lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yep here's another. Count me in on that. I see no reason whatsoever to try to talk someone out of learning how to use their camera and the exposure triangle.

Nightski

Thank-you, Lighthouse :)

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Greetings from Nottingham ! I'm on your side too ! "Where are the stick-it-on-auto brigade?" you ask ...... they know when they're beat ! Stay on your chosen path .... and we're with you all the way !

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

...the pressure is really on now...no backing out... :)

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I use all my camera's setting at the appropriate times...even Auto...the manufacturers spent millions developing all the different modes and I'm not going to stop using any of them.
No pressure here, just common sense...when things get hectic and happen in split seconds with differing light and backgrounds, etc, etc, there's no time to have a fiddle with all the manual settings, eg, my motor sport stuff. Manual I use mostly, but at times it's just too slow...missed many a good shot because when panning on the track and the lighting/background changed dramatically and there was no time to make adjustments.
With my bird photography it's mostly manual as they sit there and give you time...most of the time...LOL

tramsey Loc: Texas

All of these people that have given you advise are the forums 'Super Shooters' IMHO, take a look at some of their work. The way I started, I have an old bridge camera, if I thought it was a fast moving shot I used shutter priority, for everything else I use aperture. I have used modes but with my camera 'sport' just isn't fast enough.

Listen and take the advise of the people before my post because I'm still learning and trying to find out to.

Just keep shooting, posting and asking questions and you will be all right. :thumbup: :thumbup:

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

When you put your camera in M mode do you think beyond getting a good exposure. I recommend using either the shutter priority or aperture priority. (you've already set your ISO) 90% of the time I use aperture priority because I like to control the depth of field. You may be more concerned with controlling shutter speed so pick the one that is important for you. After you have picked ISO and one of the two the other HAS to be set at a setting that is set in stone to get the right exposure. I let the camera pick it for me and then check the monitor and make sure it is the right exposure and then use exposure compensation to adjust if needed. You know all this. There are other settings you need to make. On the auto side the camera does these for you for example in the portrait setting the camera warms the colors a little and in the scene mode it make the colors a little cooler. Makes other settings too. You need to go through all you menu setting and set the white balance, hue, salutation,vivid, etc settings for the type of picture you are taking. Go through your manual or a book on your camera that explains all these setting. You may want to make "cheat sheets" for different types of pictures. Not sure about Canon but Ken Rockwell has tutorials on all the settings for Nikon cameras. He tells how he sets them and why so that you can do the same or know how to set your camera for how you want it. The other option is to shoot in RAW and go for correct exposure and do the rest in PP. Hope this gives you some ideas. - Dave. .

tramsey Loc: Texas

I remember a while ago you were asking about some ideas with filters, I looked around and found something I thought was interesting. I am going to try some of these

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/03/31/9-creative-photo-ideas-to-try-in-april/

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

This is really well said!!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Huh???

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Hey Sandy - and others - can you explain value of using fully manual over aperture priority/shutter priority? If you are using a hand-held meter, or the one in the camera, isn't that kind of the same thing as the "priority" modes? (as opposed to the more experienced who can do the settings by just looking at the light) I'm not trying to be contrary, I'm honestly asking for enlightenment :)

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well...I guess that using manual allows you to have control over the three elements of the exposure triangle vs (for example (AV mode) where you control one of the three points of the exposure triangle, and the camera controls the other two.

The camera is trying to do one thing; expose to 18% grey...that's it. It can't be creative and know if you are trying to create a certain effect, be it dropping the ambient, mixing flash, silhouette, backlight, or whatever...it's dumb. Sure you can use AV and then override settings and dial in -2EV but if you are going to do that...then I guess I don't see the advantage of starting out with a steering wheel on the passenger side at all.

Just for me personally, I'd just as soon work all three corners of the triangle rather than work one or two and let a back-seat-driver take control at an odd moment. :)

Nightski

Thanks for the support, G :)

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

For Macro, manual allows you to set the aperture for the desired Dof your looking for, then you set the shutter speed to stop camera movement/wind/insect, then you have full control over the light by adjusting your flash, which gives you prefect exposure every time. Birding, sunsets, ect.. You control the Light.
You may want to try Aperture and of Shutter priority until you understand how the camera works. If your changing both aperture and shutter speed this may confuse you, and your really not learning anything. The Book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson will be the best investment you've ever made..

Nightski

I think somebody else better answer that question..but let me ask this; if av and tv are the same as manual, why am I always being told to get out of manual, and use av or tv?