ISO Speed

Okay...I've been so busy during the holidays that I never got back to my posts about taking pictures! Here we go!!! Let's start with ISO. We used to call this "Film Speed". It was that number on the outside of the film box...100, 200, 400, etc. The numbers are still around, but now they are displayed on the back of our digital cameras in the LCD screen. If you haven't discovered how to change your ISO setting, run to find your manual right now and look it up. You will love it! Typically, it will be set on automatic, which works...most of the time. But you will be amazed how much it can help once you know how to control it!
So, what does it do. It tells the camera how sensitive the camera should be to light. 100 is the least sensitive, so it takes more light to create a well exposed photo (translate that as longer shutter speeds or larger aperture). 1600 is one of the highest (on most cameras anyway) and takes less light. So what's the catch? Why don't we always want to use higher ISOs allowing us to shoot with less light. Well, 100 ISO allows sharper detail. If you are taking portraits, there is no motion, you can handle less sensitivity and get super sharp detail. With 1600 ISO, you can shoot in lower light, but you'll have more "noise". Think about the black and white sports shots you used to see that looked really grainy. Those were probably 1600 or 3200 ISO. Generally you want to use the lowest ISO you can get away with.

Now for some visuals. These were all shot on manual settings. 1/60 shutter speed and f-stop of 5.6. Refer to the earlier post if you need a refresher on what that means. The only thing I changed was the ISO setting.

ISO 1600

ISO 800

ISO 400

ISO 200

ISO 100

You can see the dramatic difference between ISO 1600 and ISO 100.

I was shooting a graduation once (my husband's). I was toward the back of a large arena with my zoom lens. I really wanted to get some great pictures of him receiving his diploma. I took a test shot...nothing! It was totally black! I tried lowering the aperature...slowing the shutter. No difference. I grabbed my manual, figured out how to manually set my ISO and cranked it to 1600. I took a test shot. A great exposure! It was a little grainy. But I got pictures of my husband's grandfather handing him his doctoral diploma...and they are pretty good. Now translate that to your daughter's dance recital, a wedding reception, etc. It's a great tool for you to know how to use. Give it a try! Go take some shots experimenting with ISO. Let me know what you learn!

Happy shooting!
Lori

Christmas Weddings

I've had the privilege of shooting a couple of weddings this Christmas. I love Christmas weddings. Casey and I married two days after Christmas, so I understand the craziness it can inspire, yet I wouldn't have changed it.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the second wedding. Laura, thank you for trusting me to capture your special day. It was my honor! It was a beautiful wedding.

New web site

I am so excited about my new web site! It allows my clients to be able to view their photos on-line AND order...at their convenience! I love it! I've been busy taking some fun fall pictures. As we head into Thanksgiving, I just want to wish each of you a blessed holiday filled with family and love. We had a fun time this past weekend with Casey's family (pictured here). We look forward to a longer visit at Christmas!

The Basics, originally posted Oct. 23, 2008

I recently promised help for YOU to take great pictures. I want to walk you through some key terms that you need to know to be able to get the most out of your camera, whatever kind it may be.

• Exposure= the balance of camera elements giving you the perfect amount of light in your photo. You picture is merely a recording of light. So any issues you have with your photos, most likely has to do with the amount of light and how you are capturing it.


• Aperture=the AMOUNT of LIGHT that your camera lets in. If you could look down into the lens in super slow motion as your camera fires, you would see a curtain open over a hole that allows light to reach your sensor (digital) or film. The larger the hole, the more light. This allows you control your depth-of-field (the amount of your image that is in focus).


• Shutter speed=the AMOUNT of TIME that curtain is open. This allows you to blur your little soccer players legs as he's running down the field, thus showing motion (slow shutter speed) or stop the action and have those legs frozen in time (fast shutter speed).

Now, I'm not going to weigh you down with detailed explanations of these. I could write pages on each. But you need a basic understanding. Don't be frustrated if it sounds confusing. I've been doing this most of my life and it still takes a little bit of thought when I'm trying to balance all of the elements involved. Go back and read it one more time. Return to these simple explanations as you see the next few posts.

Next week, I'm going to talk about ISO setting. Knowing how to change this setting will help you tremendously! Take a few minutes over the weekend and see if you can find out how to change this setting on your camera. You'll soon find out what those numbers mean!

You said "Help me with my photogrpahy!", Oct. 8, 2008

I have had a lot of people asking me about how to take better pictures or get more out of their camera. I'm listening! I'm going to start a series of posts talking about how to get more out of your camera. They should help those of you with point and shoots as well as those with SLRs. Stay tuned. I'm also about to start taking appointments for Fall Photos and Cookies for Santa. I'm looking at the following dates:

• Fall Family Photos: October 27-30. Only a few evening appointments avaialble and Nov. 1st and 2nd. Children's Portrait plan members can call now for appointments. I'll start taking appointments from everyone on Oct. 13.


• Cookies for Santa: November 7-8

Baby R, Originally posted Sept. 15, 2008

I had the opportunity to take few more shots of baby "R", who've you've seen a couple of times already! She's three months old now. This is probably my favorite shot from our session.

Isn't she beautiful! I also love the next shots. These were actually her mom's idea. We were wanting to capture those beautiful eyelashes!

Finally (though there are SO many beautiful shots) there is one of Baby "R"'s sisters. This was a last minute shot and took up the last space on my CF card. I had no idea how much I would like it!

Loss...July 24, 2008

It's been a tough few weeks in our family. We lost my dad to cancer almost three weeks ago on July 6, 2008. My dad was a man who was loved life and loved to have fun. He fought to the very end and it seems completely surreal to me that he is actually gone. I find it hard to imagine never hugging him again even as I write this. I took this picture last November when he insisted our family go together to Crested Butte. You could tell he thought it would be his last. We thought it was absurd. I wonder how he knew...

This is one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. This is Ryan and my dad. My dad LOVES the guitar. He has several. Three of them are signed by many singers and songwriters. In fact, about a month before dad died he asked me if there was anything of his I wanted. I said a guitar. That's who my dad is. He loved country music. He loved boats. He loved Corvettes. He loved the color red. He loved his family most of all. I miss you, Dad!

Lori Motl Photography has been neglected through all of this. I'm finally trying get going again. I had the opportunity to take my favorite kind of pictures this week...naked baby pictures. This is baby "M". Very cute little guy. Loved to kick! We were lucky to get him to sit still for a few shots!

Here is a photo I'd like feed back on. Just look and tell me what you think.