Getting out of Auto mode - Picture Perfect
Derek Smith • 14 June 2020
Getting out of full auto mode – picture perfect
Modern day digital cameras have a really powerful processor inside the camera to determine the correct exposure for any given photographic scenario, however the photographs taken on full auto mode may not have the impact, or depth that you as a creative photographer might have desired when you click that shutter.
So, let’s examine the other modes on a digital camera.
Program Mode (P)
In this mode the camera determines the correct exposure by computing the shutter speed, and aperture for a given scene, usefully the photographer is able to control the ISO. In a low light setting the camera may well push the ISO to 1600, or even 6400, resulting in an image that displays a lot of noise in the shadow areas of the image. Lowering the ISO to say 800, will achieve an image with less noise, remember though that in Program mode the shutter speed may well be slowed down, with the possibility of a blurred image by camera shake, or subject movement.
Shutter Priority Mode (S or TV)
This is the best mode for fast moving subjects, trains, boats, cars, motorbikes, aircraft, and any sports. In these situations the subject is the most important part of the image, and the background is unimportant. Choose a shutter speed of say 1/500 to totally “freeze” any action, ensuring a blur free image, slow the shutter speed down to achieve motion blur on wheels, or aircraft propellers. I would recommend setting ISO to Auto ISO, in this way ensuring the shutter speed is set as required, and only the aperture will be controlled by the camera.
Aperture Priority Mode (A or AV)
In this mode the photographer determines how much of the subject is in clear view, and the camera controls shutter speed for the correct exposure. In a landscape scene close, or “stop down” the aperture for a clear, sharp image from a few feet in front of the camera to infinity, a typical aperture would be anything from f/5.6 – f/16, the aperture settings are dependant on camera, lens, and sensor size, and only by experimenting will the correct aperture be found. Aperture priority mode is an ideal setting for portraiture, still life, and flowers. A wedding photographer may well choose an aperture of f/2, to give a sharp portrait of the bride, and groom, whilst achieving a soft blurred background. Again choose Auto ISO if the light is changeable, ensuring the shutter speed is fast enough to exclude motion blur.
Manual Mode (M)
In this mode the photographer has total control over all of the settings, some photographers contend that you should only shoot in Manual mode, personally I disagree, the camera is very capable of computing the correct exposure in Aperture, or Shutter priority modes. I do however use Manual priority mode in controlled situations, a studio for example, where the lighting can be accurately controlled. I use Manual mode in this fashion; firstly, I set the ISO to the base value of 100, or 200 (not low as this is a computed ISO), secondly I adjust the Aperture to suit, usually a fairly wide f/1.2 – f/4 to give the correct depth of field on the subject. Thirdly, adjust the shutter speed to ensure the correct exposure using the inbuilt camera light meter. Where I use an off-camera flash, typically I set the exposure to -2 then adjust the flash power to compensate.
Modern day digital cameras have a really powerful processor inside the camera to determine the correct exposure for any given photographic scenario, however the photographs taken on full auto mode may not have the impact, or depth that you as a creative photographer might have desired when you click that shutter.
So, let’s examine the other modes on a digital camera.
Program Mode (P)
In this mode the camera determines the correct exposure by computing the shutter speed, and aperture for a given scene, usefully the photographer is able to control the ISO. In a low light setting the camera may well push the ISO to 1600, or even 6400, resulting in an image that displays a lot of noise in the shadow areas of the image. Lowering the ISO to say 800, will achieve an image with less noise, remember though that in Program mode the shutter speed may well be slowed down, with the possibility of a blurred image by camera shake, or subject movement.
Shutter Priority Mode (S or TV)
This is the best mode for fast moving subjects, trains, boats, cars, motorbikes, aircraft, and any sports. In these situations the subject is the most important part of the image, and the background is unimportant. Choose a shutter speed of say 1/500 to totally “freeze” any action, ensuring a blur free image, slow the shutter speed down to achieve motion blur on wheels, or aircraft propellers. I would recommend setting ISO to Auto ISO, in this way ensuring the shutter speed is set as required, and only the aperture will be controlled by the camera.
Aperture Priority Mode (A or AV)
In this mode the photographer determines how much of the subject is in clear view, and the camera controls shutter speed for the correct exposure. In a landscape scene close, or “stop down” the aperture for a clear, sharp image from a few feet in front of the camera to infinity, a typical aperture would be anything from f/5.6 – f/16, the aperture settings are dependant on camera, lens, and sensor size, and only by experimenting will the correct aperture be found. Aperture priority mode is an ideal setting for portraiture, still life, and flowers. A wedding photographer may well choose an aperture of f/2, to give a sharp portrait of the bride, and groom, whilst achieving a soft blurred background. Again choose Auto ISO if the light is changeable, ensuring the shutter speed is fast enough to exclude motion blur.
Manual Mode (M)
In this mode the photographer has total control over all of the settings, some photographers contend that you should only shoot in Manual mode, personally I disagree, the camera is very capable of computing the correct exposure in Aperture, or Shutter priority modes. I do however use Manual priority mode in controlled situations, a studio for example, where the lighting can be accurately controlled. I use Manual mode in this fashion; firstly, I set the ISO to the base value of 100, or 200 (not low as this is a computed ISO), secondly I adjust the Aperture to suit, usually a fairly wide f/1.2 – f/4 to give the correct depth of field on the subject. Thirdly, adjust the shutter speed to ensure the correct exposure using the inbuilt camera light meter. Where I use an off-camera flash, typically I set the exposure to -2 then adjust the flash power to compensate.
Stay safe, and enjoy your photography.
Louth Photographic Society
It was a disappointing afternoon for Louth during Sunday's Fosters Challenge. One by one our submitted prints were dismissed, Graham Harrison's "Hairy Shield Bug", was too dark, "Trusthorpe Outfall" by Tony Gaskins had wind turbines on the horizon, and Tony's other print "Dawn Light Outfall Hornsea" was dismissed as the outfall was too close to the bottom of the frame. "Rudbeckia" by Harry Kerman fell as the judge felt that the third flower in the background was unnecessary. "Morning Sun Whitby" by Dave Turner was dismissed as the rising sun "caught his eye". Oh well, there's always next year. The winning print was a stunning portrait, "Maria" from Scunthorpe, which I felt had vibes of the Vogue magazine.
Good Morning All We had a really good week away last week in the Peak District, the good weather helped and we visited many places including Salford Quays and climbed to the top of Kinder Scout and Mam Tor. Last week at the club it looks like you were treated to some excellent coastal photography from member Tony Gaskins, Tony does a lot of long exposure photography producing stunning photographs. There is a report on our blog page with photographs from the evening. This week, Wednesday 15th April, is Derek's studio evening where we are invited to come along with our cameras, there is a £5 charge on the night to help pay towards the two models. The following week is a print competition, with the categories of "Circles" and "Open", you can send Dave Turner a list of your entries and bring your prints in next week. Today is the Foster Challenge at Nettleham village Hall, 1.30pm for 2pm, Louth has entered the competition as usual so it would be good to see a few members attending. Regards Graham
Our speaker last night was our very own member Tony Gaskins, who gave an excellent presentation "Coast 3" with some stunning visual images. Tony specialises in capturing long exposure coastal scenes, he related how beginning several years ago with a long exposure view of Whitby Pier he got the "bug" for long exposure photography. Much of his photography takes place along the Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire east coast, often arising in the early hours to catch a sunrise. Weather conditions dictate a lot of how the final image looks, and the long exposure style often creates a sense of calmness, and serenity, with pastel coloured skies, and milky seas. When the weather turns wild, the long exposure image presents a very dramatic scene with foreboding clouds. He recently travelled to Lewis & Harris island in the Outer Hebrides and took many images there, sometimes at sunny white sand beaches, and at other times moody bleak images as the weather closed in. Tony's technique requires a lot of patience, often spending hours at a location, with the camera mounted on a study tripod, and the ND filters on the camera permitting an exposure time of several minutes. Many thanks Tony for a very informative talk, well presented, and with some beautiful imagery.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a Local Nature and Open PDI competition, members Dave Turner and Steve Chapman kindly offered to judge the competition, thank you to you both, it was a good night and the entries were of a high standard giving you both quite a task. The results are on our website, but the two winners on the night were, Local Nature Tony Gaskins and Open Harry Kerman. This week, Wednesday 8th April, Tony Gaskins, one of our members is showing us Coast 3, a PDI presentation. Tony is an excellent photographer and spends many hours photographing our coastline. Aprils Print competition, Circles and Open is fast approaching, you can send your titles to Dave Turner when your ready and bring your prints in the week before the competition. Regards Graham
It was no April fools, when we held our PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition last night. The images submitted into this competition were off the highest quality. Dave Turner judged the Open category, which I think is always one of the hardest categories to judge, pitting landscapes, against nature, and still life, but Dave did a magnificent job, offering well founded critique of the images submitted. After the break, Steve Chapman judged the Local Nature category, (nature images taken within a 25 mile radius of St. James' church, Louth) Steve "held back" 10 out of the 18 submitted images, and gave those 10 images very careful consideration until he finally arrived at the 3 highest placed images. Steve commented that the submitted images were indeed of high quality, and he took his time to evaluate the submitted images and offered useful critique on each one. The competition made for a very interesting evening, and all members deserve praise for the quality of the submitted images. The website Competition page has been updated with the full results, and the top three images from each category. On this post is 1st placed Sedge Warbler, Cleethorpes by Tony Gaskins, in the Local Nature category, and 1st placed Hudson Bay Wolf, (Lincoln Zoo) by Harry Kerman, in the Open category.
Good Morning, All, Last week at the club member Chris Birchmore gave a presentation on MPP cameras which included some of Chris's collection of cameras and prints taken. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. Thank you Chris for an interesting evening. This week, Wednesday 1st April, we are holding a local and open PDI competition the local subject being nature, please if you haven't already, send your entries to Harry before midnight tonight. Members Steve Chapman and Dave Turner have volunteered to judge. Also on the Wednesday 1st April our Louth Photographic Society 70th anniversary exhibition will be open to view at the Louth Museum. Regards Graham
Chris Birchmore gave an informative, and interesting talk and demonstration of his medium format film cameras. at the beginning of the evening Chris gave a potted history of the origins of the MPP cameras he was showing us. The cameras take a 5 x 4" film stock, and looking at the cameras it seems incredible that photographers in the recent past could take excellent photographs with these. The MPP cameras were often used by the British Armed Forcies during the Second World War, and throughout the 1950s, and 60s, and some of these medium format were still being manufactured in the 1970s. The prints that Chris showed taken with these cameras were of excellent quality, with an amazing depth of field. Many thanks Chris for a fascinating evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a committee meeting, which was very productive, we made the final arrangements for the exhibition, charity night, and studio evening as well as other items on the agenda. We are holding an Exhibition opening night at Louth Museum on Friday 17th April celebrating 70 years of Louth Photographic Society. There will be a small buffet and cold drinks available, if any member would like to donate a bottle of wine to the occasion please hand it to Harry at one of our club nights. This week, Wednesday 25th March, member Chris Birchmore will be giving us a presentation. The following week is a local competition, with the categoriess of "Local Nature" (up to 25 miles radius from St James church) and "Open" (unlimited mileage) please send your entries to Harry before midnight, Sunday 29th March. Members Steve Chapman will judge the Nature category, and Dave Turner the Open category. Regards Graham
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition judged by Martyn Wrigg, the standard of entries was very high and well done to Tony Gaskins for a first in the Architectural Detail and Derek Smith for his first place in the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. This week, Wednesday 18th March we will be holding a Committee meeting, just committee members for this one. The following week Chris Birchmore is the speaker for the night. Harry is now accepting entries for the PDI local competition, with the categories of "Local Nature" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so if you would like to judge one of the subjects please let me know. Regards Graham
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
