Photography Assignment Sheets

SUNSET PORTRAIT
This sheet will teach you how to capture a portrait image against an early
sunset.
© SLR Photography Guide
PHOTO ASSIGNMENT
No more frustration when attempting to photograph a person or subject against an
early sunset. Simply follow the f/4 rule listed below from the good old film days and
your set.
Camera Settings For f/4 Rule
When photographing a subject against a sunset, set your camera to manual mode with an f/4
aperture.
Now choose a matching ISO/ Shutter Speed combination. For example, if you choose ISO 400, set
a matching Shutter Speed of 1/400 second. If you choose ISO 800, set a Shutter Speed of 1/800
second and so forth.
Note, if you are hand holding your camera make sure you select a ISO and Shutter Speed
combination that is faster than the length of your lens.
For example, if you are using a wide angle 24mm focal length, select a shutter speed faster than
1/24 of a second. Hence the ISO 100 with 1/100 second shutter speed is your best option. Always
aim for the lowest ISO possible.
If you are using a focal length of 300mm. Use ISO 400 + 1/400 second shutter speed combination
and so forth.
SHORT NOTE
These settings will help get you quickly into a good ball park to start with. It's then up to you to
tweak the settings depending on your creative vision for the shot.
ASSIGNMENT CARD: SUNSET PORTRAIT

CONTRASTING LIGHT
This sheet will teach you how to handle bright subjects against dark
backgrounds and vice versa. The more you practice seeing tonalities in
a scene, the easier it will become to quickly select camera settings.
© SLR Photography Guide
PHOTO ASSIGNMENT
When using the camera's default metering mode (Matrix Metering or Evaluative
Metering mode), the camera divides the entire frame into multiple segments, takes a
meter reading from each segment and averages it out, giving more emphasis to the
center of the frame.
Therefore as a photographer, you need to take the average tonality of the entire
frame and over expose the image if the average is on the brighter side, or under
expose if the average tonality is on the darker side.
Example #1 - Tiger
There are more darker tones in this image than lighter ones.
Therefore you'll need to under-expose the shot by -1 or -2 when
using Matrix / Evaluative metering mode.
Example #2 - Bird
Same as above, there are more darker tones in this image than
lighter ones. Therefore you'll need to under-expose the shot by
-1 or -2 when using Matrix / Evaluative metering mode.
Example #3 - Zebra
The overall tonality of this scene is even throughout. Therefore
there is no reason to under or over expose the shot. The
camera should do a great job on exposing the image
automatically when using Matrix or Evaluative metering.
Example #4 - Eagle
The overall tonality of this scene is brighter in tones. Therefore to
bring out the details in the Eagle's darker feathers, you'll need to
over-expose the shot by +1 or +2 when using Matrix / Evaluative
metering mode.
ASSIGNMENT CARD: CONTRASTING LIGHT

MOON
This assignment sheet will teach you how to capture all the
phases of the Moon.
© SLR Photography Guide
PHOTO ASSIGNMENT
As with all night sky photography, these settings are a basic starting point from which
you may need to tweak your settings after taking a couple of test shots. If you find a
test shot too dark, increase your ISO or lower your aperture f/number. If you find it too
bright, decrease your ISO or increase your aperture f/number.
When using a tripod, your lens vibration reduction / image stabilization should always
be turned off. Otherwise in searching for vibration, your lens may actually cause
movement, creating images that are less sharp than they otherwise would be.
Other Settings To Try:
Bright Moon
- Shutter Speed 1/500 sec
- Aperture f/5.6
- ISO 400-800
Crescent Moon
- Shutter Speed 1 sec
- Aperture f/5.6
- ISO 400-800
Full Moon 1/250sec, f/11, ISO 250
Gibbous Moon 1/125sec, f/11, ISO 250
Quarter Moon 1/60sec, f/11, ISO 250
Wide Crescent 1/30sec, f/11, ISO 250
Thin Crescent 1/15sec, f/11, ISO 250
Earthshine 2sec, f/2.8, ISO 250
- Use a tripod and remote release, or
set a 2 second Self Timer to trigger the
image.
- Use Manual Mode.
SHORT NOTE
The brighter the moon, the faster your shutter speed needs to be. If you find an image too dark,
increase your ISO or lower your aperture f/number. If you find it too bright, decrease your ISO or
increase your aperture f/number.
ASSIGNMENT CARD: MOON

FIREWORKS
This assignment sheet will teach you how to capture fireworks. What
you'll need: Camera and wide angle lens, tripod, cable release or
remote timer.
© SLR Photography Guide
PHOTO ASSIGNMENT
Arrive early to scout out your location. Think about the wind direction. If you’re
downwind from the display, the air will quickly become filled with smoke haze, which
is not ideal. If you can, try and position yourself upwind to avoid this.
Manually set the focus for your scene before it gets dark. Focus on infinity or on an
object in the distance. Once the fireworks begin, you’ll be ready to start shooting. If
you have an issue mid-show, turn autofocus back on and shoot a distant well-lit
object, then turn it back to manual focus again.
Method 1
- ISO 200
- Aperture f/8
- Shutter Speed 2 seconds
- Ignore the exposure line
Take a test shot. If the results
are too bright increase the
aperture number to f/11, if too
dark decrease aperture to f/5.6
or f/4
Method 2
- ISO 200
- Aperture f/11
- Ignore the exposure line
Instead of choosing a shutter
speed, set the camera to Bulb (B)
which allows you to keep the
shutter open as long as you want.
The longer you keep it open, the
more bursts you will capture in a
single shot.
1. Use a sturdy tripod and cable release or wireless remote to trigger the shutter
2. Set camera to 'Manual Mode' (Method 1) or 'Bulb' Mode (Method 2)
3. Turn your onboard Flash OFF if you have one
4. Turn OFF Autofocus and Image Stabilisation / Vibration Reduction
5. Image Quality - RAW
6. White Balance - AUTO
7. Drive Mode - Single Shot
8. Focus Manually on infinity
SHORT NOTE
When shooting with longer shutter speeds you need to use a tripod and remote release for
sharp images. Sometimes when shooting on manual mode you need to ignore the exposure
line and decide for yourself what shutter speed works best.
ASSIGNMENT CARD: FIREWORKS

100 PHOTOGRAPHY
ASSIGNMENT SHEETS
NEW Photography Assignments, covering everything you can imagine.
Learn More https://www.slrphotographyguide.com/photo-assignments/
LIGHT PAINTING
This sheet will teach you how to blend light painting techniques along
with a Milky Way landscape.
ASSIGNMENT
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The purpose of light painting is to give recognizable detail to the landscape
foreground so you only need to make one exposure. One shot makes post
processing easier, as you don't have to combine separate exposures for the sky and
foreground. Your light source can be something as simple as a flashlight, headlamp,
flashlight app on your mobile phone, car headlights. i.e anything that gives off light.
First step is to take test shots of the landscape with ambient light to make sure
you've exposed correctly for the sky and stars. Once you have a good night time
exposure, start light painting the scene, but don't change the camera settings.
Camera Settings
Manual Mode
Shutter Speed 20-30 seconds
Aperture: Wide open f/2 .8-f/4
ISO 1600-3200
Take a test shot to expose for the
Milky Way or Stars first.
Once you are happy with the results,
then bring in the light painting.
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1 . Use a tripod and remote release
2. Set camera to Manual Mode
3. Tum off Image Stabilisation/ Vibration Reduction
4. Image Quality- RAW
5. White Balance- Daylight/ Sunny
6. Drive Mode- Single Shot
7. Focus Manual
HOW DID YOU GO?
• Did you have fun experimenting with different light positions?
• Were you able to capture the night sky and light painting on the foreground?
ASSIGNMENT CARD: LIGHT PAINTING