Skip to main content

First thing first, start shooting in manual


Years ago I owned a Canon AE-1 Program film SLR. I loved it and it traveled with me everywhere I went. The only problem was that I relied too heavily on the program mode and never really learned to shoot in manual mode. Unfortunately when I was younger funds were scarce and experimentation took a back seat to common sense. The percentage rate of success was greater shooting in program mode.

Now that the digital age is here and we have the luxury of shooting (and previewing) multiple exposures without a loss of funds, there is no reason preventing anyone from learning to shoot in manual mode. So when I purchase my first dSLR I made it a point to get off the program carousel and learn to shoot like the pros -- in manual.

As a beginner it can seem a daunting task since aperture, shutter speed, ISO, depth of field and many other ubiquitous terms seem so elusive. It is a lot to wrap your brain around but as with anything else, you won't learn it unless you attempt it.

Fortunately there are a great many videos, books, blogs, workshops, groups, clubs and resources to help you overcome this hurdle. I will be posting some links to many of these resources as I plan on reviewing some of them for you here. Of course, this blog (in a long line of blogs) will also be another source of information. Hopefully my point of view and my comments will be of benefit to my readers.

So next time you pull your camera out to play, switch out of program mode and into manual. Experiment with the settings. Preview what you shot and adjust accordingly. If it doesn't come out to your expectations simply delete the image and try again. Digital space is free so go for it.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Post a comment only if it adds to the topic being discussed. Spam, hate or derogatory comments will not be allowed.

Most Popular Posts

The Decisive Moment - a brief discussion

Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare, 1932 “Making a photograph means recognising, all at once and in a fraction of a second, an event and the exact organisation of the visually perceived forms that express and signify that event. It means aligning the head, the eye and the heart along the same line of sight. It’s a way of living.” Henri Cartier-Bresson Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) is credited for the expression, the decisive moment . The image at right, Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare , has become one of the most iconic of his images to represent that expression because it succinctly captures, in a single frame, the whole of his teachings. While there have been many discussions both casual and scholarly, like the image at right, his teachings has been oversimplified and distilled down to a short definition that, to me, has lost a lot of its original meaning or, as in some cases, completely missing the mark. Rather than getting into a lengthy dissertation on what Bresson consider...
4 comments
Read More »

Large DIY Diffusion Scrim

One of the most commonly used tools in my photographic arsenal is the all purpose diffusion screen . I use it to soften light, create gradients and light fields or as a background. One of my current favorites is a metal framed 4' x 4' foot scrim with thick white artificial silk made by Matthews. I didn't think I would use it so much, being so large, but having borrowed it from a friend I really came to love it. The downside for me is the price. At just over $100 I couldn't really justify the cost, considering I want at least two of them. Time for a DIY alternative.
2 comments
Read More »

Upgrade Merry-go-round

Canon's release of their entry level full framed camera, the 6D, was a heralded event that received its fair share of anticipation, trepidation and arguments. I for one was looking forward to its arrival as I was in the market for a FF sensor but couldn't justify the cost of a 5D or 1D. Plus the fact that they have more features than I really need. When it came out I was one of the early buyers down at Milford Photo and before long I was unwrapping my new toy. Not soon after I discovered one of the hidden pitfalls of buying new gear; compatibility. In particular it was the compatibility with Adobe's Lightroom 3 which did not support the new 6D. " No problem, " I thought, " I'll just upgrade to LR4. " After all, the newest offering from Adobe promised some nice features I would appreciate. And this is where I got on the merry-go-round.
5 comments
Read More »

What is the new normal after COVID?

A very large oak was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: “I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds.” They replied, “You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken, and escape.” - Aesop's Fable
Post a Comment
Read More »