DIY Network

Stop-Action Photography: Shutter Speed and F-Stop From "The Whole Picture" episode DTWP-106

	Erin Manning instructs her student in the basic techniques of stop-action photography.
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In this episode of DIY's The Whole Picture, host Erin Manning offers tips for taking exciting action photos that look like ones shot by pros. In the previous lesson, she showed how a little practice panning the camera and pre-focusing can yield great results. Here, she discusses shutter speed and aperture functions on the digital camera and the various effects that can be achieved by experimenting with them.

Materials used in this episode:

Digital camera
Camera user's-manual
Computer with photo-editing software

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	Shutter speed: 1/380 Aperture: f2.9 ISO: 64
	Shutter speed: 1/125 Aperture: f5.6 ISO: 100
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Shutter Speed and F-Stop

Depending on the results you're after, you may want to freeze the action or you may want to achieve a blurred effect. Either is achieved by the appropriate use of shutter speed.

The shutter is the mechanism that controls how long the light passes through the lens before it hits the film or, in the case of a digital camera, the image sensor. Faster shutter speeds, such as 1/1000-second, will freeze the action. Slower shutter speeds, such as 1/8-second, will result in a moving image showing up as blurred in the photograph. In general and in most sports photography, a shutter speed of 1/250-second or faster will freeze all but the fastest-moving subjects. In traditional photography, along with the aperture or f-stop value (i.e., the size of the lens opening), the shutter speed is among the most important factors in terms of the results you'll get in your photos.

In digital cameras, your camera doesn't use a mechanical shutter or film. Rather it uses an image sensor--an electronic device that turns "off" or "on" to control the amount of light passing through the lens.

Automatic cameras will balance the shutter speed with the aperture setting to get the best exposure. In shutter priority you select the shutter speed and the camera will then calculate and set the best aperture for the correct exposure in the particular light situation where you are shooting. Aperture priority is just the reverse: you select the size of the opening and the camera then calculates and sets the appropriate shutter speed.

On digital cameras, you can press the shutter button half-way down to display the shutter speed on the LCD screen. The shutter speed is also typically displayed in the viewfinder.

One thing to keep in mind is the effect of aperture on depth-of-field. For larger f-stops (those with lower numbers such as 2.8) result in a reduced depth of field -- which means a smaller area that's in focus.

For beginners taking wanting to master stop-action photography, it's best to practice taking shots outdoors on a day with plenty of sunlight. In that way, you'll be able to shoot at fast shutter speeds with a smaller lens opening. With those settings, you should be able to freeze most action and depth-of-field or focus won't be as much of an issue.

Use the "Sports" or "Action" mode on your camera to keep your moving subject in focus. To gain even more control, you may want to try specific shutter speeds using the shutter-priority mode.

Many cameras have pre-set functions, or modes built in to help you take better pictures in certain situations. The camera's manufacturer programs the camera with the settings they consider the best for the specific shooting situations -- e.g., sports, portrait and landscape modes.

By setting the camera to sports mode, usually indicated with a runner icon, it will choose the settings for what it thinks are the most suitable for shooting sporting events. This includes a faster shutter speed. The camera will adjust the shutter speed and lens opening to what it "thinks" is best. However, depending on the lighting situation and speed of the action, you may wish to take more control of your stop-action photographs.

For stop action photographs, many professionals use the shutter priority mode on their cameras in order to lock in the shutter speed and get the image they want to capture.

Check your manufacturer's manual to see how to set your camera into shutter priority mode which allows you to lock in the shutter speed that you want. The camera will then only be able to self adjust it's lens opening. Taking control of your shutter speed will help you to better isolate your subject.

Stop-Action Photo Recap

• Timing is everything. Get the timing of the action down when following your subject.

• To freeze the action, make sure that your shutter speed is set to 1/250-second or faster.

• Pan or follow the action, framing your subject so that you leave enough time for the digital camera to focus and capture the image.

RESOURCES :

PC Photo magazine
Website: www.pcphotomag.com
Online version of the magazine devoted to digital photography and related technologies.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography
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Digital Photography For Dummies
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Hungry Minds, Inc.

Complete Digital Photography
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Charles River Media
Website: www.charlesriver.com/

50 Fast Digital Photo Techniques
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Author: Gregory Georges, Cris Rys
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Hungry Minds, Inc.