Digital Photography Basics

A DSLR Camera is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. This means your eye piece is viewing through the lens by using a few mirrors. The lens can be removed and changed with other lenses. 
 
Cameras take photos and the computers inside your phones and digital cameras on Automatic mode will determine the proper settings to take a great photo. The variables at play are ISO (Your film speed), the Aperature Size, and the Shutter Speed. These variables work together to take a photo that is in focus and generally has a pretty good exposure so there are not areas of a photo that are not too dark or too light. 


If you are just getting started with Digital Photography review each of these concepts by watching ALL of the videos linked below and reading about each topic. 

Eventually you can learn to manipulate the camera control over aperature, shutter speed and film speed to get the effects you desire in your photos. 

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Film Speed (ISO)

The film speed determines how quickly a photo can be taken under certian light conditions. 

Slow Film Speeds or ISO Settings are 100 or 200
These are not as grainy and work well for well lit scenes. 

Medim Film Speeds / ISO are 400. This will increase the grain visible in a photo. This is a universal film speed, good for most situations. 

Fast Film Speed / ISO are 800 and up to about 1600.
This will take an exposue in low light situations however there is lots of grain in these photos. 

Aperature (or f-Stop)

The aperature is how large or small the lens opens up to take an exposure. The size of the opening will determine the depth of field or how much of the fram is in focus. 

F-stops are listed as numbers as well. 
These are your F-Stops:
f 1.4 (wide open/background blur)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11
f/16
f/22 (closed down/deep focus-needs longer shutter speed)

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is how long the aperature is open for. Shutter speed is in fractions of a second. 

You can have the shutter open for a long period of time for low light situations, things that are still, or if you want a motion blur effect. 

If you are trying to photograph fast moving things you need a fast shutter speed, about 1/1000th of a second. This will capture a humming birds wings beating.