Field photography settings log

Artistic Hive · Original resource · October 2026

Example: static street corner at dusk. Compare 1/30, 1/8 and 1/2 second while holding aperture and scene framing constant; change ISO as needed for comparable brightness. The purpose is to inspect movement, not prove a universally correct shutter speed.

Choose one question

ICM: compare vertical, horizontal, rotation and zoom movement on the same subject. Moon: compare sharpness and highlight detail at two shutters. Macro: compare a single frame with a stack. Change one variable when possible.

Record the actual capture

Write camera, lens, focal length, aperture, shutter, ISO, focus method, stabilization, distance, light and file ID. Distinguish EXIF readings from recalled or estimated values. Keep the original RAW/JPEG files.

Record the conditions

Note wind, subject movement, changing light and support. For snowflakes, record surface/air conditions only if measured, and minimize warm handling. For fungi, work without removing or damaging the habitat.

Assess at equal output

Compare matched crop and display size. Record motion blur, missed focus, clipped highlights, noise and stack artifacts separately. A smaller web image can conceal defects.

Publish honestly

Describe what the example demonstrates. State any crop, composite, stacking, denoise or generated component. Keep permission and credit records with the files.

Your record

Entries stay in this page and are not uploaded or automatically saved. Print or save as PDF before closing. The worked examples are fictional planning exercises, not completed field tests.