EXAMPLES - ASSIGNMENT #2

OK guys, it seems we are having some difficulty with this lesson so I really would like you to go back and re-read Chapter 2 once again, especially the part of f-stops and shutter speeds. read it slowly and try to absorb as much as you can. Both f-stops and shutter speeds affect exposure by regulation how much light reaches the sensor. This should be easy to understand.

But remember that each also affects how the image looks. F-stops change the depth of field and shutter speeds affect how blurred or frozen any moving objects are. Here are some examples which is what I wanted you all to do for your assignment. Here goes:

This first image is an arctic tern from Iceland. This is an example of a fast shutter speed. See how every thing on the fast-moving bird is tack-sharp and there is no movement? This was taken with a shutter speed of 1/800 second.

Here is an example of a slow shutter speed. This is actually 20 seconds and as each passing car goes by, the headlights and taillights become blurred streaks. Obviously, a tripod was necessary for this.

Now, here is an example of a large aperture (small f-stop number). The result is what's called shallow depth of field, meaning the primary subject - the bear - is in sharp focus but the background is blurred out. This, again, is because of the very shallow depth of field of - in this example, f/4.

And here is an example of a small aperture (large f-stop number). This gives us a lot of depth of field. See how both teh foreground rocks and the mountains way in the distance are both is sharp focus? This was taken at f/20.

Now study these examples and then please go back and re-read the chapter. If you have any questions, please post them here. Try to do exactly what i did here - post 2 examples of different shutter speeds (slow and fast) and two different examples of f-stops - one with shallow depth of field and one with a lot of depth of field. Good luck!

Thanks Richard for going to such great length to explain this!
Sorry for being a pain, but how did you figure out (afer the fact, while looking through your pictures) that these pictures were taken at the different shutter speeds/f-stop that you mention here?

Are shooting in Manual mode or are you using the Aperature & Shutter Priority modes and letting the camera figure the other out?

If it makes it easier for you, use aperture priority and shutter priority.