Nikon DSLR: The Ultimate Photographer's Guide

Jim White, Tony Sweet

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781136100451
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Digital Media

Whilst camera-specific guides provide the how-to, manual style information on how to use your particular model of camera, this manufacturer-specific guide provides you with all the information you need as a Nikon DSLR photographer to optimise your workflow and capture great images. Jim White and Tony Sweet show you how to increase the quality of your photos, save time and work smarter, starting with the most pressing questions: Which camera should you use? Which lens is best? Which accessories are must-haves? How can you get the most out of Nikon's Capture NX Software? In-depth, specific features of the newest Nikon DSLRs are also covered, helping you to make your camera really work for you. Complete with practical advice, key workflow solutions and detailed images that display multiple camera functions, this book is a must have for every Nikon photographer. Part of Focal's Digital Workflow series, this is the Nikon version of the popular Canon DSLR: The Ultimate Photographer's Guide.

Chapter 1 The Basics

DOI: 10.4324/9780080927060-1

The Exposure Triangle

The very fact that you have purchased this book means you plan to take your photography beyond the casual point and shoot stage. Although this book isn't designed to be an introductory course in photography, it is necessary to understand some important basic concepts to fully take advantage of your Nikon Digital SLR camera. To fully understand and utilize the creative power of these incredible cameras, you need to understand the relationship of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, or what we will call the ‘exposure triangle.’ The basic rule to remember is that all three factors control your exposure: change any one variable and one or both of the other two must be changed as well. Understanding this relationship will allow you to move beyond making technically correct photographs to capturing really great images.

Aperture

The aperture is an adjustable opening in the lens of a camera. Somewhat like the pupil of our eye, the aperture adjusts to allow more or less light to enter the lens and reach the sensor. The size of the aperture is controlled via an adjustable diaphragm that opens or closes to allow more or less light to enter. On a standard camera lens, we measure in units called‘stops.’ Each f/stop represents either double or half the amount of light, depending on whether the lens aperture is opened or closed. The inverse relationship between thef/stop number and the amount of light entering the lens is confusing to many novices. As the aperture is ‘stopped down,’ the numerical f/stop value increases and as the lens is ‘opened up,’ the numerical f/stop value decreases. We would classify a ‘fast’ lens as one with a maximum aperture (minimum f/stop number) of, say, f/1.4 or f/2.8 for example. Typically the same lens would have a minimum aperture (maximum f/stop value) of f/16 or f/22. Remember, as you open up the aperture by one stop you are allowing twice the amount of light to enter the lens, and as you close down one stop you are reducing by half the amount of light reaching the lens. You can see in the examples below the effects of one-stop difference either way.

Each of thef/stop settings below represents a one-stop difference in aperture. As the f/stop numerical value increases, the amount of light decreases. Depending on which way the aperture is adjusted, each f/stop setting either halves or doubles the amount of light entering the lens and reaching the sensor.

f/1.4

f/2.8

f/4

f/5.6

f/8

f/11

f/16

f/22

f/32

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to the amount of time the shutter remains open and allows light to enter and pass through the lens and strike the sensor. Shutter speed is measured in seconds and usually fractions of a second. You will often see 1/125 or 1/1000 as typically used shutter speeds for daylight photography, while 1/60 or even 1/30 is commonly used with flash or studio portrait photography. Many landscape photographers often employ shutter speeds involving several seconds.

As with the aperture, shutter speed is measured in units called ‘stops.’ Increasing the shutter speed by one stop decreases the amount of time light is allowed to strike the sensor by half. Conversely, decreasing the shutter speed by one stop allows twice as much time for the shutter to remain open allowing light to enter and strike the digital sensor. Obviously increasing or decreasing the shutter speed without making a corresponding adjustment to the shutter speed or ISO will result in an over-or underexposure of an image. (Figures 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4)

Figure 1.2

Figure 1.3

Figure 1.4

In the same way that different aperture settings affect the look and feel of a particular image, different shutter speeds can also produce various affects on the way a photograph is interpreted. A really fast shutter speed can literally ‘freeze’ action, such as a formula one car or even a bolt of lightning, while ‘dragging the shutter’ or intentionally shooting at a s...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Chapter 1 The Basics
• Chapter 2 Setting Up Your Workflow
• Chapter 3 Common Features of Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
• Chapter 4 The Cameras
• Chapter 5 Shooting Modes
• Chapter 6 Getting Good Color and a Good Exposure
• Chapter 7 Nikon Glass
• Chapter 8 Flash Photography
• Chapter 9 Getting Your Best Shot from the Digital Negative
• Index