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
I've been up to RSPB Bempton Cliffs this week, and have taken some excellent photographs, the weather was fine, and the lighting was less harsh than usual. This pair were on the cliff top, obviously well established, and saw off this interloper trying to muscle in on their space, those beaks look very vicious. I hope that everyone else is having a productive summer break.
For club interaction, we are invited to these NELPS photo shoots. So lets start this club interaction, NELPS are now on there summer break, but it does not stop there. The NELPS club president has put together some outdoor photo shoots:- Lincoln 5th Aug meet at the Cathedral 11am Not forgetting the photo exhibition by Lincoln Camera Club in the Usher Gallery! Chambers Farm Wood & Butterfly Farm 12th Aug meet at 10am. Peoples Park Grimsby 19th Aug meet at 10am. Trolley Bus Museum Sandtoft 26th Aug meet at 10am Cadwell Park 10th Aug motorbikes, 24th Aug cars and both are track days so free to get in.
Sutton & Trusthorpe Camera Club have their annual Exhibition at the Meridale Hall, Sutton on Sea, on 29th / 30th August. Drink and a Home-made cake only £3!
I’ve lost my photographic “mojo”, that desire to go out and take impactful photographs. That creative spark has gone, vanished, will it ever return? Writers talk of a “writers block”, when they just sit in front of a blank page, and can’t think of anything else to write, I’m the same, still out with my camera, but just not creating anything meaningful. Some of this I suppose is due to the fact that I’ve almost stopped my genre of model photography, we had the Studio evening, and other than that I’ve only had 2 model shoots this year. So what is my photography genre now? I know that I’m not a bird photographer, I haven’t got the patience to sit in a bird hide for hours with a long lens, waiting for the right bird shot to appear. Landscape, possibly, but I look at the work of some of our members, and YouTube videos, and don’t know whether I can achieve as good a standard in my work? I do enjoy macro photography, but again do my photos reach a good standard? One way forward is to look at our Societies annual project, this year it’s “water” one photo a month depicting water. Then of course there are the planned photo competitions for the rest of the year, those subjects could inspire me to go out and take some images. Anyway, that’s me, enjoy the rest of the summer, and if any of our members could share a photo, with a line or two of text I will be very happy to post on this blog.
Good Morning All Last week we had a very good evening at Kirkby Gravel Pits, it was a warm sunny evening and there was wildlife about to photograph. There were Dragonflies about, but all flying, but we did manage to photograph some Damselflies and grasshoppers etc. We then called at the local pub in Kirkby on Bain for refreshments. There were only 7 of us, if you have other ideas for outings please let me know and I will look into them for next year. Derek has also done a blog on the evening. Louth did make it through to the LPA Battle finals coming fifth overall, the final is on the 18 th October at Nettleham village hall. That was the last event before the summer break, so we now have a break before returning in September. I won't be doing any newsletters unless there is something to report. If you do anything interesting over the break you can always send Derek a blog for our website. There are things you can do over the break, the monthly project of water, preparing for the PDI competition in September, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". In September our first meeting back will have members speaking on the topic "15 minutes on what you have done over the summer", you may want to prepare something for this. Have a good summer, Graham
Lincoln Camera Club are holding an exhibition at the Usher Gallery, Lincoln. Commencing July 30th to November 1st.
This was our last outing before the summer break, on this occasion several of us met up at Kirkby Gravel Pits nature reserve for an evening of photography. The evening weather was perfect for photography, and we ambled around the reserve stopping to take some macro photography where opportunities arose. We did see a couple of butterflies, and I managed to take this image of a red admiral. As we walked along the paths, several grasshoppers could be glimpsed in the dry grass, they are very difficult to photograph as they are tiny, and agile, but I captured this one while I was laying down in the grass, at eye level, a lot of patience is needed to capture a quality image. In the brambles damselflies could be seen, one took off straight into a spiders web, luckily Graham was able to release it. On the water a heron, and egret could be observed across the water. It was an excellent evening of photography, as well as a social meetup, these outings are ideal for newcomers to photography to learn camera skills.
Good Morning All Last Wednesday while most of us were watching the football Derek took our LPA Battle prints to Axeholme for the final round, as in Derek's report on the blog we finished 2 nd and should have accumulated enough points to make the final, though not yet confirmed. Congratulations go to Dave Turner and David Whitehouse for the two highest scoring prints over the three rounds. Thank you Derek for taking our prints and missing the football. This week, Wednesday 22nd July, will be our last meeting before the summer break, and it is an outing to Kirkby Gravel Pits near Woodhall Spa. the directions are on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's website. It is usually a good place to photograph Dragonflies and birds (but you know our luck) anyway I hope to see quite a few of you there on Wednesday meeting at 6.30pm, you can go earlier of course and meet up with the rest of the members when we get there. The Willow Emerald Damselflies were there last time and are quite rare. Regards Graham
The LPA Battles competition was held last night at Axholme Camera Club, in Haxey Church Hall. I attended as the Louth Photographic Society representative, bringing the Battles prints with me. It was a closely fought contest with some excellent prints from Axholme, Barton, and ourselves. The judge for the evening was Steve Dormer, from Doncaster, and he was very relaxed in his judging of the prints, providing excellent critique on each print. At break time, Steve had held back a total of 13 prints for further assessment and award of higher points, Axholme, and Louth had 5 each prints held back, with Barton 3 prints. The attached photo shows all the held back prints on the print stand. At the end of the evening Axholme took 1 st place with, 266 points, Louth came 2 nd with 258 points, and Barton 3 rd with 251 points. As the prints were taken off the stand, one print remained, it was a Louth print titled “Sleeping” by David Whitehouse, this print was awarded 20 points, and the judge Steve was very taken with the image, well done David.
Good Morning All Last week members walked along the Swaby valley, we have done the walk before, but it is now very grown up with nettles, grass and brambles. Not put off Chris led us through the valley to Swaby, there were six of us plus three more who caught us up in Swaby. The butterflies we saw as I am finding out this year just don't want to settle but we did manage some photographs before returning and going for a drink in the Massingberd Arms. This week there is an LPA Battle at Axholme on Wednesday starting at 7.30, if anyone would like to attend, please email me for details or look on Axholme's website. We are not having a meeting in Louth this week, probably as well the way the football went last night and with the next match on Wednesday evening. Regards Graham
