Aperture question

[derekf]

I've spent the day taking photos and trying different settings.

One of the things I don't understand is if I'm in Av mode and take two photos - one with f4.5 and one with f22.0, the f22.0 always looks more washed out. I'm trying to understand why this happens when the camer has modified the shutter speed to match

I've attached a couple of examples

[jerryph]

Lens quality and diffraction has a lot to do with it. Also metering mode can affect things as well.

[iwannac2]

Hey derekf...

I've been having many of the same types of issues.... If I'm only changing one thing, and the camera is set to change the other... why do I get unexpected (unwanted) results. As I'm going through these exercises, I am coming to realize that it's more than just what the exercise is focussing on. As Jerry mentioned above, I've recently discovered how to use the metering on my camera (don't know if you have that option or not). I've currently got it set up to spot meter to set white balance - so I pick a spot - then recompose and shoot. For instance, in your two shots, I perhaps may have spot metered for white balance on the front left of the hull of the ship (seems to be very white). That should have toned down the exposure a bit (at least in my brain it would have). I'm learning quickly that regardless of the focus of the exercises and assignments, I need to remain aware of what other things need to be considered to get a result I want..... and quite often it means 30 - 40 pictures of the same thing with different settings (thank the big guy for digital cameras... that would have been a big cost in film).

Another option you could try would be bracketing (if your camera has that). Gives you three shots with a range of exposures to choose from (but I'm sure you probably know that already).

There are still many options on my camera I have yet to get in to.... so it is alot of playing with everything till the "whys" become clear.

[ngwillym]

Sudden thought - if you are changing the aperture that much (5 stops?) its likely that your camera has upped the ISO for the f.22 shot?

[jenships]

Interesting - I'm about to start on the aperture priority so find this information valuable.

Could someone give a quick explanation of metering mode, as it sounds like something that will help me out Thanks