This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Frankie

This Moment – A Friday ritual. Photos capturing special moments.  Simple, special, extraordinary moments.
Moments you want to pause, savor and remember.

“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by the Wee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane.

This Friday Ritual is usually meant for photos - no words. I'm going to add just a few words here. This is my Border Collie, Frankie. He is truly a family member. I've shared with several blogger friends that he has torn ligaments in both back legs. It happens for a variety of reasons and sometimes "just happens". Surgery is not always an option. We are waiting for an answer from his Vet. However, the alternative is not as dire as we feared. Shots directly into the muscles near his spine may work. 


Thank you so much to those of you who kept Frankie in your thoughts. If it is your belief, please keep sending healing energy and positive thoughts. We appreciate it. 


Be sure and leave your link the the comments section below. 

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Bubble Magic......

A photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment you want to pause, savour and remember.

“This Moment” was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane of Almost There and Alejandro of Raising Amelie

Shutter Speed - An Important Series for Point & Shoot, iPhones & dSLR Cameras

Shutter Speed - Post #1

As you read the post and study the information on shutter speeds, also note the shutter speed directly under each of the photos. What do you notice about the photos and shutter speeds?

Shutter Speed  = 1/80

My posts on aperture-f/stop were easy, right? This will be too. Leave any questions in your comment box.

With a Point & Shoot or iPhone shutter speed is set by shooting on automatic or the auto modes like action, portrait or macro. My Point & Shoot also has a specific shutter priority mode, yours may also. Check your camera's manual for setting shutter speed.

Shutter Speed = 1/250

On a dSLR, shutter speed is set automatically when using the various auto modes. When using the shutter priority mode or manual mode you set the shutter speed. Check your camera's manual on how to set priority mode.

Shutter Speed explained the easy way:

When you click the button on your camera to take a photo, the shutter opens and exposes the camera’s sensor to light. The shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open from the time the button is clicked to the time it returns to its original position. This action is called shutter speed or exposure time.

Shutter Speed = 1/650

Shutter speed is the length of time that your camera sensor ‘sees’ the scene you’re capturing.

Don’t get this confused with aperture-f/stop although the two work together and play an important role in the outcome of your photo.

Shutter speed is measured in seconds, or in most cases, fractions of seconds. The bigger the denominator is of the fraction the faster the speed. 1/1000th is much faster than 1/30th. A denominator is the number below the line in a common fraction like 1/30. So, 1/30 = 30.

Shutter Speed = 1/1000

A typical shutter speed range may look like this:

Shutter speeds: 1sec; 1/2sec; 1/4sec; 1/8th; 1/15th; 1/30th; 1/60th; 1/125th; 1/250th; 1/500th; 1/1000th; 1/2000th

When viewing shutter speed in your camera read-out, these fractions will show as a whole number: 1/60 reads as 60, etc.

As a very rough rule of thumb, use high shutter speeds like 1,000 or higher for fast moving objects. 500 is a good general shutter speed, for slow moving objects use 125 or 250. But – this is a very rough guide. We will discuss this more in my next post.

In most cases you’ll probably be using shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second or faster. This is because anything slower than this is very difficult to use without getting camera shake. Camera shake is when your camera is moving while the shutter is open and results in blur in your photos.

Shutter Speed = 1/2000

If you’re using a slow shutter speed, typically slower than 1/60th, you’ll need a tripod or a way to stabilize your camera. Setting your camera on a table or other stable object and using the self-timer works if you don’t have a tripod. If your camera offers vibration reduction turn it on. Your manual will tell you how.

We will discuss more on setting shutter speeds in my next post.

Meanwhile – happy clicking!

YouTube Tuesday - We Speak No Americano

YOU-TUBE TUESDAY

Originating at Its Tiger Time, You Tube Tuesday is a day set aside for sharing your favorite video.  Feel free to join in and let's have fun seeing how creative we bloggers can be!  Each month a selected video will be presented the "You Tube Tuesday" Award.  If you participate, please remember to leave your link in the Linky Tool that is available at It's Tiger Time.

Share your favorite Video Every Tuesday. Be Creative, Have Fun. The video can be about anything. Leave your link here in your comment so we can drop by and see your choice.

I love the creativity of this video - it's like a happy dance for your hands. Enlarge for best viewing. Enjoy........

Performed and choreographed by Suzanne Cleary & Peter Harding

Film by Jonny Reed

Music: Yolanda Be Cool & D Cup ft. Cleary & Harding

Magnificent Monday : Colors

Hi all and welcome to another Magnificent Monday:  a chance to kick of the week on a high note.


This week's theme is Colors!


A blue sky, fields of golden sunflowers, snow covered mountains, feeling blue even, azure blue oceans, rainbows or black and white photography - how would you interpret this week's theme?


I chose to put together a Color Harmony based on an Analogous color theme. Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. I love the vibrant excitement of this analogous mix. 


Photography Tip: Using color schemes in photography is as important as using them in artwork. Color schemes can add interest, excitement, solitude or peace to your images. Using color schemes is very important in clothing worn in family photos. Look for color schemes in nature and take advantage of them when snapping your images. More on this in another post......

Paste a link to your post in a comment box below, and in the Linky tool at Holes In My Soles We all want to vist you and see your creativity! Take time to visit the other linked posts and be sure to leave comments.

This Moment

This Moment

"A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by theWee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane, author of Almost There. If you find yourself touched by a Moment and would like to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments section.

Easy-breezy lesson on Depth of Field for iPhone, Point & Shoot, dSLR. You Need This!

This week’s post is an easy-breezy lesson on how Aperture helps control Depth of Field (DOF) for iPhones, Point & Shoot cameras and dSLRs. It’s simple…….honest!

Aperture, or F-stops, help control Depth of Field (DOF) through your camera settings. DOF controls how much, or how little, of your image is in sharp vs. soft focus. 

Depth of Field Settings for Point & Shoot and iPhones:

If you use a Point & Shoot camera or an iPhone, you can control DOF easily.

Check your camera's manual for these settings:

For a sharp DOF with everything in focus use the automatic landscape setting. This is represented by the image of the small mountain on your camera.

For a blurred or soft DOF use the portrait setting which is typically represented by a lady wearing a hat. The macro or close-up setting, represented by a flower or Tulip, works well also.

See the photos of the flower bouquet, boats and little boy below for examples of sharp vs. blurred focus, DOF, and various Aperture F-stops. 

F/7.1

For dSLR users:

Setting your Aperture, F-stop,  helps control Depth of Field or DOF. Have you ever wondered how to keep your entire photo in sharp focus vs. having your main subject in focus with a soft blurred background? I’m referring to DOF. See the photos of the boats and the little boy below.

A large aperture, remember it’s a smaller F-stop number like F/2, will decrease DOF while a small aperture, remember it’s a larger F-stop number like F/16, will give you larger DOF. See the aperture chart below.

Remember – small aperture f/stop = large number

Remember -  large aperture f/stop = small number

Depth of Field:

Depth of Field (DOF) can be a little confusing at first but I remember it this way:

Small numbers like F-2 mean a small, narrow DOF (not lens opening but DOF) with a blurred background.

Small numbers  = shallow DOF = large aperture like f-2

Large numbers like F-16 mean a large, wide DOF (not lens opening but DOF) with everything pretty much in focus.

Large numbers = large DOF = small aperture like f-16

Refer to Aperture Chart and DOF Chart below.

Here's a DOF chart to help you:

Here are two photos to help illustrate DOF.

The first picture below was taken with an aperture of f/11 and the second one was taken with an aperture of f/4. The difference is easy to spot.

The f/11 picture has a wide DOF with everything in focus.  You’re able to clearly see the boats, the dock, the foreground and the background.

F/11

The f/4 image below has a shallow DOF and the background is out of focus. The little boy is in sharp focus but the background is blurred. This is due to the shallow DOF, f/4, and the little boy sitting a foot or so in front of the flowers.

F/4

Another way to gain a shallow or narrow DOF is to position your subject away from the background by several feet as I have done in the image above of the little boy. This helps blur the background putting emphasis on the subject.

Be sure and post a photo or two in your comment box. Post one image showing narrow (blurred) DOF and one showing a wide (sharp) DOF. We love seeing your photos.

To post a photo, open a comment box and click on the + in the lower left corner. Follow instructions, click the thumbnail to enlarge your photo for viewing.

Free: Email me at mariwilbur@gmail.com for your free Depth of Field Chart and Aperture Chart. They are very handy to carry in your camera bag.

Happy clicking and please Stumble me!

Aperture Made Easy Part 2 - Free Chart

Ask for your free aperture chart ( see chart below) by emailing me at mariwilbur@gmail.com. It will help you tremendously in understanding how to fine tune your photography no matter what type of camera you use! 

Aperture is the size of the opening in your camera lens. You or your camera, depending on what setting you use, can change the size of the opening. 

Think of being in a dark room. Your pupil will be wide open to let in more light.  Go out doors on a sunny day and your pupil narrows letting less light in.

Like the pupil of your eye, the opening in your camera lens can open and close to let more or less light in.

This is important information to understand no matter what type camera you use from Point & Shoot to dSLR.

In the 3 color photos below notice the f-stop under each photo. Also notice how much of the photo is in sharp focus vs. how much is blurred. This is called depth of field and will be discussed in my next post.

f/6.3

On a dSLR camera, you can control the aperture size in several ways.

You can let the camera make the aperture choice for you by using your various automatic modes. Or you can choose the aperture setting by shooting in manual mode or using aperture priority mode.

Aperture settings are called f-stops. F-stops are numbers that relate to how wide open or how narrow your lens opening is. This means how much or how little light is entering your camera. F-stops typically run from f/2 to f/16. See chart at bottom of post.

f/5.6

F-stops are a bit confusing at first. But remember that a large f-stop (where lots of light enters your lens) is a smaller number. A small f-stop (where less light enters your lens) is a larger number. Aperture = f-stop.

Keep reading – it get’s less confusing, I promise.

f/3.4

Remember: Lower number aperture like f/1.4 = more light.

Remember: Higher number aperture like f/8 = less light.

 

So, in the image below, f/1.4 is open (“wide”) and is letting more light in and f/8 is small (“narrow”) and letting less light in to your camera’s sensor. 1.4 is a lower number than 8. 2.8 is a lower number than 8. 8 is a lower number than 16 or 22. See chart below and at bottom of post.

Choosing the correct aperture, f-stop:

Since the f-stop determines how much light gets into your lens to your sensor, if the OPENING is large (like f/2) lots of light gets in and if the OPENING is smaller (like f/16) little light gets in.

SEE CHART BELOW.

Remember: Lower number aperture like f/2    = more light.

Remember: Higher number aperture like f/16 = less light.

See chart below - 

In my next post I will discuss why aperture, or f-stop, is so important. I’ll also give you tips on which f-stops to use for various lighting situations. 

Next time we will also start discussing how shutter speed and ISO tie into f-stop/aperture.

Read this post over a few times. Digest it, memorize the f-stop configurations, it’s not difficult. Really…..honest!

Here's a link to my post Introduction to Aperture . Give it a quick read as a refresher. 

Ask me any questions regarding aperture in your comment box. 

Also, feel free to post a photo of your own for all of us to share. Click the + sign in the lower left corner of your open comment box to upload a photo. Click on uploaded thumbnail to enlarge for viewing. If you see a photo in a comment box, be sure and visit that person’s blog and leave a comment – we all appreciate those. Your photo can be of anything that strikes your fancy.

Now - go email me at mariwilbur@gmail.com and ask for your free Aperture Charts - you'll receive both of these as handy reference guides. Print them and keep them in your camera bag. 

Happy clicking!

This Moment - A Friday Ritual

Photos – no words – capturing moments from the week.

Simple, special, extraordinary moments.

Moments you want to pause, savour and remember.

“This Moment” was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane of Almost There and Alejandro of Raising Amelie

Please add a photo in your comments box for all of us to enjoy. Here's how:

Click a new comment box at the end of any post. See the plus sign (+) in the lower left corner of the comment box. Click it and follow the instructions. It will upload a thumbnail photo.

Click the thumbnail to enlarge the photo for viewing.

Have fun and keep clicking!