F U N D A M E N TA L S O F P H O T O G R A P H Y

wi t h J OH N G REE NGO
F U N D A M E N TA L S O F P H O T O G R A P H Y

Section 1: The Camera

Section 2: The Sensor
Section 3: The Lens
Section 4: Exposure
Section 5: Focus
Section 6: The Gadget Bag
Section 7: Light
Section 8: The Art of Editing
Section 9: Composition
Section 10: Photographic Vision
Photo Equipment Life Cycle
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Incident
Light Meter

?
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Reflected - Light Meter

Average
Dark Light
 SLR
Reflected
Light Meter
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Kodak
18% Gray Card

Reflected - Light Meter

Average
Dark Light

Middle Gray
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Reflected - Light Meter

Average
Dark Light
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Reflected - Light Meter

Average
Dark Light
 Light Meter Basics Exposure

Darks Reflected - Light Meter

Average
Dark Light

Middle
Grays

Lights
Graphic Numeric
Light Meter Light Meter
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
Center-weighted Metering Modes Exposure
Spot Metering Modes Exposure
Spot
Multi-Segment Metering Modes Exposure
Multi-Segment Metering Modes Exposure
 Metering Modes Exposure

Center-weighted Multi-Segment Spot

Traditional system Multiple metering zones Pin-point metering

Large Central area of Small central area of

Mixed lighting average brightness
average brightness
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
Histogram Exposure
 Histogram Exposure

Graph of the tonal distribution

 Histogram Exposure

Graph of the tonal distribution

 Histogram Exposure

Graph of the tonal distribution

Pure Black Pure White

Number of
Pixels

Darks Shadows Mid-tones Highlights

RGB Histogram Exposure
HISTOGRAM

ADOBE LIGHTROOM
HISTOGRAM

BRIGHTNESS
HISTOGRAM
 Histogram Exposure
Correct Exposure

Over Exposure

Under Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
HIGHLIGHT
CLIPPING

BLINKIES
 Histogram Exposure

Highlight Alert Over Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
Histogram Exposure
POP QUIZ
Histogram
Pick the correct
histogram

C
Pick the correct
histogram

C
Pick the correct
histogram

C
Pick the correct
histogram
1 2 3

A B C
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
 Dynamic Range Exposure

Range of light from the darkest to the brightest

Black White

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
 High
Dynamic
Range
Decreased RAW
Contrast as shot
 Low
Dynamic
Range
Increased RAW
Contrast as shot
 Dynamic Range Exposure

Popular Cameras
The Best NIKON D7500 14.0 EV

NIKON D850 14.8 EV NIKON D3400 13.9 EV

SONY A6500 13.7 EV
SONY A7R III 14.7 EV
CANON 5D MARK IV 13.6 EV
PENTAX K1 14.6 EV CANON 1D X MARK II 13.5 EV
LEICA M10 13.2 EV
www.dxomark.com

Sensor Ratings:
Landscape (Dynamic Range) 12 EV IS EXCELLENT
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE
Light Meter Metering Modes Histogram Dynamic Range

Q&A
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
 Exposure Modes Exposure

Mode
Shutter Speeds & Apertures
Manual

A
M Exposure - Auto

S
P Shutter Speeds - Auto
Apertures - Auto
ISO - Auto
Focus - Auto
Auto Flash - Auto
Menus - Limited
Manual Options - Disabled
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Auto Apertures

Auto Shutter Speeds

A
M
S
P
P Program
Program Mode EV
(Exposure Value)
+23

M
A
S
P +20

Shutter +15
Aperture Speed

+10

+5

+0

-5
Program Mode EV
(Exposure Value)
+23

M
A
S
P +20

Shutter Auto
+15
Aperture Speed ISO

+10

+5

+0

-5
Program Mode EV
(Exposure Value)

M
A
S
P

Shutter
Aperture Speed
Program Shift

Be careful of resets!
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Auto Apertures

Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A
S
P P Program
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Auto Apertures

Manual
Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A
S
P S / TV Time Value
Shutter Priority
 M
A
P
S Shutter Priority

Aperture Shutter Speed

18 Shutter speeds

8 Apertures

10 Unusable settings
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Auto Apertures

Manual
Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A
S S / TV Time Value
P Shutter Priority
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Manual
Auto Apertures

Manual
Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A
Aperture Priority
P
S A / AV Aperture Value
 M
S
A Aperture Priority
P

Shutter
Aperture
Maximize depth of field Speed
Blur Motion

Max sharpness

Shallow depth of field

Freeze Motion
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Manual Apertures

Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A AV / A Aperture Priority
S
P
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
EXPOSURE
INDICATOR

M
Auto Exposure Modes
A AV / A Aperture Priority
S
Shutter Priority
P

Program
Exposure Indicator Light Meter
 Exposure Modes Exposure

Under Exposure Over Exposure

Even Exposure
Low Key High Key
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Exposure Compensation
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Exposure Compensation

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

+1.0
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Exposure Compensation

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

-2.0
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Exposure Compensation

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3

-2.0 +1.0
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Exposure Compensation

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3

-1.0 ±0.0 +1.0

 Exposure Modes Exposure
Manual Apertures

Auto Shutter Speeds

M
A AV / A Aperture Priority
S
P
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Manual Apertures

Manual
Auto Shutter Speeds

M
S
A M Manual
P
 P A
M Manual Exposure
S

Aperture Shutter Speed

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Exposure Modes Exposure
Manual Apertures

Manual Shutter Speeds

A
M M Manual
S
P
 Manual
Exposure
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Manual
Exposure
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Manual
Exposure
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 A
M
M Manual

P
S

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 M
Auto A
Exposure

P
S
Modes

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 M
M
S
A Manual

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
Old Faithful
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Aperture Priority
Video
 Exposure Modes Exposure

Sunny 16 Rule
if in full sun, exposure is...

f/16 and a shutter speed = ISO

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

“Sunny 16”
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Shallow
“Sunny 16”
depth of field
 Shutter Speed
5
4
3

Aperture 2
ISO
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Shallow
depth of field
 Shutter Speed
5
4
3

Aperture 2
ISO
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Shallow
depth of field
 Shutter Speed
7
6
5

Aperture 4
ISO
3
2
0 1
1 0
2
3
4
5
6
7
Shallow
depth of field
 Exposure
Bracketing
Exposure Bracketing Exposure Modes Exposure

Number of Exposures 2, 3, 5, 7, 9
Exposure Increment 0.3EV, 0.5EV, 0.7EV, 1.0EV, 2.0EV, 3.0EV

9 EXPOSURES
7 EXPOSURES
5 EXPOSURES
3 EXPOSURES

-4EV -3EV -2EV -1EV 0EV +1EV +2EV +3EV +4EV

Exposure Bracketing Exposure Modes Exposure

Number of Exposures 2, 3, 5, 7, 9
Exposure Increment 0.3EV, 0.5EV, 0.7EV, 1.0EV, 2.0EV, 3.0EV
Shooting Mode P, S, A, M
Exposure Compensation
Drive Mode Single, Continuous
Auto Cancel On, Off
Order Normal, light to dark, dark to light

-4EV -3EV -2EV -1EV 0EV +1EV +2EV +3EV +4EV

Recommendations Exposure Modes Exposure

Mode
Specific Setup time
1 M Manual Settings don’t change Requires thinking

Aperture Fast
2 A / AV Priority Safe
May be needed

Shutter May be needed

S / TV Priority Exact shutter speed
Easy to exceed exposure range
Fast & Easy Resets
3 P Program “Shift” for better exposure May be needed
More specific than AUTO No adjustments
SCENE Good “cheater mode” Doesn’t go far enough
No adjustments
AUTO AUTO Fast & Easy
Flash pops up
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE
Exposure Modes

Q&A
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes
Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
 Exposure Value Exposure

Exposure Value
Aperture Shutter Speed ISO
 Exposure Value Exposure
Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO
 Exposure Value Exposure
Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO
 Exposure Value Exposure
Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO
 Exposure Value Exposure
Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO
 Setting
Priorities
 Exposure Value Exposure

What’s your subject?

Freeze motion
Yes
Blur motion

Is the subject moving?

 Exposure Value Exposure

What’s your subject?

Freeze motion
Yes
Blur motion

Is the subject moving?

Maximize depth of field

No Maximize sharpness

Shallow depth of field

 Exposure Value Exposure

Freeze motion

Blur motion

Maximize depth of field

Maximize sharpness

Shallow depth of field

 Exposure Value Exposure

Shutter Speed
Freeze motion

Blur motion
Aperture
Maximize depth of field

Maximize sharpness

Shallow depth of field

Freeze motion Exposure Value Exposure
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Freeze motion
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Freeze motion
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Blur motion Exposure Value Exposure
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Blur motion
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Blur motion
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Maximize Depth of Field Exposure Value Exposure
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Maximize Depth of Field

 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Maximize Depth of Field

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Shallow Depth of Field Exposure Value Exposure
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Shallow Depth of Field

 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Shallow Depth of Field

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Maximize Sharpness Exposure Values Exposure
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Maximize Sharpness
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

Maximize Sharpness
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO
 Shutter Speed Exposure Value Exposure

Aperture ISO

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
POP QUIZ
Exposure
 Freeze Motion
Blur Motion
Maximize depth of field
Maximize sharpness
Shallow depth of field

Blur motion
 Blur motion
70mm

11-24mm 35mm 50mm 70-200mm 300mm

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Blur motion
70mm

70-200mm
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Blur motion
70mm
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

70-200mm
Treatment Tips
Blur motion
Determine best shutter speed for best blur
Steady the camera or move it smoothly
Pick individual moments with a single shot
Shoot lots of photos for panning images
 Freeze Motion
Blur Motion
Maximize depth of field
Maximize sharpness
Shallow depth of field

Freeze motion
 Freeze motion
100mm

11-24mm 35mm 50mm 70-200mm 300mm

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Freeze motion
100mm

70-200mm
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Freeze motion
100mm
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

70-200mm
Treatment Tips
Freeze motion
Determine optimum fast shutter speed
Easier to capture with a telephoto lens
Set focus mode to “Continuous”
Set Motor Drive to Continuous High
Look for peak moments of action
 Freeze Motion
Blur Motion
Maximize depth of field
Maximize sharpness
Shallow depth of field

Maximize Sharpness
 Maximize Sharpness

11mm

11-24mm 35mm 50mm 70-200mm 300mm

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Maximize Sharpness
11mm

11-24mm
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Maximize Sharpness
11mm
3 2 1 0 1 2 3
11-24mm
Treatment Tips
Maximize Sharpness
Look for “flat” subjects
Set aperture to middle setting (f/8-f/11)
Shoot perpendicular to subject
Use in-camera grid for better alignment
 Freeze Motion
Blur Motion
Maximize depth of field
Maximize sharpness
Shallow depth of field

Maximize Depth of Field

 Maximize Depth of Field

35mm

11-24mm 35mm 50mm 70-200mm 300mm

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Maximize Depth of Field

35mm

35mm
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Maximize Depth of Field

35mm
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

35mm
Treatment Tips
Maximize Depth of Field
Use a small aperture opening (f/11-f/22)
Wide angle lens (11-35mm)
Get close to foreground subject
Include multiple subjects at different distances
 Freeze Motion
Blur Motion
Maximize depth of field
Maximize sharpness
Shallow depth of field

Shallow Depth of Field

 Shallow Depth of Field
200mm

11-24mm 35mm 50mm 70-200mm 300mm

 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Shallow Depth of Field

200mm

70-200mm
 Shutter Speed

Aperture ISO

Shallow Depth of Field

200mm
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

70-200mm
Treatment Tips
Shallow Depth of Field
Use a fast lens (f/1.4 - f/4)
Maximum aperture opening
Close to subject
Telephoto lenses
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

EXPOSURE Light Meter Basics

Metering Modes

Q&A Histogram
Dynamic Range
Exposure Modes
Exposure Values
 Available from Rocky Nook, Amazon & bookstores everywhere

www.johngreengo.com John Greengo Photography @john_greengo

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTO GRAPHY
Section 1: The Camera
Section 2: The Sensor
Section 3: The Lens
Section 4: Exposure
NEXT Section 5: Focus
Section 6: The Gadget Bag
Section 7: Light
Section 8: The Art of Editing
Section 9: Composition
Section 10: Photographic Vision
F U N D A M E N TA L S O F P H O T O G R A P H Y