Flash Photography Techniques

Camera Settings

Back to Basic: Camera Settings Tips

It is a good idea to review the basics one more time. So, I decided to look into camera settings again.

Back to Basic: Exposure Modes

Generally speaking, there are three major exposure modes: Full Auto, Semi-Auto, and Manual exposure settings. Here are short descriptions of each of these modes.

Camera Settings: Exposure Modes

APC 1024
Exposure Mode Control in Canon Cameras

Full Auto:

A and P are fully automatic modes that your camera controls exposure setting. It may or may not set the exposure correctly. And overall, the result usually is not the best.

For instance, if you shoot a professional hockey game, your camera does not know how fast players move and can’t set the shutter speed correctly. Therefore, you will end up with blurry and useless pictures. It is just one example, and there are many more scenarios in which you cannot create your envisioned image using Auto settings.

Auto Exposure Mode

Creative uses of shutter speed
A slow shutter makes the moving element blurry

Semi Automatic Modes:

There are usually two modes: Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority.

In Shutter Priority mode, you select the Shutter speed, and your camera automatically sets the Aperture, hence the semi-auto name. In Aperture Priority, you set the Aperture, and your camera sets the shutter speed accordingly.

You have more control over the camera setting in semi-auto modes. Therefore, you can capture your envisioned images.

For instance, in a professional hockey game, you need a minimum shutter speed of 1/200 sec. to capture sharp images. So, in Shutter priority, you can set the Shutter speed, and your camera sets the Aperture for you.

On the other hand, for a professional portrait, you want to create a blurry background by using a wide-opened Aperture that you can set while shooting at Aperture priority.

Shutter Priority

Slow Shutter
Slow shutter speed provides lots of opportunities for creativity.

Manual Shooting:

In Manual shooting, which almost all pro photographers use, you must select the correct shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. Therefore, you have complete control over the exposure and can create fantastic photos every time. I will discuss manual shooting in detail in future articles.

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That is all for now. Stay tuned for my following photography Tips. We love to hear from you. Let us know if you have any questions; feel free to send us your questions, and we will gladly answer them. Follow us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter for more Free Tutorials and Tips.

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