mode to shoot portraits and landscapes because of its fluid control over my subjects especially blurring the background. Aperture, Aperture, Aperture…. Hang on! What’s Aperture really mean? (C) Suren

Aperture Priority AE (C) Suren

How Aperture controls DOF? (C) Suren

Shutter Priority AE Similar functionality as Aperture Priority BUT this mode allows you to set the shutter speed manually and the aperture value is set automatically based upon your shutter speed value. (That’s why this mode is considered as semi-auto) Its usually labelled as ‘S’ or ‘Tv’ in your DSLR. This mode comes really handy if you want to freeze actions or to have blur streaks in your shots. (C) Suren

Shutter Priority AE To freeze the actions – FAST Shutter Speed (Higher Value) (C) Suren

Shutter Priority AE To have a blur or streaks in the shots – SLOW Shutter Speed (Lesser Values) (C) Suren

Various Shutter Speeds (C) Suren

Shutter Priority AE Remember – If you are holding your camera in hands and if your shutter speed is too low, you will end up in blurred snap because of the camera shake! To overcome this, tripod is needed or steady hands ;) (C) Suren

Any Questions? Before we continue…. (C) Suren

Remember… Before we continue there are two stages in firing the shutter (taking the picture). Press the shutter release button slightly half way through and the camera will focus the subject. Once locked, press the button fully and it will take the picture. Not only in DSLR’s but most of the camera types offers this technique. Even cell phone cameras (C) Suren

DSLR’s AF (Auto-Focus) The next special aspect of DSLR is focus metering. As the name says, DSLR offers different types of automatic focusing. Single-Shot AF Continuous AF Auto AF Manual AF (C) Suren

Single-Shot AF This is a very popular AF mode among DSLR users. While in this mode, the camera focuses the subject and once its locked the focus never changes. For example, if you focus a subject standing at 3.5m from you and the camera locks the focus at the same distance, its fixed. The focus value will not change automatically even the subject moves towards or away from you. So the point is, this AF mode is not suitable for moving subjects. (C) Suren

Continuous AF This mode is right opposite to Single-Shot AF, meaning the AF value changes when the subject moves towards or away from you. Suitable for shooting moving objects. Beware – The shutter will fire even though the subject is out of focus. So, its very important to keep an eye on the subject in this mode. (C) Suren

Auto AF This mode is nothing but the mix of both previously discussed AF modes. While in this mode, if you half-press the shutter button, the camera will focus the subject in single-shot mode and locks it. BUT, if the subject moves, the camera automatically change to Continuous focus mode and try to stay focused on the subjects. Suitable for non-predictable subjects like little kids, birds/animals, sports and undercover agents like Mr. Bond who cant afford to lose the sight of their subjects ;) (C) Suren

DSLR AF’s Problems Even though the AF system has been built brilliant, there are some cases where it goes wrong. AF focuses your camera lens itself if its dirty or on the glass if your shooting a subject through a glass. AF focuses on the cage pattern instead of the Lion inside the cage ;) AF often fails if there is no enough light information. (C) Suren

Manual Focus The failsafe method. There’s a saying which is often very true in DSLRs – If you want the work to be done perfect, do it by yourself Even though AF is accurate most of the times, you may need to switch to full Manual Focus if you are shooting small objects/insects using Macro lenses or when the AF struggles to focus (situations we discussed in last slide) (C) Suren

ISO Settings ISO stands for “International Standards Organisation” and its been derived from the film era. In older days, ISO values refer to how sensitive the film is towards light. With the advent of digital cameras the ISO settings have been preserved so that the photographers can understand the light information for their snaps. ISO values are closely connected with shutter speed and aperture value. So, changing any value of these three will have a direct impact on the other two. (C) Suren

ISO Settings Any decent DSLR camera will have the ISO range settings from 100 to Going up the ISO values halves the exposure and vice-versa. So, you get the point? Less ISO value = more light enters the camera and high ISO value = less light enters the camera. Quick question – How you will set the ISO setting if you want to shoot the London bridge from the sidewalks around 10pm? (C) Suren

ISO Settings Increasing the ISO values increase the ‘sensitivity’ of the light falling on the camera sensor. More the ISO value, more noise may occur in your shot. (C) Suren

Summary Well, what we have seen so far is nothing but very basic settings/controls. DSLR’s have got way too much advanced controls and as new models are released, more options and settings become available. The concepts we discussed in this session will definitely give you a head start in handling DSLR’s. Let’s stop the theory part here and give it a practical go, shall we? (C) Suren

One moment, Before we move on, is there any doubts or questions? NB: I`ll explain about lighting settings and other vital info while we are at practice. (C) Suren

Let’s Go! Thank you for Listening (C) Suren