Photography language

[Becky and Bella]

I am reading a manual... I am quite lost. There is a whole new language in here! So let's
talk lingo. ISOs? Apperture? Etc., etc.! Please share!!
Thanks so much,
Katie Caplan

[Michele Follger]

Whew, big topic! ISO is an international standard that used to rank the light sensitivity of the silver halides in film. Now it refers to the light sensitivity of the digital sensor. The higher ISO the more light sensitivity. (The sensor actually only has one sensitivity - it is the software in the camera that artificially boosts it.) With film you got grain with higher ISO's now you get noise, but it is getting better all the time. Now, depending on your camera, you can shoot at up to 3200 ISO relatively noise free. In general, using the lowest ISO possible will still produce the best images. You only want to increase it when necessary.

Apperture is the opening of the iris inside your lens. Like iris in your eye, it opens and closes to increase or restrict the amount of light that hits your sensor. The larger the apperture, the shorter your depth of field (area in focus.)

A great resource is Scott Kelby's books. Digital Photography and Digital Photography 2. They are written in easy to understand language.
Hope that helps!

[Diane Margetts]

It may also help to look back at our monthly lessons. The first comment or two usually try to explain the topic. We have, in past months, had assignments on ISO aperture and shutter speed.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good to see you Larry PD.

[Leslie and Halas]

I got this book on your recommendation, and it has been really useful for me. I would definitely recommend it to someone else. I try to keep it handy, and I always read through certain sections when I'm going on a trip. It helps refresh my memory for the specific types of photos I think I might be taking. Thanks for recommending it to me when you did!