chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I took pictures of one event over the course of four days. I usually shot anything but people; however this event was about people. I use manual for almost all pictures but because this event was inside with low light and involved people, I switched to “P” for people (I know it means program). This allowed me focus on what to shot and not worry about the camera settings. Then after 681 pictures I auto corrected them and resized them. The pictures are OK and some are creative. My question is do others do this too? I mean shot in “P” and then auto correct. I do not charge, I volunteered for this project. Thank you for answering. :roll:

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Sure, it depends greatly on the situation though - If backgrounds are busy I tend to pick aperture priority so I have a better chance of a blurred background

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I am guessing that what you did was "batch" auto correct?
I do not do this myself as I find lighting changes too much from point to point in a big room. I do usually shoot in "Program" in these type of situations, but I use "Shift" almost religiously when doing so. That allows me to select either the aperture or the shutter that I want, not what the camera wants, yet the camera then adjusts to the correct exposure with my new selection and shoots it correctly. I then adjust in PP those shots that need it, and leave the others alone.
Whether shooting for pay or for free, its still YOUR NAME on the project, thats what you need to always remember. Do a crappy job on a free shoot, and no one there is likely to hire you for a pay shoot. Thats just how I feel anyway. Good luck.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Thank you for your perspectives. Yes, I did batch auto correct. These will be edited by another person who is going put these pictures and the pictures of one other person into a slide show. Most of these pictures will not be used for the slide show. I took 2-3 shots of the same things from different angles so there could a choice for the person making the slide show as everyone sees things a little different and has intent of what they want to say through the final product.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

While I normally shoot in Manual, I regularly go into the other program modes (usually shutter or aperture priority) in order to get quick shots with minimal fuss. I'll use shutter priority when shooting waterfalls. I use aperture when experimenting with depth of field. I think the important thing is to know the when and why of using these modes.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

chapjohn, you mentioned that you shot some on manual.

Why shooting on manual baffles me. I have seen this elsewhere on UHH but never questioned it. I have not the faintest idea of what it accomplishes.

People buy these very powerful cameras just to turn off one of the best features: autoexposure. Even if you use manual, having set the shutter or aperture, you still have to set the other parameter. You have two choices on how to do that: match the needle or wag (wild ass guess). In the former, you are still using the camera's meter so why not use one of the semi-automatic of full automatic modes? In the latter, do you view the shot to adjust for the desired exposure? If so, you are wasting valuable shooting time and trying to judge a tiny thumbnail.

I shot medium format for decades and had to set the exposure based upon a light meter. I switched to 35mm and digital because the built-in autoexposure and autofocusing were so superior to doing both manually. I can wax nostalgic over film but digital has it beat in my picture-taking world.

If I am missing something here, please point it out. Thanks.

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

I've yet mastered anything on my T3i. I used Auto but I think the color doesn't Pop. I feel I miss things in the "P" mode so I shoot in the landscape mode. It pops and I get what I want in the frame.

I've done people in the landscape. But when I need the flast I have to use the "p" mode or sometimes 'auto'.

But I love the color pops on Landscape.
Is that bad to use Landscape so much?

Di.Longstreet Loc: Georgetown, Maine

Never used landscape but now you have me curious. I had used "P" setting and automatic depth of field when in doubt about how to shoot scene. Best control is manual. Watch background- that is the biggest killer of your photo Biggest drawback is check your lighting after a test shot- all you may end up with not enough light or too much.Manual gives you maximum creativity and use of the lens features. Practice, play and have a good time. Not every shot is a winner. I shoot 200 in a day and may find 10 that pop.

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

Looks like I will have to play with the Manual. My husband tells me this but I get all messed up with the other stuff I need to learn.

DANthephotoMAN

To look cool...

Of course not! I shoot in manual because I can get the shot that I want, not what the camera wants.

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

I have much to learn to shoot in manual. I don't know much about shutter and aperture.

Ragarm

I see it the same way, pun intended. To me, manual is for intentionally deviating from the more auto modes, otherwise why use it? For example, autofocus (AF) is a great boon to people who, like me, have poor eyesight.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I like puns, especially if they are punny.

When my wife got better pictures with her point and shoot camera, I gave up my Mamiya C330. Why struggle with focusing and light meters? I went to a Canon EOS Elan II film camera and, except for the larger negatives, never missed the C330.

The manual shooters are not Luddites, they are just gluttons for punishment. If you think about it, they wind up with pretty much the same exposure and focus as the automated settings give. And you now have more time for the creative which no camera can do and why a lot of us got into this thing in the first place.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I only manual focus when shooting macro otherwise I am using autofocus. Shooting in "M" allows more creativity with how the picture is taken, I can set apperture and shutter speed to what I want and change ISO if 200 becomes a problem.
I was asking if situation involves a lot of movement and inconsistant lighting indoors, do others do what I did and shoot in "P"?
I am trying to find what others in similar situations so that I might learn from their experience.

dundeelad Loc: Originally UK. Current West Dundee, Illinois

Chapjohn: I have read in photography books, written by professionals who say much as you and others are saying. Cameras these days have very sophisticated software and to NOT use 'P' or 'S' or 'A' is quite frankly daft. There is definite value for the very expert to use manual shooting but the majority of us are not that expert and are trying to learn to get good composition and shots in focus etc. We guys with bad eyesight just cannot beat the camera's autofocus on many occasions for example. We just have to be careful what we ask the camera to focus on. :thumbup:

John.