Help for a weary beginner

[photobabe0511]

I'm sort of new to all the digital photography thing so please bear with me. I'm just wondering if anyone could tell me why sometimes when I'm shooting a photo that the shutter speed seems extremely slow. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to set the aperture and the shutterspeed and the pictures turn out where you can actually see them (usually the picture is completely black) or they aren't blurry. I'm getting very frustrated to where I just want to walk away from the camera and never look at it again. Can somebody help me understand this?
Thanks!

[Jon]

What camera are you using, and what mode is it in? Are you letting the camera set the exposure or using your eyeball or other judgement?

In general, to stop a moving subject you should be using 1/125 sec or faster; to keep from blurring the picture due to camera shake, the rule of thumb (please direct comments here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48748)) is to use a shutter speed at least 1/(focal length * crop factor) YMMV.

There's also the "sunny 16" rule for figuring exposure without a meter. Shutter speed of 1/ISO requires an aperture of f/16 on a bright sunny day, f/8 in open shade, f/5.6 in overcast conditions, f/22 in bright sand or sun. If it's dark out, it's probably darker than you think. The human eye adjusts very well to extreme light levels - better than your camera.

[robertwgross]

I'm sort of new to all the digital photography thing so please bear with me. I'm just wondering if anyone could tell me why sometimes when I'm shooting a photo that the shutter speed seems extremely slow. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to set the aperture and the shutterspeed and the pictures turn out where you can actually see them (usually the picture is completely black) or they aren't blurry. I'm getting very frustrated to where I just want to walk away from the camera and never look at it again. Can somebody help me understand this?
Thanks!

I agree with Jon. It depends on what camera you have and what kind of exposure mode you use it in.

I hope you know that the exposure, whether it is purely automatic, or something you set manually, will come from three factors: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If you had a totally dimly lit scene, then in order to get a proper exposure captured, it might be necessary for aperture to open wide, shutter speed might need to slow down, and ISO might need to push up. On the other hand, if you had a super bright scene, then it might be necessary for aperture to close down, shutter speed might need to speed up, and ISO might need to push down. Most of what we shoot is somewhere in the middle, and that is why the camera's metering system can read the light and make a halfway decent exposure. Of course, the photographer's eye and brain might possibly make a better decision, once trained. Meanwhile, watch what the camera sets and figure out how to do that humanly.

---Bob Gross---

[CyberDyneSystems]

We forgot the fourth (or first) and most important ingredient for making a useable exposure.

That is LIGHT.

If your camera is automatically setting the shutter at extrememly slow speeds.. this is because there is not enough light to make the exposure at a faster shutter speed.

The more light/brighter the conditions,. the faster your shutter can be.

So if you manually set an exposure with too fast a shutter speed,. the results can be not enough light and possibly be pure darkness for an image.

The other two ingredients listed above, Aperture and ISO sensitivity,.. both offer additional control of exposure in different ways.

Aperture allows more or less light to come into the "film plane" by creating larger of smaller opening for the light to come through. It also effects the image quality in a few other ways .. but thats another discussion.

ISO sensitiy can be adjusted to change the ammount of light that is required by the photosensor to get a proper exposure. By doubling ISO number.. you halve the amount of light reqired.


If you allready know all this than I apologize.. but from what I read in your post it was not clear that this was understood.

Hope this helps :)

[tim]

Put the camera onto the audo (green box ) setting and let it choose everything for you. Take note of the settings it chooses, and once you're comfortable with it try Av or Tv mode. Some people might then try full manual shooting, not me though, the camera can do the job much more quickly than me.

[photobabe0511]

I have a Canon Power Shot Pro. My husband bought it for me since I love photography and it's taking me a little while to figure things out. I understand that aperture is the amount of light let in. I just wasn't sure why sometimes it seems that it takes too long to shoot a picture and then the moment is gone. A little frustrating to say the least. Any suggestions?
It might be a good idea to let it do everything for me and then note the settings. I've been using it in P mode on the camera and it usually does quite well. JUst sometimes the shutterspeed seems to be really slow.

[robertwgross]

Many digital cameras have a lot of shutter lag, i.e. the time between when you push the button and when it actually captures the scene.

Canon EOS digital SLR cameras have virtually no shutter lag. So, if the frustration gets too bad, you know what to shop for.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

If you're using P and the shutter speed is still too slow for you, there's not enough light to use a higher shutter speed. The solution is to use a flash or a higher ISO setting. I don't know how to change that on a powershot, sorry.

A beginners digital photography class might be worthwhile for you, I just did one myself and it was invaluable.

[tim]

Many digital cameras have a lot of shutter lag, i.e. the time between when you push the button and when it actually captures the scene.

Canon EOS digital SLR cameras have virtually no shutter lag. So, if the frustration gets too bad, you know what to shop for.

Well spotted, this could be the issue rather than shutter speed. If it is, prefocussing can help - half press the shutter button until the camera beeps or something to say it's focused, then when you fully press the button the photo should be taken very quickly.

[DocFrankenstein]

You say you love photography. What equipment did you use before that to take pics? Do you have a nice understanding of shutter speed, aperture, focal distance, depth of field and how they are related to one another ?

It may be just the lag. :?

[photobabe0511]

Many digital cameras have a lot of shutter lag, i.e. the time between when you push the button and when it actually captures the scene.

Canon EOS digital SLR cameras have virtually no shutter lag. So, if the frustration gets too bad, you know what to shop for.

---Bob Gross---


Well, that explains some things. You're right I'll know what to shop for. Any suggestions or camera preferences?

[tim]

Well, that explains some things. You're right I'll know what to shop for. Any suggestions or camera preferences?

Um - a Canon one? ;) The digital rebel's great value, the 20D's a better camera but a good bit more expensive. Check them out on http://bhphotovideo.com . You should probably learn about aperatures etc before you make a decision, so you know what you're getting.

[PhotosGuy]

I just wasn't sure why sometimes it seems that it takes too long to shoot a picture and then the moment is gone. This could also be caused if the cam is having trouble focusing. The 300D can refuse to take a pic if it can't see something it wants to make sharp.
My suggestion is that you take a basic camera course at your community college. The questions you ask and your replies suggest that you'll be better off when you gain basic foundational knowledge of the workings of a camera. Listen to him! :wink: