Hi folks,
In the last article of this series I covered the different parts of a camera and the balancing act you need to get a correctly exposed picture. In this article, I’ll be giving you a quick run down of the different camera modes. Each mode handles the balancing act differently, and there are reason that each of the modes exist.
All of these camera modes exist on pro level cameras, and the fact that they exist on my little PowerShot 590 was one of the reasons I bought it. If your camera doesn’t have these modes, don’t worry about it. You can get by with what you have. Even so, it’s probably worth reading on in case there’s something new to learn about your camera that you didn’t know existed.
Automatic
Alright, first up is the Automatic mode. On most cameras, including mine, it’s the green setting ont eh dial. Cameras these days are pretty smart about figuring out how to take a halfway decent picture – so long as you’re outside or have turned off the flash. It’ll figure out what aperture setting and shutter speed combination you need for the picture you’re taking. If you don’t want to figure anything else out about your camera, if you flip it to Auto and follow the basic rules of photography you’ll be OK.
Aperture Priority
Next up is my personal favorite mode. Aperture Priority allows you to dial in a specific aperture setting and have the camera figure out the shutter speed for you. I love this mode because I like to shoot with the aperture as large as I can get it so I can make the background to a bit out of focus, sort of like this:
Shutter Priority
This mode is the opposite of Aperture Priority – you set the shutter speed and the camera figures out what setting to use for the aperture. This is handy for when you’re trying to freeze motion – like a waterfall or a galloping horse.
Program
Program mode allows you to switch between aperture and shutter priority and then compensates with the opposite setting to give you the right exposure. So, if you adjust the aperture, the camera will adjust the shutter speed and vice versa.
Manual
This one isn’t for the faint of heart. When you put your camera into manual, you now have to figure out the balancing act between aperture and shutter speed. Most cameras make this easier by giving you an exposure meter:
If the arrow is to the left, you’re under exposed and need to use a larger aperture (smaller number) or slower shutter speed to compensate. If the arrow is towards the right, your over exposed and need to use a smaller aperture or faster shutter speed. When the arrow is about in the center, you know your exposure will be correct – but trust your eyes. If you’re shooting into the sun, the meter can get confused and tell you you’re over exposed when you’re not. Eek.
Automatic Modes
Most cameras have a series of pre-programmed modes to handle common difficult situations. Mine has settings like portrait, landscape, night portraits, kids & pets, indoor, and then a bunch more under the “scn” for night scene, sunset, snow, beach, and fireworks. These are smart settings, and the camera will generally compensate for these different types of photos. Trust these settings if you’re in one of these specific situations and having problems.
If your camera has Program, Aperture, and Shutter Priority modes, my advice is to learn how to use them. It’s worth it and will give you way more control over your photos. If your camera only has automatic, don’t sweat it. If you follow some simple basics about photography you’ll be OK. Oh, and feel free to email me any photos you’ve taken! I’d love to see them.