Ditch auto & start having fun with your camera!

Do you own a fancy, expensive camera that still has its mode dial pointing at Auto? You’re probably overwhelmed at the enormous amount of settings and buttons you see before you! Or perhaps you feel like this expensive piece of technology is more intelligent than you and thus you shall leave it to do as it pleases in Auto mode? STOP!

You are smarter than your camera! You’ve probably been getting some great photographs and there’s nothing wrong with using Auto; a great shot is a great shot. Your creative eye, subject and composition are far more important than the settings on your camera. Your camera is highly complex and shooting in Auto is a great way to get started. But let’s talk about Manual mode and how we can make the transition from Auto that little bit less daunting.

In general, cameras offer the same functionality and modes, however, they are sometimes represented with varying icons or letters on different brands of camera. For example, some cameras will simply display the word Auto, while others may have a green icon.

Program (P)

A happy middle ground between Auto and the more complex modes is Program. Using Program mode allows you to take control of things like autofocus, exposure compensation, ISO and flash, while the camera will still automatically set the shutter speed and aperture for you. Put simply, Program mode is the perfect setting for you to start exploring your camera and understanding some new camera settings and how they impact your images.

Aperture Priority (A, AV)

Aperture Priority is where you really start to take control of your photography. In Aperture Priority mode you can control the amount of light coming in and the depth of field of you images, while the camera balances the shutter speed and other settings to capture the perfect exposure.

Shutter Priority (S, Tv)

Shutter Priority lets you take control of the shutter speed, ISO and focus mode and your camera takes charge of Aperture. Basically, the opposite of Aperture Priority. This setting is perfect for when you need faster or slower exposures than your camera’s auto mode would normally provide. So for example, f you want a slow shutter speed to capture motion blur or a quick shutter speed capture fast-moving action such as sporting matches.

Manual (M)

This is the big leagues! Once you’ve mastered all of the above modes, you’re ready to piece it all together, ditch Auto and start having some fun with your camera. Manual mode allows you take complete control of all of the settings. While the camera will still measure and recommend an exposure, ultimately the decision is yours.

So now it’s over to you to start exploring your camera’s potential and capturing the perfect shots.

For more information about Sven Ellsworth please feel free to contact me at sven@svenellsworth.com or visit my website here.