Nikon SLR Cameras

How to take a portrait and lanscape photos on nikon d3000 using micro?

velvetredskies
velvetredskies

Guys I got a AF-S micro nikkor 60mm f2.8G ED lens on my nikon d3000. What would settings perfect for:
1. Portrait
2. Landscape

Jeroen Wijnands
Jeroen Wijnands

Portraits tend to be shot with the aperture fairly wide open.f2.8-f4. Landscapes I shoot around f11-f16. Since this lens is 60m a decent landscape shot may take several overlapping pictures and the microsoft ice stiching software (http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE/)

EDWIN
EDWIN

Portrait: Indoors or outdoors? Ambient light only or supplemented with off-camera flash? A 3 light set-up using flash or hot lights?

There are no "perfect" settings for any photography project. You have to learn about light, composition and exposure and then practice using that knowledge. Professional photographers spend years perfecting their portrait lighting techniques. It can't be learned with one or two questions on a forum like this.

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

Joe McNally's book 'The Hot Shoe Diaries' is worth reading.

http://www.professionalphotography101.com/portrait_photography/Portrait-photography.html

In my opinion 60mm on a cropped sensor DSLR like your D3000 is far too long of a focal length for landscape photography. The 18mm end of your 18-55mm zoom is a far better choice. An even better choice would be a lens like a 10-20mm or 12-24mm.

Successful landscape photography requires having your camera on a tripod and using either the camera's self-timer or a remote release to trip the shutter. You'll also want a circular polarizer to daren a blue sky and enhance colors. I shoot landscapes with my camera in Aperture Priority and a 21mm lens (equivalent to a 14mm lens on your D3000) at f16 and pre-focused at 6'-0'' to maximize my Depth of Field.


http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html Here you can begin learning about Depth of Field.

keerok
keerok

For portraits, set camera to A mode, ISO to lowest if lighting permits. Set aperture to f/2.8 for a single headshot, f/5 for small groups and whole body shots. You will have to be relatively near your subject and the background relatively far if you want the background blurred. Focus on the nearest eye of the subject if alone in a headshot or the face of the middle one in a group. You may need to set focusing to M.

For landscapes, set camera to Auto and ISO to Auto. Step (or drive) as far as you want to frame the picture the way you want it to appear (or close to it somehow). If the picture is too dark, increase EV. If too bright, decrease EV.

Research on the Rule of Thirds for properly framing the subject.