Aperture
Aperture is the amount of light let in due to the size of the iris. Rather confusingly, the higher the f stop is, the lower the aperture is and in turn, less light is let in. Because of this, objects within the photo that are in the foreground will be more in focus than those in the background. This is why sports photographers prioritise the lower f stop for taking photos of matches. Photos of landscapes and establishing shots will be taken with a higher aperture so that everything is in focus.
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is how fast the camera’s shutter closes at to catch a photo at the right moment. Sports photographers will take photos using a fast shutter speed most of the time as sport is played at a fast space and using the fast shutter speed means the a moment will be caught on camera without any motion blur, and everything will be in focus. Slow shutter speed photos will be taken in order to create an effect or show a certain action.
ISO
ISO controls the light sensitivity, and this has to be altered in the different environments a photographer will shoot in. The higher the ISO is means that you can work in less light. For example, you would put the ISO up if you were shooting at night. In turn, the lower the ISO means you can use natural or artificial light instead of camera settings. The example for this would be a sunny day or in a room. However, the higher the ISO, the more [metaphorical] noise there will be in the photo.
So how have I applied this to my practice?
Well, these are the key elements to getting photography just right. Without this trio being set up to exactly how it is needed, then your photography isn’t going to be as good as it could be. I have applied this to my learning by thinking about what settings would be best for different scenarios. So in the rain, a slow shutter speed is good so that you get the effect of the rain in the photo. I have prioritised the ISO in certain lightings as it is possibly most important. If it’s set to the wrong ISO, your photo is going to be too light or too dark. Finally, the aperture. I have done this when focusing in on individual subjects. They are your main target, so I blur the background by using a large aperture meaning that my subject is in focus, and I get the best possible photo from it.
Ben Jones' Sports Reports 