The Balancing Act of Aperture and Shutter Speed (cont.)

For most photography exposures, as more light is allowed through the aperture, a faster shutter speed will be needed to balance the exposure. If less light is allowed through the aperture, (a higher f/stop number,) then a slower shutter speed will be needed for balance.

If a faster shutter speed is desired to stop movement, then the camera will need to open up the aperture, (lower f/stop number.) If a slower shutter speed is used, then the camera will need to close down the aperture, (higher f/stop number,) for balance. Simply stated, as one number goes up, the other usually comes down.

Keep in mind that when you are looking at the shutter speed on your camera, it might read, for example, 1/60 or just 60, but they both mean 1/60th of a second. As we start exploring the different functions and settings on your camera, what you choose to tell the camera that you’re taking a picture of is going to affect either the shutter speed or the aperture. There are no extra components that a professional photographer has on their camera that you don’t have, except for more shutter speeds and f/stops available to choose from. Shutter speed and f/stop, that’s it. But there is another aspect in photography that can affect the f/stop and shutter speed, the film speed or “ISO.”

Next up in the Point-and-Shoot Instructional Series: Part 8 :  Understanding ISO

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