Photo Marketing Association International studies show that most digital camera users just set their cameras to automatic exposure and snap away. The group hopes to show users what the other camera settings mean to allow a finer control over their shots:
Each exposure setting has two parts - the shutter time and the lens aperture setting. The lens opening, or aperture, controls the zone of sharp focus, or in photographic language, the depth of field.
One of the most important icons is the Running Man, denoting a Sport/Action setting. Here the camera's exposure system measures the amount of light and selects the fastest shutter speed in order to freeze action. But to do this, the camera opens the lens aperture, which produces a shallow zone of sharpness.
At the opposite end of the scale is the Flower icon, which indicates the close-up or macro setting. In this mode, the exposure system provides greater depth of field at a slow shutter speed. The problem with ultra-close-up photography is keeping sharp depth of focus, because the lens is very close to the subject.
You can visit the PMA's Prints Are Memories website for more tips.
