Farmgirl Shutterbugs

 "Research the following terms and how they relate to photography...."  

Exposure

Correct exposure is determined by the combination of aperture (f-stop), shutter speed, and ISO.  

f-stop:  f stands for the focal length of the lens the slash means "divided by."  So if your lens is 50 mm and the f-stop setting is 1.4 = 50/1.4 =35.7mm diameter actual lens opening.    The full f-stops are at f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, etc.  Each step down from one f-stop to the next full stop, you half the volume of light entering the lens (i.e. going from f/4 to f/5.6).     

shutter speed: controls the amount of time the light is allowed to stay on the media or film in the camera.  Every full stop down on your shutter speed doubles the volume of light on the film (i.e. going from 1/500 sec to 1/250 sec).  

ISO (film speed): ISO is like worker bees or horsepower.  Higher ISO means you can use a faster shutter speed and/or smaller aperture to get the same result.  This can be helpful if you want to convey motion in your photo by using a longer exposure (then use a lower ISO).  If your subjects are mostly stationary, you could use a shorter exposure (and higher ISO).  

Depth of field:  Area of sharpness within a photo.  You can increase the depth of field by using a smaller aperture/larger f-stop to let less light in (sort of like pouring paint into a can using a funnel is tidier than splashing it in with a "wide open" aperture).  But you might sometimes want a small depth of field and a "messier" look that is achieved with a larger aperture/smaller f-stop to encourage your audience to focus on a small area and blur a distracting background.  

(sourced from Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson)

Composition

Framing: using elements in the foreground, middle ground, or background to "frame" around the main subject, directing the viewer's eye and adding depth and interest to the image

Rule of thirds: don't just put your subject in dead center, imagine a 3x3 grid of 9 equal over your photo and place the main subject at one of the 4 intersections or along one of the lines to balance the subject with negative space and make a more dynamic and aesthetically pleasing photo.  

Leading lines:  elements within the photo which guide the viewer to a specific focal point (i.e. roads, fences, rivers).