Photography: Exposure, HDR, Shutter Speed & Aperture

• The viewing system displays a symbol with numbers ranging from -3 to +3, representing exposure levels.
• Negative values indicate underexposure (too dark), while positive values indicate overexposure (brighter).

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

• HDR is a photography technique that combines multiple exposures of the same scene to create a final image with enhanced details in both bright and dark areas.
• It's considered an unnatural style of photography

Exposure Triangle

• Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together to control the amount of light captured in a photo, forming the exposure triangle.

Shutter Speed

• Shutter speed determines the duration the camera's sensor is exposed to light.
• Fast shutter speeds can freeze motion and reduce blur but let less light in.
• Measured in seconds or fractions of a second.
• When using a fast shutter speed, increase ISO and open the aperture to compensate for reduced light.

Aperture

• Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening that allows light to pass through.
• Measured in f-stops; smaller f-stop numbers indicate larger openings, and vice versa.
• Aperture affects the depth of field, which is the amount of the scene in focus.
• A shallow depth of field means only a small portion of the scene is in focus.

ISO

• ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light.
• Measured in increments (100, 200, 400, 800, etc.), with each doubling increasing sensitivity.
• Lower ISO values are less sensitive, while higher values are more sensitive.
• Increasing ISO can introduce noise or graininess into the image.

Shutter Speed (continued)

• Slow shutter speeds allow more light in, suitable for night photography, but can cause motion blur.

Aperture (continued)

• Larger aperture openings (smaller f-stop numbers) create a shallow depth of field.

Camera Notes

• Rebel T6i cameras are used.
• The "i" in the model name signifies its video capabilities.
• The camera should be secured around the neck or mounted on a tripod.

Lighting Terminology

• A "grip" is a crew member who works with lighting on set.
• Soft light is diffused light from multiple smaller sources.
• Hard light is direct, intense light from a single source.
• Light temperature is measured in Kelvin (K).
• Lower Kelvin values (e.g., 2000K) indicate warmer light, like firelight.
• Higher Kelvin values (5000K-6000K) produce cool white light, similar to daylight.

Spotlight vs Floodlight

• Spotlight concentrates light into a narrow, intense beam with sharp edges, typically producing hard light.
• Floodlight casts a wider, more diffused beam with softer edges, resulting in softer light.

Fresnel Lights

• Fresnel lights are commonly used in film and movie sets.
• They have a lens with ridges to evenly distribute light from a bright bulb.
• The bulb can be moved to adjust the light between spotlight and floodlight settings.

Softbox

• A softbox diffuses light, often used as an alternative to a Fresnel.

LED Panels

• LED panels consist of numerous small, energy-efficient lights.
• LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, and they produce very little heat
• LEDs are diffused due to their small spread, and they are becoming more affordable
• Individual LEDs can be controlled separately.
• TVs use LEDs and can replace green screens.

HMI Lights

• HMI lights generate powerful, bright illumination.

Lighting Accessories

• Barn doors are flaps attached to lights to control light spill.
• Scrims and screens are used to diffuse light.
• Gels are colored plastic filters to modify light color and diffusion.
• Bounce cards reflect light, providing a less intense illumination source.

Understanding exposure in photography involves interpreting a numerical scale indicating brightness levels. HDR is a technique combining multiple exposures and Shutter speed controls the duration of light exposure, while aperture adjusts the lens opening size.