DEPTH OF FIELD

3 Factors contribute to how much the

background is blurred out. This is meant
as a reference & not precise results.

ONE Aperture

f/1.4 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16

The larger the Aperture the more it

will blur the baground.

TWO Focal Length

The longer the Focal Length, the
more it will blur the background.

Telephoto Normal Wide Ultra Wide

Full Frame 200mm 50mm 24mm 10mm

APS-C 300mm 75mm 36mm 15mm
Four Thirds 400mm 100mm 48mm 20mm

THREE Focusing + Background Distance

Focusing Distance

Background Distance
ISO
ISO allows you to “Amplify” the existing
light to get the exposure you need for
your creative vision.

On bright Shooting in
sunny days the shade or
use a low ISO on a partly
setting. cloudy day...
ISO 200-400 is
Anywhere from recommended.
50-200 will
do.
Grain
ISO 100 ISO 200

Indoor window At the

light or dense beginning of a
clouds may sunset ISO 400
require an ISO is doable. As
of 400-800. it sets lower
you’ll need to
amplify the
light.

ISO 400 ISO 800

Indoor At night the

sporting light is dim.
arenas or Start with
party venues ISO 3200 and
typically have go higher if
low light. Use needed.
ISO 1600+.

ISO 1600 ISO 3200

PRO TIP:
Your electronic camera is NOT sensitive to light!
APERTURE
Aperture allows you to increase or decrease the
amount of light for your Exposure. Plus, you can
use it to blur the background or keep it sharp.

Aperture + Exposure

f/1.4 f/1.8 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

Brighter Darker
Allows more light in. Allows less light in.

Aperture + Depth of Field

f/1.4 f/1.8 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

Shallow D.O.F. Deep D.O.F.

Blurred background. Sharp background.

Shallow D.O.F. @ F/1.8 Large D.O.F. @ F/22

SHUTTER SPEED
The Shutter Speed determines how long the
shutter stays open for your Exposure. If
it’s too slow it will blur any action.

1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1”

Less Light More Light

Freezes the action. Blurs the action.

SHUTTER
SPEED General Guidelines

1/4000 Freeze fast movement that’s close

1/2000 Freeze fast moving animals
1/1000 Freeze fast action that’s far
1/1600 1/500 Freeze action with large lens
1/250 Freeze kids running
1/125 Freeze people/pets walking
1/60 Freeze people sitting/standing
1/30 Panning technique
1/15 Blur fast moving person
1/400
1/8 Blur people/pets walking
1/4 Blur waterfalls
1/2 Blur slow moving water
1”-30” Silky water effect/trailing stars

1/4
EXPOSURE TRIANGLE
The Exposure Triangle shows the relationship
between your different camera settings with a
visual tool... the triangle.

If you adjust one setting, another has to be

moved in the opposite direction to keep the same
Exposure.

Real World Example

Initial Camera Settings

ISO 100 | 1/250 | f/5.6

The background was too sharp.

So, I adjusted the Aperture to
f/2.8. The amount of light was
doubled by 2 stops.

A Shutter Speed of 1/1000 (2

Stops less light) was required
1/250 | f/5.6 1/1000 | f/2.8
for the same Exposure.
MANUAL MODE
Ready to take full creative control back
from your camera? Here are the 5 steps to
do so.

STEP ONE Set Your ISO

100 200 400 800 1600 3200
Sunny Shade Cloudy Sunset Indoor Night

Less Noise More Noise

STEP TWO Creative Intent

What’s more important? D.O.F. or freezing/blurring the action?
Whichever it is set that camera setting first.

STEP THREE Check Your Light Meter

Now, compose and review your Light Meter. Adjust the last camera
setting until the meter reads “0”.

Overexposed? Underexposed?
Choose a Choose a
smaller larger
Aperture or a Aperture or a
faster Shutter slower Shutter
-3..2..1.. 0 ..1..2..3+ -3..2..1.. 0 ..1..2..3+
Speed. Speed.

STEP FOUR Test Shot

Capture the image
and reveiw the
Histogram. Did
you capture all
the detail in the
scene?

STEP FIVE Adjust + Reshoot {If Needed}

After reviewing the Histogram and comparing it to the Dynamic
Range of the scene, adjust your least important camera setting
(Aperture or Shutter Speed) and adjust accordingly.
OUTDOOR NATURAL LIGHT
Shooting outdoors provides endless possibilities. But,
not all outdoor natural light is pleasing. Discover
how to get it right for professional results.

Camera Settings
Getting the right D.O.F. is essential for a pro
look. Use a long Focal Length of around 50-200mm
and use an Aperture of f/2-f/4.

A/AV Aperture Priority mode is a good setting unless

you’re comfortable shooting in Manual Mode.

Get the Right Light

Shooting 1-3 hours before sunset is the optimal
time for the best quality of light.

If shooting Mid-day, place your subject in the

shade for best results.

ISO Use the lowest ISO possible... 100-200.

Get the Shot

ISO 100 | f/1.8 | 1/500 | 85mm ISO 400 | f/4 | 1/1250 | 50mm

I placed my daughter under The setting sun created a

the shade of a tree to avoid soft, elegant light.
the harsh, direct sunlight
overhead. By positioning them with the
sun to their left I was able
Another option is to position to create a more dramatic
your subject with the sun mood.
behind them.