Where to Begin

Learn the language, know your equipment, and know your terms. How can you use something properly and begin to manipulate to your desires if you do not know what it is? We’ll start with the most common as I will cover these first. Throughout this series important terms will be highlighted along with its explanation.
• Aperture- The adjustable opening in a camera lens used to control the amount of light reaching the film. The size of this hole is called the f-stop. The larger the number the smaller the opening of the lens; the smaller the number the larger the opening of the lens. This controls the amount of light entering the lens.
• Shutter speed-the amount of time a camera’s shutter stays open so light can enter the lens.
• ISO- is a measurement of a digital camera's imaging sensor's sensitivity.
• Focal length-The distance between the back lens element and the focal plane.
• Bokeh-used to describe the out-of-focus elements in an image.
• Depth of Field (DOF) - The distance between the farthest and nearest points which are in focus. DOF can also be used to describe the zone of acceptable sharpness before and behind a given focused subject. DOF varies according to numerous factors such as lens focal length, aperture, shooting distance, etc.
Please take the first few days and explore your camera. Find the controls for the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO as you will need them for the first assignment.