A quick Auto follow-up

Auto requires little to no explanation, but depending on your DSLR (and even some point and shoots) there are additional automatic markers that can change the scope of your photo.

In these modes, your camera still does the number crunching in order to ensure good exposure on their part. These modes can seem fairly obvious; there are ones for action, landscape, portraits, etc. and are best used accordingly. Here is my rather dribbled explanation of each for you to take as you may:

The feature with the guy running? That will max your shutter speed appropriately so as to catch all the action, which is great for catching busy kids at a birthday party, or me running from pigeons.

The landscape feature showing mountains is great for ensuring the depth of field is accurate to get the entire frame in focus.

The portrait option with the little silhouette is the opposite, and makes way for great bokeh (the blur in the background) when you’re snapping a picture of Sally sitting pensively.

The flower represents macro mode, perfect for small details like a foot or a flower. Or a flower standing on a foot. Kids like doing that sort of thing to gardens, don’t they. Oh, Sally. What happened to sitting pensively?!

And the last one (for most cameras) is the one with the star in the sky, which is still not ideal for nighttime shots, but better than regular ol’ green automatic because at least it knows it now has to try and be flattering by soaking up some extra available light.

I tell you all of this to then tell you to ignore it. If you have any interest in using your DSLR for its money’s worth, you won’t spend any time on these dials. But if you’re in a situation where you can’t be fiddling with exposure math, these are great options to click over to in a hot second if your camera has them. (My Canon 20D has them, but the 7D doesn’t.)

They are also good for use on a point and shoot, if your clicker has them.

18 May 1 Permalink

Week One Rounder: Auto

A retrospective on auto. There were tears on the inside this week. Tears on the inside. 

I knew it was a given that auto would not be my bessie mate, but I had forgotten about how frustrating its most natural features are. There are times, yes, when auto works wonders. And times when it absolutely deserves to be on the business end of a noogie. Let’s explore. 

Auto is good for impromptu snaps in a well-lit area. (Canon PowerShot SD750)

Auto is bad for impromptu selfies in a badly lit area. See the red eye and mishmashed exposure? Mind, that mishmash of light is due to my thumb encroaching on the flash area. Either way, it’s a hot mess up there. (Canon PowerShot SD750)

Auto is good for quick snaps while out and about. When someone just looks so sweet you think there’s gotta be a magic potion somewhere to freeze this ti… Sorry. I digress. Ahem, good example of auto. Note that the composition helps make this picture, not just the technical make-up. (Canon PowerShot SD750)

I brought the point-and-click out of the diaper bag long enough to play inside the house. With the flash on, you get dark, centralized exposure with a certain guarantee of red-eye. The camera is three years+ old now and I forgot a few features… I read the manual to remind myself how to disengage the flash and voila! No red eye, but now we’ve got blur. (Canon PowerShot SD750)

But, if I steady myself and wait for just the right moment, not to mention make sure the battery is completely charged and at its fastest… it can work. Technically, the one above this frantic shot is just a bit fuzzy on the eyes, and not unrecognizable. (Canon PowerShot SD750)

Switching to the big camera, Canon 7D, clicking over to automatic was a first since I’ve upgraded from the 20D. The flash instantly engaged in my living room and gave me this. (EXIF: 1/60 at f/5, ISO 400, 17mm focal length)

I needed to get back to basics, and I needed to make dinner. The next day, I opened every curtain, turned on all four (don’t worry, energy efficient) lights and even the range lamp above the stove. The flash didn’t engage once with all its newly found light and I was able to get Isla like this, above. (Canon 7D. EXIF: 1/80 at f/2.8, ISO 320, 42 mm focal length)

And like this. Still a bit blurry from movement but getting there. Can we tell she’s teething? (Canon 7D. EXIF: 1/40 at f/2.8, ISO 160, 23 mm focal length)

Similar. Notice the lamp is turned on and the natural light from the windows is adding to the scope of bright. (Canon 7D. EXIF: 1/40 at f/2.8, ISO 160, 17 mm focal length)

And one more. My favourite shot, the aerial. She looks little still. And so relaxed, all chillin’ with her arm on her toy. She was very still at this point as the PVR switched on, and she was watching all the red lights on the screen. That’s how I managed to get (Canon 7D. EXIF: 1/30 at f/2.8, ISO 100, 17 mm focal length) with little to no blur. 

In the end? Auto bites the big one but can be manipulated successfully if you’re willing to experiment. It does wonders for quick shots in an area flooded with light and lots of activity. It’s also great for learning EXIF data (the technical data each camera records to an image), seeing what you like, what you don’t and applying it into your manual practice for a DSLR. 

17 May 2 Permalink