Step into the world of 35mm photography with the Photography Discussion Roundtable, heard every Monday evening at 7:00 PM ET on BrandMeister DMR Talkgroup 31266 — the MichiganOne Nets channel. This engaging net is your chance to explore the art and science of photography, ask questions, and sharpen your skills in a welcoming, knowledge-rich environment.
Hosted by James N8TMP, Bob KB8DQQ, Rick AD8KN, and Dave N8SBE, each brings a wealth of experience to the mic. Bob and James are seasoned wedding photographers, while Rick and Dave add deep technical insight and practical know-how. Together, they guide discussions on camera features, techniques, terminology, and everything from aperture to artistic vision.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, tune in and join the conversation. Your next great shot starts here!
Previous and upcoming Photography Discussion Roundtable topics:
| Date | Topic |
| 8/11/2025 | What is Aperture in photography |
| 8/18/2025 | What is the Golden Triangle? |
| 8/25/2025 | Top photo editing software available in 2025 |
| 9/1/2025 | What is Depth of Field? |
| 9/8/2025 | What is Bokeh in photography? |
| 9/15/2025 | Understanding Lens Focal Length |
| 9/22/2025 | What are leading lines? |
| 9/29/2025 | What is Back-Button Focus? |
| 10/6/2025 | 5 important photography facts that I didn’t know when I started |
| 10/13/2025 | How to shoot in manual mode |
| 10/20/2025 | The different types of lenses |
| 10/27/2025 | All about camera filters |
| 11/3/2025 | On-camera flash vs off-camera flash |
| 11/10/2025 | How to use tripods and stabilizers |
| 11/17/2025 | What is ISO? |
| 11/24/2025 | Film vs digital? |
| 12/1/2025 | How to find and organize your photos in a logical manner |
| 12/8/2025 | Understanding long-exposure photography |
| 12/15/2025 | Enhancing the sky in your photos |
| 12/22/2025 | Where and how to learn more about photography techniques |
| 12/29/2025 | DSLR vs mirrorless cameras |
| 1/5/2026 | The exposure triangle |
| 1/12/2026 | How to develop your own personal photography style |
| 1/19/2026 | Color theory (histograms) in photography |
| 1/26/2026 | Photography ethics in the digital age |
| 2/2/2026 | The future of film and where the analog industry is going |
| 2/9/2026 | How to build a portfolio |
| 2/16/2026 | Photography hints and tips |
| 2/23/2026 | How to take action/motion photo |
| 3/2/2026 | Explaining photography terms |
| 3/9/2026 | Macro photography hints and tips |
| 3/16/2026 | Landscape photography hints and tips |
| 3/23/2026 | Portrait photography hints and tips |
| 3/30/2026 | Portrait photography, part two hints and tips |
| 4/6/2026 | Night photography hints and tips |
| 4/13/2026 | F-stops and how to use them |
| 4/20/2026 | What are the AE-L, AF-L, and *-buttons? What do they do? |
| 4/27/2026 | White balance explained |
| 5/4/2026 | Open forum about photography terms, cameras, and techniques |
| 5/11/2026 | What is Aperture in photography |
| 5/18/2026 | What is Depth of Field? |
| 5/25/2026 | What is the Golden Triangle? |
| 6/1/2026 | How to build a portfolio |
| 6/8/2026 | Understanding Lens Focal Length |
| 6/15/2026 | What is the Golden Triangle? |
| 6/22/206 | |
| 6/29/2026 | |
| 7/6/2026 | |
| 7/13/2026 | |
| 7/20/2026 | |
| 7/27/2026 |
https://thediabeticham.com/previous-and-upcoming-photography-discussion-roundtable-topics/
Photography Discussion Roundtable Net Newsletter
Heard Monday nights on the BrandMeister DMR network, talkgroup 31266, from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern
Last Week’s Topic: Night Photography
Last week we explored night photography, a creative style that uses low light to capture city scenes, stars, headlights, illuminated buildings, and other subjects after dark. Night photography challenges us to work carefully with long exposures, tripod stability, focus, and exposure control. It can produce dramatic and memorable images because the darkness adds mood, contrast, and a sense of atmosphere that daytime photography often cannot match.
We also talked about some of the common issues that come with night shooting, including camera shake, noise, and difficulty focusing. Many of those problems can be reduced by using a sturdy tripod, focusing carefully in live view, and keeping ISO as low as possible while still getting a usable exposure. Night photography rewards patience, testing, and a willingness to experiment with different settings and light sources.
This Week’s Topic: F-Stops
This week we turn to F-stops, one of the most important concepts in photography. An F-stop is a way of describing the size of the aperture, or the opening in the lens that controls how much light enters the camera. F-stops affect both exposure and depth of field, which means they influence not only how bright the image is, but also how much of the scene appears in focus.
Understanding F-stops helps photographers make better creative and technical choices. A wide aperture such as f/2.8 lets in more light and creates a shallow depth of field, which is useful for portraits or low-light shooting. A smaller aperture such as f/11 or f/16 lets in less light but increases depth of field, which is often helpful for landscapes, group photos, and scenes where sharpness from front to back is important.
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/photography-cheat-sheet-how-to-understand-f-stops
Why Use F-Stops
F-stops matter because they give you control over both the look and the exposure of your image. They are one of the three main exposure controls, along with shutter speed and ISO, and they help determine how the camera renders the subject. By changing the aperture, you can decide whether the background should blur softly or remain detailed and sharp.
F-stops are also useful because they give photographers a way to balance competing needs. For example, if you want more background blur, you may choose a wider aperture, but that may require faster shutter speed or lower ISO to avoid overexposure. If you want a whole scene in focus, you may stop the lens down, but then you may need more light, a tripod, or a longer exposure.
How to Use F-Stops Well
A good way to think about F-stops is to match the aperture to the goal of the photo. Portrait photographers often use wider apertures to isolate the subject and soften the background. Landscape photographers often use smaller apertures to keep the foreground, middle ground, and background sharp. Macro photographers may also use smaller apertures to increase depth of field, though that can sometimes require more light or focus stacking.
Here are a few useful suggestions:
- Use wide apertures for portraits, low light, and subject separation.
- Use smaller apertures for landscapes, groups, and scenes where you want more depth of field.
- Remember that every lens has a “sweet spot” where sharpness is often strongest, usually somewhere in the middle of the aperture range.
- Watch for diffraction at very small apertures, which can soften the image if you stop down too far.
- Balance aperture with shutter speed and ISO instead of changing one setting in isolation.
Common Problems and Solutions
One common challenge is confusion about the numbering of F-stops. It can seem backward at first because a smaller number such as f/2.8 means a wider opening, while a larger number such as f/16 means a smaller opening. The easiest way to remember it is that the smaller the number, the bigger the opening and the more light that enters the camera.
Another common problem is choosing too wide or too narrow an aperture for the situation. If the aperture is too wide, too little of the image may be sharp, especially in group photos or landscapes. If the aperture is too small, the image may require a longer shutter speed or higher ISO, and very small apertures can also reduce sharpness due to diffraction.
A few practical ways to solve these problems include:
- Start with the creative goal, then choose the aperture that fits it.
- Check the image review and zoom in to see whether your depth of field is enough.
- Use a tripod when small apertures require slower shutter speeds.
- Raise ISO if needed rather than forcing an unusably slow shutter speed.
- Practice changing only the aperture and watching how the image changes, so the relationship becomes familiar.
Next Week’s Topic: AE-L, AF-L, and * Buttons
Next week we’ll continue in this vein with AE-L, AF-L, and * buttons, and look at what they do on the camera. We’ll discuss how these controls can help with exposure lock, focus lock, and more flexible shooting techniques. That should make for a very practical follow-up to this week’s discussion of F-stops and camera control.
Join Us On the Air
Whether you shoot with a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or smartphone, you’re welcome to check in, share your thoughts, and join the conversation. The Photography Discussion Roundtable Net meets every Monday evening on the BrandMeister DMR network, Talkgroup 31266, from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern.
73 and happy shooting!
Photography Discussion Roundtable Net Team
