Just bought a 35mm camera. Need a book to learn more in depth of how to get the best pictures?

Question

Just bought a 35mm camera. Need a book to learn more in depth of how to get the best pictures?

Answer 1

You don't need a book, you can learn everything you need from me, right now.

Let's start with shutter speed.  The higher the number the faster the shutter opens and closes.  The lower the number the slower the shutter opens and closes.  Higher numbers work better when there is more light, lower numbers when there is less light.

Next; apertures.  The aperture ring is the little ring near the base (camera end) of the lens.  You change that to let in more or less light without changing the shutter speed.  The lower the number, the more light you let in.  The higher the number, the less light you let in.

Exposure formulas:

Bright sunlight: f(aperture setting)  f/16@SS(shutter speed) closest to ASA of film.  For example, if you're shooting with ASA 400 film in bright sunlight you would set your camera to f/16@SS400.  That would give you a good, well exposed picture.

Light overcast: f/11@SS closest to ASA of film. For example, if you're shooting with ASA 400 film with a light overcast you set your camera to f/11@SS400.

Heavy overcast/shade: f/8 or f/5.6@SS closest to ASA of film.  For example if you were shooting with ASA 400 film in shade you would set your camera to f/5.6@SS400.

That's all you need to start taking good pictures.  Trust me, my former photo teacher started class like that, and we all took some amazing pictures with nothing but that formula.