Two Very Basic Things I Learned Today

By 'learned', I mean "I actually 'get it'" (well, kind of get it in the case of item #2), as opposed to "I've read it and it makes sense".

#1.  The Tripod Is My Friend

Yes, every photography book, website and article says 'use your tripod for sharp photos'.  Sure.  Makes sense.  Except that it means that you actually have to find the tripod, set up the tripod, and adjust the camera to make sure you are getting what you want.  Given then I have been a 'turn on the camera and push the button' sort of photographer for my entire life, the extra steps of the tripod have heretofore seemed a bit overwhelming.

And while using a tripod is still not second-nature, it is clearly worth the time to set it up.

0.769s, f/4.1, ISO 80, 100mm

 

1/2, f/3.8, ISO 80, 28mm

1/160, f/8.3, ISO 400, 60mm

The first guitar, BTW, can be seen in the upper left-hand corner of the second photo; with the camera mounted on the tripod, I just angled the camera straight up at it.  Nice and sharp.  

The last photo, maybe I could have taken it without the tripod, but given that it was 14F out when I took the photo, I was able to take several photos with several different settings (to see what the differences would be) without inadvertently changing my angle.  Very handy.

#2.  Action Photos Should Be Taken With a Shutter-Priority Setting NOT an Aperture-Priority Setting.

Yes, I know this should be patently obviously to even the most casual of camera users.  But for some reason I've been shooting with an aperture-priority setting hoping something good would happen (don't ask my why, although I'm going to justify it by saying that the light has generally been flat/varied, and I somehow thought the aperture setting would help with the light).  Yeah, not so much.

Cases in point:

From a distance (like if you don't biggify it), it is not a horrible picture.  But the point of focus isn't very in focus if you look at it closely.  Because aperture affects depth of field as well as the amount of light let in.  So when I use the zoom for an action photo in an aperture-priority setting, the chance of my subject being really sharp is nil.  Duh.

1/800, f/4.2, ISO 80, 105mm

So I get it through my thick skull, I will repeat the above comment: aperture-priority affects depth of field as well as light; aperture-priority + action shot + zoom = "muddy" photo.

1/1600, f/4.2, ISO 400, 120mm

While the last example is a tad better, it's 'muddy' - my guess would be because of the aperture (but I could be wrong).

1/2000, f/4, ISO 400, 85mm

Will using the shutter-priority setting cure all that ails me?  Probably not, but I'll try it tomorrow and see what happens.  This is, after all, a learning process.

Which means more frisbee time for my "long-suffering" doggies.  *grin*

1/8, f/3.6, ISO 400, 50mm