by Hailey Plummer
To show the differences within depth and motion using DSLR camera settings, I have compiled photos from unspash.com. These visual examples of aperture and shutter speed help understand the different principles.
Wide Aperture
In the image to the left, the subject is in focus and the background is blurry. This does mean that the face was in focus, but also that the aperture was set to a wider setting. Opening the f-stop is great for portraits. To take photos with this soft, blurry background, more light needs to be let in. To widen the aperture, set it to a lower number. For example: f/2.8.
Wide Aperture Example
Narrow Aperture
In this image, both the subject and the background are in focus. This means that the aperture was set to a narrower setting. This is great for landscapes and scenery because there are broader details and no blur. This is done by setting a higher f-stop on the camera. For example, f/22 will bring background details into focus.
Narrow Aperture Example
Fast Shutter Speed
In the image of the horse racing, the subject is clear without any blurs of motion. To get a crisp photo like this, the shutter speed needs to be quick. In the camera settings, a fast shutter speed will be a smaller fraction. For example: 1/800 is a faster shutter speed than 1/80. This is great for freezing motion in sports photography.
Slow Shutter Speed
This entire image above is blurry. With a slow shutter speed and movement happening, the photo comes out blurry. This is because the shutter let in more light during the longer exposure time. The blur isn’t always preferred, but sometimes it can add movement to the subject. To set the camera to a slower shutter speed, (this depends on movement) the fraction will likely need to be larger than 1/100.
Long Shutter Speeds
Also known as light painting, this is a form of photography using the power of the shutter speed! To create a unique image, the shutter is left open for a period of time, allowing more light into the camera. This allows the shutter to be open up to more than 30 seconds. When taken in a dark setting like the photo, using a handheld light to “paint” lines during the exposure creates a beautiful image.
Light Painting Example
Hailey Jalyn 
Hey Hailey! I love your blog aesthetic! I noticed that you have used it since Comm 130, and I really like how everything is laid out and designed. Great blog post too, you did a good job explaining all of the photo examples and why they look the way they do.
Here’s a link to my blog: https://wordpress.com/view/dallinthomas.wordpress.com
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Also here is a link to Brayden’s blog, his is really nice too!
https://braydenweissphoto.wordpress.com/photography-2/
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Hey Hailey, I really like the setup of your blog; I like that you had titles above every picture. Brayden did something similar; here is his blog, https://braydenweissphoto.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/light/.I also really liked how you shrunk the tall images and put the words next to the picture. I also like that you have things left-aligned. Here is a link to my blog https://cenneidighpeters.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/a-study-of-aperture-shutter-speed-and-iso/.
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Hailey, these photos are so Pinterest-worthy and really fit your style well. Your example of a narrow aperture photo is so interesting to me because it has a human subject, which I wouldn’t imagine would work well with that type of image, but it does. I love the colors, I love your explanations, and I love that you want to try light painting. Bailey talked about doing something similar in her blog post with astrophotography here: https://baileyrin.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/photography-basics-aperture-shutter-speed/ . I also love the way you set up your blog, it’s gorgeous! I haven’t even gotten around to making mine look nice, but I plan on doing so this weekend. If you’re interested, take a look at https://abbywilwand.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/what-makes-an-image-how-aperture-and-shutter-speed-determine-exposure/
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It’s very cool how it’s possible to capture movement with slow shutter speeds. It is also nice how these are done, the picture you posted shows that the woman is still but the movement is in the background, inverting it also makes a cool effect and creates a different idea. I showed some different examples on my post: https://felipeldribeiro.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/aperture-shutter-speed-and-iso/
Bailey as well: https://baileyrin.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/photography-basics-aperture-shutter-speed/
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Hey Hailey, thank you for you post. I liked how you highlighted the more technical side of setting apertures and shutter speeds. I also want to get more into light painting because I think there’s a lot of potential for creativity there.
I think you’d like Bailey’s blog:
https://baileyrin.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/photography-basics-aperture-shutter-speed/
You can also find my blog here:
https://braydenweissphoto.wordpress.com/photography-2/
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