1. How to use depth of field and
shutter speed to improve your
PRESENTATION NAME
digital photos
Company Name
By Laurie Miller
Use the arrows at the bottom of the pages to advance the slide.

2. Have you ever thought you were going
to have a great photograph only to
have the camera take a photo that
looked completely different from what
you imagined?

3. Huh! Those pictures
didn’t come out
right! Both are
blurry, and I used
the automatic
setting on my
camera. What’s
wrong????
1

4. How would you
like to take a
professional style
photograph that
focuses on the
PRESENTATIONhas clear
subject, NAME
Company Name and shows
images
the action that is
occurring in the
photograph?
1

5. This can be
accomplished through
a clear understanding
of:
Shutter Speeds
PRESENTATION and
NAME
Company Name
Aperture Settings
on the manual setting
of your digital SLR.
1

6. And …………

7. Can turn these photos:
Blurry due
Blurry &
to motion
unclear due
to depth of
field
1
Into these photos:
Motion Deeper
frozen depth of
field
1

8. At the end of this Learning Module:
Learners will be able to use shutter and aperture
settings to identify the steps used to create a
new photograph that has shallow/deep depth of
field and freeze/blurred motion based on an
existing photograph.
The prerequisite skills for this learning module are:
•Understand basic concepts of photo composition
•Identify basic parts of an SLR digital camera
•Set camera to manual mode

9. This learning module has 7 sections:
Review of prerequisite skills
Locate the aperture and shutter
Explain and Interpret shutter speed
Explain the functions of the aperture and
interpret f-stop readings
Differentiate between blurred and freeze motion
Differentiate between shallow and deep depth of field
Describe the relationship between shutter speed and aperture
settings when analyzing the composition of a photo
You will be given practice at the end of each section before you move
to the next section and quizzed at the end of the whole module.

10. Section 1:
Review of prerequisite skills.

11. Let’s begin with a quick review of the
4 basic points of composition:
Simplicity – the photograph should include
only what you want the viewer to see.
Contrast – Place light subjects on dark
backgrounds and vice versa
Rule of Thirds - Divide the photograph into
thirds to achieve balance and interest
Framing – have something in the
foreground to give a sense of where the
viewer is

12. Let’s see what you remember:
What 3 points of composition are exemplified in the
photograph below and how?
a. Simplicity
b. Contrast
c. Framing
d. Rule of thirds
e. Subject
f. Color
Click for answers

13. Let’s see what you remember:
What 3 points of composition are exemplified in the
photograph below and how?
a. Simplicity
b. Contrast
c. Framing
d. Rule of thirds
e. Subject
f. Color
Answer:
a. Simplicity – The photo shows only the spider
b. Contrast – the spider is a bright light color on a darker background
d. Rule of thirds – the spider is in the upper third of the photo to create
interest

14. Now to review some terms and mechanics of
SLR Digital cameras:
Mode dial
Shutter
button
Grip
Lens
Click on the word to review the function of each feature
If you are confident you know all the terms and their functions then click on the
arrow to skip the review

15. Shutter button:
Push the shutter
button to take a
Mode dial
picture.
Shutter
button
Grip
Lens
Click on the next word you would like to review
If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

16. Mode Dial:
This dial changes the mode
your camera is in such as Mode dial
manual, automatic,
portrait or landscape.
Shutter
button
Top view of the
mode dial
Grip
Lens
Click on the next word you would like to review
If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

17. Grip:
Mode dial
Shutter
button
Where you place your
right hand when
taking a photo to
steady the camera Grip
Lens
Click on the next word you would like to review
If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

18. Lens:
Mode dial
Shutter
button
Focuses the camera on
the image to be stored on
digital media
Grip
Lens
Click on the next word you would like to review
If you are finished reviewing all the terms click on the arrow at the bottom right

19. Let’s see what you remember:
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper
State the name and function of each numbered part
1
2
3
Click here to check
4
your answers

20. Answers:
Mode Dial: This dial changes the mode your
camera is in such as
manual, automatic, portrait or landscape.
Shutter button: Push the
shutter button to take a
picture
Grip: Where you place your right
hand when taking a photo to
Lens: Focuses the camera on the image to be
steady the camera
stored on digital media

21. Now that we have reviewed
photo composition and basic
terms let’s end the review by
putting your SLR Camera in
manual mode:

22. Using the Mode Dial you can put your SLR digital
camera in manual mode so you have the control to
adjust your shutter speed and aperture opening.
and….
Remember this is You want to set it to M for manual mode
your mode dial

23. Let’s see what you remember!
Which part of the SLR digital camera allows you to
change your camera to a manual setting?
a. Shutter
b. Grip
c. Mode Dial
d. Lens
What letter represent manual setting?
a. P
b. M
c. AV
d. Man
Click for answers

24. Answers:
Which part of the SLR digital camera allows you to
change your camera to a manual setting?
your mode dial
a. Shutter
b. Grip
c. Mode Dial
d. Lens
What letter represent manual setting?
a. P
b. M
c. AV
d. Man

25. Section 2:
Locate the aperture and
shutter on the camera

26. The aperture of a camera is located in the photographic lens behind the
glass lens of a camera.
Image
sensor
http://media.wiley.com/assets/1007
The shutter of a camera is located in the body of the camera, behind
the aperture and in front of the surface that captures the image.

27. Your Turn!
On the diagram:
identify where the aperture is located
identify where the shutter is located
Click here for answer

28. Answer:
The shutter of a camera
is located in the body of
the camera, behind the
aperture and in front of
the surface that captures
the image.
The aperture of a camera is located in the
photographic lens behind the glass lens of a
camera.

29. R
Section 3:
Explain and Interpret
shutter speed on the
camera

30. Remember the photograph of the baby at the beginning of this module - how his
hands looked blurry? This was caused by a low shutter speed.
The shutter determines how long the image sensor is being exposed to light
or the scene being photographed, and is measured in fractions of seconds.
For instance, a shutter speed of 250 would let you know that the image sensor
has been exposed to light for 1/250th of a second.

31. The higher the shutter speed the shorter the image sensor is exposed to the image. The
lower the shutter speed the longer the camera is exposed to the image.
Photographic
image
Shutter speed
What you see on 1000 500 250 125 60 30 15 8 4 2 1 ½ ¼
the camera screen
http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg
For instance, 1000 means the shutter is open for 1/1000th of a second and excellent for
catching motion in a brief moment in time. A shutter speed of 30 means the shutter is
open for 1/30th of a second and can blur a person in action due to the longer exposure.

32. In general, the guideline for catching action shots is to use a shutter speed
250 or above and for blurred motion use a shutter speed 30 or below.
http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg

33. Your Turn!
1. Which shutter speed is faster: 250 or 30? Why?
2. If you want to catch a clear picture of runners in
the Olympics as they cross the finish line where
should you set your shutter speed?
a. 125 b. 500 c. 30 d. 1/250
3. What shutter speed was likely used to
create the lines of car lights in the
photograph?
a. 125 b. 500 c. 15 d. 1000
Click here for answers

34. Answers:
1. Which shutter speed is faster: 250 or 30? Why?
250 because the shutter is opening and closing at a rate of 1/250th of a second
and 30 is opening and closing at 1/30th of a second. 1/250th < 1/30th
2. If you want to catch a clear picture of runners in
the Olympics as they cross the finish line where
should you set your shutter speed?
a. 125 b. 500 c. 30 d. 1/250
3. What shutter speed was likely used to
create the lines of car lights in the
photograph?
a. 125 b. 500 c. 15 d. 1000
To review the concept click here To move on click here

35. The higher the shutter speed the shorter the camera is exposed to the image. The
lower the shutter speed the longer the camera is exposed to the image.
Photographic
image
What you see on
1000 500 250 125 60 30 15 8 4 2 1 ½ ¼
the camera screen
http://www.miketurner-photography.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shutter-speeds.jpg
In general, the guideline for catching action shots is to use a shutter speed 250 or
above and for blurred motion use a shutter speed 30 or below.
The Olympic runner is an example of an action shot and the line of car lines an
example of blurred motion.

36. R
Section 4:
Explain the function of
the aperture and
interpret f-stop
readings

37. Remember the picture of the clocks at the beginning – how the second clock
was blurry? This was caused by a low aperture setting.
1
The aperture is a circular opening behind your lens that determines the size
of the hole that allows light into the camera. The size of the aperture is
indicated by its f-stop and is measured by the lens focal length divided by the
diameter of the aperture opening. The aperture works like the pupil in your
eye. In darker places it needs to be open wider and in brighter places it
needs to be smaller.

38. F-stops are the reverse of what you might think. The larger the f-stop number
the smaller the circumference of the aperture and the smaller the f-stop number
the larger the circumference of the aperture.
silverstrandphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010
So, an f-stop of 16 means that less light gets into the camera than an f-stop of
4.5.

39. Your Turn!
1. Based on the diagrams below determine which aperture
setting will let more light in and which will let less light in?
2. Which f-stop will let in the least amount of light?
a. f/16
b. f/2.8
c. f/5.6
d. f/8
3. What is the relationship between the opening of the aperture
and the f-stop setting?
Click here for answers

40. Answers:
1. Based on the diagrams below determine which aperture
setting will let more light in and which will let less light in?
This will have a larger
f-stop because it is a This will have a smaller f-stop
smaller circle because it is a larger circle
2. Which f-stop will let in the least amount of light?
a. f/16
b. f/2.8
c. f/5.6
d. f/8
3. What is the relationship between the opening of the aperture
and the f-stop setting?
As the aperture opens wider to allow more light in the f-stop
setting gets smaller and vice versa.
To review the concepts click here To move on click here

41. F-stops are the reverse of what you might think. The larger the f-stop number
the smaller the circumference of the aperture and the smaller the f-stop
number the larger the circumference of the aperture.
silverstrandphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010
So, an f-stop of 16 means that less light gets into the camera than an f-stop of
4.5.

42. R
Section 5:
Differentiate between
blurred and freeze
motion

43. Recall from Section 3:

44. So, when the shutter speed is increased, the exposure of the image
sensor to the light is decreased because the shutter is moving faster.
This allows your camera to “freeze” the motion.
Fast shutter speed
1
However, when the shutter speed is decreased, the exposure of the
image sensor to the light is increased because the shutter is moving
slower. This allows your camera to “blur” the motion.
Slow shutter speed
1

45. Your Turn!
1. Given the photo below what was likely the shutter speed
setting and how could you adjust the shutter speed to create a
blurred photo next time?
1
a. The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to increase the shutter
speed to 1000 to blur the motion
b. The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to decrease the
shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion
c. The shutter speed was 250 and you would have to increase the
shutter speed to 500 to blur the motion
d. The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to decrease the
shutter speed to blur the motion

46. 2. Why does increasing the shutter speed freeze motion?
3. Given the photograph below, describe what shutter speed
was needed to blur the flags?
1
a. A shutter speed greater than 250
b. A shutter speed greater than 500
c. A shutter speed less than 250
d. A shutter speed less than 60
BONUS: Why is the lady in the middle of the photo not blurry?
Click here for answers

47. Answers:
1. Given the photo below what was likely the shutter speed
setting and how could you adjust the shutter speed to create a
blurred photo next time?
1
a. The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to increase the shutter
speed to 1000 to blur the motion
b. The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to decrease the
shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion
c. The shutter speed was 250 and you would have to increase the
shutter speed to 500 to blur the motion
d. The shutter speed was 60 and you would have to decrease the
shutter speed to blur the motion
Click here for explanation

48. 2. Why does increasing the shutter speed freeze motion?
By increasing the shutter speed you are reducing the amount of
time that the image sensor is exposed to the image being
captured, so you are less likely to get motion within a shorter
period of time.
3. Given the photograph below, describe what shutter speed
was needed to blur the flags?
1
a. A shutter speed greater than 250
b. A shutter speed greater than 500
c. A shutter speed less than 250
d. A shutter speed less than 60
BONUS: Why is the lady in the middle of the photo not blurry?
The lady is still so it doesn’t matter if the shutter speed is slower
Click here for explanation

49. To freeze and action like in the photograph of the boy playing basketball, the
camera needs to have a shutter speed above 125. To blur an image the camera
need to have a shutter speed below 60
So the correct answers is: The shutter speed was 1000 and you would have to
decrease the shutter speed below 60 to blur the motion
Return to answers

50. To blur an action like in the photograph of the lady praying in the middle of the
flags, the camera needs to have a shutter speed below 60. Since the lady isn’t
moving she still appears frozen even though the shutter setting is low.
Return to answers

51. Section 6:
Differentiate
between shallow
and deep depth
of field

52. Recall from Section 4:
The aperture is a circular opening behind your lens that determines the size of
the hole that allows light into the camera and f-stops are the reverse of what
you might think. The larger the f-stop number the smaller the circumference of
the aperture and the smaller the f-stop number the larger the circumference of
the aperture.
silverstrandphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010

53. When the aperture size increases (the f-stop number decreases) more light is let
in and the image is less sharp. The subject is the only part of the image that is
clear and sharp. This give you a shallow depth of field since a majority of the
photo is less sharp.
Shallow depth of field
1
Likewise, when the aperture size decreases (the f-stop number increases) less
light is let into the camera and the whole image is sharper and in focus. This
gives you a deep depth of field since a majority of the photo is more sharp.
Deep depth of field
1

54. Your Turn!
1. Given what you know about aperture settings which of the
following would be a better setting for a landscape photograph
where you want everything to be sharp?
a. f/2.8
b. f/8
c. f/16
d. f/5.6
2. Given the photographs below which one uses a lower f-stop
setting and which one is deep depth of field? Explain your answer.
1
1

55. 3. The pictures of the pigeons in the park below has a lot going on. As a
viewer I don’t know whether to focus on the path leading to the trees
in the background or the pigeons in the foreground of the picture.
What would be an appropriate f-stop if I wanted the pigeons to be the
subject of my photograph?
a. F/22
b. F/16
c. F/4.5
d. F/5.6
1 Click here for answers

56. Answers:
1. Given what you know about aperture settings which of the
following would be a better setting for a landscape photograph
where you want everything to be sharp?
a. f/2.8
b. f/8
c. f/16
d. f/5.6
2. Given the photographs below which one uses a lower f-stop
setting and which one is deep depth of field? Explain your answer.
1
1
Lower f-stop/Shallow depth of field Higher f-stop/Deep depth of field
Click for explanation

57. 3. The pictures of the pigeons in the park below has a lot going on. As a
viewer I don’t know whether to focus on the path leading to the trees
in the background or the pigeons in the foreground of the picture.
What would be an appropriate f-stop if I wanted the pigeons to be the
subject of my photograph?
a. F/22
b. F/16
c. F/8
d. F/5.6
Remember if you want to make
the background less clear you
want a lower f-stop, thus a
larger aperture opening. By
making the background less
clear the foreground will
become the focus
1

58. When the aperture size increases (the f-stop number decreases) more light is let
in and the image is less sharp. The subject is the only part of the image that is
clear and sharp. This give you a shallow depth of field since a majority of the
photo is less sharp.
Shallow depth of field
1
Likewise, when the aperture size decreases (the f-stop number increases) less
light is let into the camera and the whole image is sharper and focus. This gives
you a deep depth of field since a majority of the photo is more sharp.
Deep depth of field
1
Return to answers

59. Section 7:
Describe the
relationship between
shutter speed and
aperture settings when
analyzing the
composition of a
photograph

60. Both shutter speed and aperture settings affect the light that enters the
camera. Shutter speed affects the length of light exposure and aperture
setting affects the amount of light that enters at one time. Thus there is
a relationship between the two. When you decrease shutter speed you
must increase your f-stop and vice versa.
http://johnbarsbyphotography.pbworks.com/f/Aperture+and+Shutter+Speed+Relationship.jpg

61. It works like a see-saw. When one side goes up the other side must go down the
equal amount. Starting at the equilibrium of f/5.6 and 200 you can increase the f-stop
by 2 levels to f/8 but that makes the shutter reading decrease by 2 to 100.
Up 2
stops
Down 2
speeds
If you do not adjust for your change in f-stop or shutter speed then you can over
or under expose you photo. So, this is an important step to remember!

62. Your Turn!
1. If you decrease your shutter speed 4 settings, by how many
and in what direction would you adjust the f-stops for your
aperture?
a. Decrease by 4 stops
b. Decrease by 2 stops
c. Increase by 2 stops
d. Increase by 4 stops
2. If you decrease the f-stop by 3 stops, by how many settings
and in what direction would you adjust the shutter speed?
a. Decrease by 3 settings
b. Increase by 3 settings
c. Increase by 1 setting
d. Decrease by 1 setting

63. 3. You take a photo at 500 (1/500th of a sec) with an f-stop of f/5.6.
If you take the same photograph at 60 (1/60th of a sec) to create
a blurred motion effect, what would your f-stop need to be so
the photograph isn’t overexposed?
a. f/5.6 b. f/2 c. f/16 d. f/4
Aperture Settings Shutter Speeds
http://www.butkus.org
photographylesson.org
4. You are at a kid’s birthday party and you take a picture of a child
hitting a piñata but the bat and the child comes out blurry in the
picture. To correct this problem you need to freeze the motion
by ______________ the shutter speed. However, to make sure
the photo isn’t under exposed now, you need to ____________
the f-stop.
Click here for answers

64. Answers:
1. If you decrease your shutter speed 4 settings, by how many
and in what direction would you adjust the f-stops for your
aperture?
a. Decrease by 4 stops
b. Decrease by 2 stops
c. Increase by 2 stops
d. Increase by 4 stops
2. If you decrease the f-stop by 3 stops, by how many settings
and in what direction would you adjust the shutter speed?
a. Decrease by 3 settings
b. Increase by 3 settings
c. Increase by 1 setting
d. Decrease by 1 setting
Click for explanation

65. 3. You take a photo at 500 (1/500th of a sec) with an f-stop of f/5.6.
If you take the same photograph at 60 (1/60th of a sec) to create
a blurred motion effect, what would your f-stop need to be so
the photograph isn’t overexposed?
a. f/5.6 b. f/2 c. f/16 d. f/4
Aperture Settings
Shutter Speeds
Up 3 Down 3
http://www.butkus.org
photographylesson.org
4. You are at a kid’s birthday party and you take a picture of a child
hitting a piñata but the bat and the child comes out blurry in the
picture. To correct this problem you need to freeze the motion
increasing
by ______________ the shutter speed. However, to make sure
decrease
the photo isn’t under exposed now, you need to ____________
the f-stop.

66. It works like a see-saw. When one side goes up the other side must go down
the equal amount.
Up 3 speeds
Up 4
stops
Down 4
speeds
Down 3
stops
If you do not adjust for your change in f-stop or shutter speed then you can over
or under expose you photo. So, this is an important step to remember!
Return to Answers

67. Conclusion:
Putting it all together
to analyze
photographs

68. Let’s revisit those photographs of the clocks
and baby at the beginning of the lesson.
How did we get from one to the other?
Increase
Blurred shutter speed
motion Frozen Motion
Increase
Shallow f-stop Deep depth
depth of of field
field
1
1

69. Now let’s analyze a series of photographs and how shutter
speed and aperture settings affect the image produced.
Here you have
deep depth of
field because the Finally, the
background is in subjects are in
focus and you http://petphotography.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/exopsure_compare.jpg focus by increasing
have blurred the shutter speed
motion since the further. Which is
people are compensated for
laughing and by a reduced f-stop
moving. So you Halfway, the aperture setting has been and less sharp
have a low decreased because the background is background.
shutter speed blurry. The shutter speed has increased
with a high f- because there is less blurred motion.
stop.

70. Yea! We were correct! The f-stops
decreased from 22 down to 2.8 as the
shutter speeds increased from 4 to 250.
http://petphotography.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/exopsure_compare.jpg

71. Hopefully, you now feel confident in your
understanding of shutter speeds, aperture settings
and how they relate to each other to compose a
professional looking photograph.
Are you ready for your final Quiz?

72. Final Quiz
You will be given 2 photographs to critique in terms of
shutter and aperture setting. You should identify the
steps used to create a new photograph that has shallow
or deep depth of field and freeze or blurred motion based
on the existing photograph.

73. How did aperture setting and shutter speed help transform the photo on the left
to the photograph on the right?

74. In order to create the blurred motion of the water the shutter speed was lowered below
30 (1/30th of a sec). It in fact was lowered to 2 (1/2 sec) from 180 (1/180th of a sec).
In order to compensate for the decreased shutter speed the f-stop was increased from
f/4 to f/22. This is evident in the exposure level of the photo and the crisp background.

75. The pictures below are of pigeons in a park. The photo on the left was taken at an
aperture setting of f/16 and a shutter speed of 8 (1/8th of a sec). Describe the
photograph on the left in terms of motion and depth of field. Now, describe how one
could change the shutter speed and aperture setting to create the image on the right.
1
1

76. The motion of the pigeons is blurry
due to the low shutter speed, but you
can clearly see the stationary object
at any depth due to the high f-stop
giving the photo a deep depth of
field.
1
Here the shutter speed was increased to
capture flapping wings of the pigeon.
However, that means the aperture setting
needed to be adjusted, so the f-stop was
decreased, making the background less
1
sharp and clear.

77. Now that you have mastered the use
of shutter speed and aperture
settings to explain how photos with a
shallow depth of field, deep depth of
field, frozen motion and blurred
motion are produced on the manual
setting of your SLR digital camera, go
out and practice with your camera.

78. I hope you enjoyed
this lesson and have
learned a lot!

79. References
1 - London, Barbara, et al. (2011). Photography. Prentice Hall: Boston.