Camera Shooting Modes

Why Professionals Don’t use Icon Modes: – The big question always asked is why do I need to learn to shoot in manual mode when the camera has built in programme functions e.g. sport, portraits, landscapes etc. – The modern digital camera is basically a computer with a lens. It thinks its owner is stupid!!!

Your 1 st Major shoot – Picture this – At some point a family member or friend is going to say you’ve been on a night course can you take picture(s) of Bill and Joan's Wedding. – Everything is going smoothly – you have a Icon on your mode dial that so far has met or your needs!

Now comes the final picture – the dreaded group shot. 60 people all outside wishing you would hurry up as the bar has just opened. – Which Icon do you use? – The portrait because essentially it’s a portrait – yeh. – No - the portrait mode will automatically create a shallow D.O.F. This will make the people in the front in focus and the ones at the back out!!

The camera does not know your intentions so it takes over to your cost!! – Take back control of your camera!!!

Creative Modes The Creative Modes on your camera are Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode. On most cameras, they are marked “P, A, S, M.” Canon cameras will show “P, Av, Tv, M” for the same exact modes. “Av” is Canon’s version of Aperture Priority, and “Tv” is Canon’s version of Shutter Priority.

Program Mode (P) Program mode usually (it is slightly different on each camera model) sets the aperture and the shutter speed for you, and allows the photographer to set the white balance, ISO, and flash. Not a great choice for serious photographers as you can’t set the shutter speed to make sure the picture isn’t blurry, or the aperture to control the depth-of-field.

Aperture Priority Mode (“A” on most cameras, “Av” on Canon) When you shoot aperture priority mode, you set the aperture (the f-stop) and also the ISO and WB. The camera will then set a shutter speed for you so that the picture is properly exposed. Aperture priority mode is powerful because it is amazingly simple to use, and still allows the photographer a lot of creative choice When you want full depth-of-field, choose a high f-stop (aperture). When you want shallow depth of field, choose a lower f-stop. Your pictures will DRAMATICALLY improve when you learn to control the depth-of-field.

Shutter Priority Mode (“S” on most cameras, or “Tv” on Canon cameras) This mode on face value sounds seems quite convenient You choose the shutter speed, ISO and WB and let the camera choose the aperture for you. E.g when shooting a football match, you might think you’d want shutter priority mode because you could set the shutter speed fast enough for the quick-moving sports situation. However, normally we want to control the depth-of- field in all of our images not just sport. You need to keep an eye on the shutter speed to make sure the camera isn’t picking one that is blurring the image. If it does boost the ISO so that the camera will chose a faster shutter speed.

Manual Mode (“M”) – Shooting in manual mode really isn’t as difficult as it may seem. – You have total control of the camera. – You set aperture, shutter, ISO – and white balance – You set Depth of Field – You control motion blurr – You control noise