Help with f/stop and shutter speed?

Question

I am dyslexic and anything with numbers is simply confusing right and left for me. Had to concentrate very hard some years back in photo class to remember my best settings for 400 Ilford B&W and night shots with available lighting. Could use some suggestions on recommended settings for night again, and also days with moderate to bright sunshine. Thanks.

example of previous night shot:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40053163/?qo=68&q=by%3Abluedecker97&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps

and any easy methods of remembering settings!!

Answer 1

To help you with the numbers: The shutter speed numbers are easiest, they are the bottom half of a fraction of a second. When your camera says 125, it means 1/125th of a second. The bigger the number looks, the shorter the time it is and the more light you need to make an exposure. The f-stop numbers are harder because they are also a ratio, but they are not as obvious. If you think of the size of a circle it takes to cover the area of the film or CCD in the back of the camera, this can help you get how the numbers work. Think of f8 as taking eight circles, f22 takes 22 circles, etc. 22 circles in that space would have to be very small to fit, while 8 circles would be larger, 5.6 circles even larger, etc. The larger the circle or opening in your lens, the more light it lets in when the shutter is pressed.

One good way to remember daytime settings is the Sunny 16 rule: On a sunny day, at f16, your shutter speed should be the same as your ISO number. So if your ISO is 200, your shutter speed should be 200 also. Night settings are not cut and dried.

Answer 2

These are all wonderful answers. Yes, the lower the number, the wider the aperture - that's the best advice to give.

The only new advice I can give you is this: Bracket your shots. For every picture you take, you want to take it at SEVERAL f-stops. Some will be overexposed and some under, but when you develop the negative, you have a variety of different f-stops to choose from. Sometimes you do want to over/under expose an image - remember the Zone system! - so this way you cover all your bases. Sure, you use a lot more film, but it's worth it. Ilford does practically throw film at you whenever you buy a package of paper.

Also, 400 is a very versatile speed, but you may want to go faster if you're doing a lot of night photography. You can always "push" the film by setting it in the camera as a faster film speed, and adjusting the times when you develop the film.

Answer 3

I am also dyslexic and this is how I had to figure it out.

Take off your lens and open the aperture all the way. you should see the leaves open as you turn the ring with your right hand. Now close the aperture and you should see the leaves close down. Say it to yourself as you open and close, open and close. Teach your hand where the settings are, then you should be able to use your eye (or a light meter, but I could never get the numbers right) to find the right aperture.

My camera has a needle that tells me where to set my aperture for the correct exposure if I tell the shutter speed, but you will want a wide open aperture and a long shutter for night shots. Use a tripod!

And btw, that is a great shot just like it is.

Good luck!

Answer 4

When the lights are low you want the numbers to be low.

Shutter speed should be low (makes the time longer)

f/stop should be lower numbers (makes the opening bigger)

Does that help?

I shoot f/1.4 with 1/60th or so on low light. Of course I use very sensitive setting for night.

If light is high, I put the settings high:
f/11 to f/22 and 1/200 to 1/400

BTW, I shoot digital but the rules are the same.

Answer 5

Daytime shots: The bigger the f/stop number, the smaller the opening and a fast shutter speed (bigger numbers). Smaller opening and fast shutter = less light on the film. In daytime conditions with plenty of light, this is what you need.

Nighttime shots: The small the f/stop number, the bigger the opening and a slower shutter speed (smaller numbers). Bigger opening and slower shutter speed = more light on the film. In nighttimie conditions using only available light, this is what you need.

Answer 6

To make it easier, just eliminate the numbers if you insist on metering yourself. Use a camera the shows you arrows as to which way you should adjust your shutter or aperture. Or one that you just need to get the needle in the middle for a good exposure. Then forget about the numbers, and just get the middle of the road exposure.

Answer 7

Darker the larger

Or use the night setting on your camera if you have it, for your basic photos. For more complicated, see below.