Oh Shoot! Aperture

The basic idea:
Open aperture: The wider your aperture (lower f-stop), the more light you let in. Also, the depth of field increases. That's what gives some photos that blurred effect in the background or forefront (called bokeh). Using this technique is good for a portrait, especially if you don't want the stuff in the background to really show clearly.
Closed aperture: A smaller aperture (higher f-stop), lets less light in but leaves more of the picture crisp. Better for landscape or group shots.

Open aperture:
Buddy & Daddy are in focus. The back of the house and  even the grass is blurred. I like this because I want the focus to be on Daddy's arms reaching out to Buddy.

Closed aperture:

Buddy & the lattice are all in focus, even the back of the house behind him.

Oh Shoot! Shutter Speed

I'm taking a photography class online from JessicaSprague.com, and I'm learning so much! I decided to post my assignment photos so I can look back and see where I've grown and so others can maybe learn a little but about photography.
Our first lesson was about shutter speed. Here's the basic idea: For action that you want to capture quickly, use a higher shutter speed. To show movement, use a slower shutter speed.
From looking at the pictures, you can see a slight difference in the amount of light. The slower the shutter speed, the more light is let in. A faster shutter speed will have less time for light to get in.

Fast Shutter Speed:
Notice the ball is sharp even though it's moving.

Slow Shutter Speed:
The ball is blurred because it's moving. But so are her hands. This is not the best example of why you'd want a slower shutter speed to show action, but it's what I turned in for my lesson.