TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Since my hands are partially paralyzed and therefore unstable, shutter speed is the first order of business for me. A fast shutter gives fewer pictures that are tossed because of camera motion.

How about "neophytes" in place of "newbies"?

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I normally use what you call the "active" method by setting the shutter speed and aperture in manual, then either setting the ISO to a specific value as desired based mostly on the histogram or setting it to Automatic depending on the specific situation for the shot(s). This system has worked well for me IMO.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

My first computer was an Epson Notebook - still have it - it is the exact size of a 3-ring 1" binder, hence the term "Notebook"; you had to do your own programming using Epson Basic. This is how I learned I'm not cut out for programming. My first desktop was a Columbia, among the 2nd generation of IBM clones, named such because it was created and manufactured in Columbia, MD. I had Xtree Gold also - remember the name but not much about it except it was a darn good program.
Boy, did you bring back some memories that I had to share.

graybeard

Except for low light situations, I keep the ISO set to 100 or 200, never higher, in order to minimize noise. You have enough light left to choose between, as you say, dof or blur/freeze. I prefer TV (shutter speed priority) since I hate blur in most situations and like to shoot 500 or better SS. But again, you still have a wide selection of SS/f stop selections in all but low light. One of the first things I noticed when changing from film to digital is the need for 1.4 or 1.8 lenses to get low light/night shots decreased.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I usually use Aperture Priority on my camera. I leave an ISO range I want then set what aperture setting I want and let the camera decide what shutter speed to use to accomplish my settings.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I am always looking for closeups of the odd object or wildflower, so I often set my Canon EOS t2i on AV aperture mode, with ISO set at 100 or 200, aperture set at 1.8 or a little more to get the short DOF I'm looking for. But when I'm out and about taking scenic photos farther away, I still use AV mode most of the time, up the ISO depending on the weather and time of day, and still let camera decide on shutter speed. I hardly ever take photos where I need a longer shutter speed for effect.

Trouble with my shooting style is that changing settings for subjects out of my usual realm takes thinking and experimenting on my part. BIF and sports venues probably wouldn't be a good specialty for me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Someone else mentioned that also; it's a really interesting idea. Thanks!
Me too re the Oly (and me neither re the bus ). Many thanks for your participation.
Gorgeous photo! Thanks so much for explaining your process.
Very gratifying to know you are enjoying the discussion!
Much appreciated.
Succinct and spot on.
Hmm, I might need a few more lessons
Appreciate your sharing your knowledge, William!
Thanks very much for your comments, philo. I've had to increase shutter speed; my limited experience with tripods was not enjoyable
Nooo, everyone who reads this thread will walk away ready for prime time!
Unless someone is striving to become a pro and needs to please their clients, I'm all for "it's your image, do what you want to it" (the other link in my signature). Thanks for your comments.
I'm pretty sure everyone, regardless of years of with a camera, has experienced one unpleasant oops moment with settings. Glad you're enjoying the discussion; happy you joined in.
Delighted to have you!
Appreciate your posting.
Many thanks for your detailed and valuable information. Good stuff!
Appreciate the glimpse into your work decisions. Many thanks for participating.
Anyone who doesn't retire until age 72 has well earned the right to do it his way
Very gratifying to hear, and I'm positive all who have participated here will be happy to help you if they can. Thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing your background and shooting habits. Very enjoyable to read.
We are not here to judge
It has received consistent praise during the time I've been on UHH. Never hurts to mention again; thank you!
Thanks so much for your detailed outline about various shooting situations. Terrific information.
I enjoyed your humor, Otto, and as I mentioned to you recently, it's a great treat that UHH is a worldwide forum. So glad you joined this particular discussion.
I believe that topic has been already covered Sounds intriguing; please report back with your result!
Thanks so much for sharing your solution for your physical challenges. Another suggestion for newbie was novice. A lot of options beginning with N it seems Thank you for commenting in the topic.
Thanks very much Jack!
Thank you for this information, Graybeard. Appreciate your participation.
Thanks very much for posting.
I happily used just an 18-55 kit lens for four years, mostly shooting flowers - but always seeking interesting light. Appreciate your comments!

aubreybogle Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Learning photography as a teenager using a pure manual 35mm film camera and a Gossen hand held light meter, I instinctively fall back on the active approach. ISO (then ASA or DIN) was only controlled by the choice of film loaded in the camera, and whether it could be pushed in development. My learning process for composition was partly trial and error, and reading photography magazines - primarily Popular Photography in the late 50's and early 60's.

farnsworth52 Loc: W. Pa.

P mode with exposure correction will adjust speed and aperature, and using ISO can get it done pretty quickly.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

This has been a fun post. Bucking the trend (but not alone here), I almost always shoot an Aperture priority and I never use auto ISO. My reasons are defiantly non-intuitive for new photographers and sometimes confuse my students, but I give them other options. When I pick up my camera I don't want to wonder what mode it is set on. If I need to control DOF, I adjust the aperture. If I need to control shutter speed, I adjust aperture, which changes shutter speed. I really only use three ISO settings. 400 most of the time in rainy, often gloomy Juneau. Or 100 if we get a rare sunny day. Or 1600 when I need 1600. On my D7500 I am still trying to come to grips with 3200 and higher, which work great but don't seem like they should. I never use P. If cameras didn't have P and auto, people new to photography would quickly learn how everything relates to everything else side by side with learning composition and all the other stuff.
...Cam

CCChuckles Loc: Michigan

I use AUTO on all my cameras and then do Post Processing to bring out qualities I feel are necessary...

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I shoot manual and I am very active on almost every shot depending on what I hope to achieve. I usually just spin the command dials or push buttons I have set for specific functions. I know them by feel and I don't have to overthink. while I am composing and focusing. Usually, I know what I want and how to get there and that comes from making thousands and thousands of images. When I go from one genre to another it is usually the same mental process. I know what works for me, usually. Sometimes, I screw the pooch and I have learned to occasionally chimp to see if I'm on track or if I need to make a major adjustment. The composition and focus are the vital functions, to me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thank you for commenting, aubrey. Fun to know about the magazines as inspiration.
Appreciate your taking the time to comment.
I chuckled over your "amazement" that high ISO looks OK Re keeping on same mode: with the camera I use mostly for birds, I try to remember to set it back to a higher shutter speed after shooting something else - for the same reason you gave. Many thanks for your participation, Cam, very glad you enjoyed!
If auto works for you, no reason to change. Appreciate your interest in the thread, CC.
Your story should inspire those who are frustrated and feel they will never get to a point where they can make their decisions quickly (how to get there). Many thanks for your comments, David.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I have two cameras. One is for action and the other is basically for landscape. My action camera does a pretty good job for landscapes, but the landscape camera really sucks for action! I keep the first one on shutter priority. I've noticed lately that it adjusts the ISO without my knowledge, so I end up with some pretty high ISO's. I've got to figure out how to keep it from doing that, as it didn't use to. My landscape camera is always on aperture priority and is easily adjustable for light conditions. I try to shoot no higher than 400 ISO, but sometimes the light requires higher. Since it's usually on a tripod, the shutter speed can be r e a l l y s l o w if needed. My frustration is having the right camera in hand at the right moment!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Sounds very similar to how I have my Panasonic and my Olympus set up. Prior to buying those in spring 2017, I had two Canon T3i bodies: on one I kept an 18-135 mm lens mostly for landscapes, and the other a 70-300 mm lens. I didn't experience much frustration with not having the "right" camera in hand for the moment because I am never far from my car Very glad you joined the thread, Kathy; thank you!