What the heck? - No more Auto. Ever.
Wed, May 20, 2009 Ahem..Ahem.. Is this thing on?
So here is my very first post for What the heck? Friday's.. There is so much information and I really want to word vomit and try to fit it all in, but that is impossible, so I will take small steps.
Before I start, I really want to say that I am not an expert. My goals are to try to help anyone that needs to learn the basics stuff. I will share tips, books, sites, etc.. that I have found along the way to really help me. I am not getting paid by anyone. I will be as blunt as possible with products or sites I have tried that work for me.
Most of the stuff I will share has to do with my own experiences with shooting an SLR camera. (Sony A700)
Now, what I need from you. I need you to find your own personal style. I want you to find the areas of photography that inspires you. I don't care if it is portrait work, weddings, nature, wildlife..it could be taking photos of your kids all day long. Find what it is that makes you smile. Because if you struggle to copy someone else’s work, or style you will find yourself feeling empty and unsatisfied.
Don’t get me wrong, other photographers are a great way to study. I literally follow the work of more than 2 dozen photographers (you can see the ones I follow HERE - scroll down to mid page to Photography Blogs) It is a wonderful way to find inspiration, and help decide what you like and don’t like.
Basically, my first piece of advise to you is to (a) Shoot - a lot, (b) Study your shots and then shoot again (c) search around, check out Flickr, or JPG Magazine, (d) start noticing light and where it falls and (e) Realize that learning to understand your camera and your unique style takes time.
Okay, now for the big REVEAL in week one of What the Heck? Friday’s. STOP SHOOTING IN AUTO. Now. Do not put your camera in Auto again. First I need you to go Here. I was going to write a big post on what Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO but then a photography blog I read did one like three days ago that was realllly good, so go read that first and then come back.
I’ll wait. Go. Go here now. Your back? Good.
Now it is time to take control of your camera. In auto mode you are letting the camera make all the decisions for you. Switch to Aperture Priority (some cameras have just and “A” some have “AV”) and Auto ISO -shoot like that for a full week. Take at least five pictures a day of the same thing at different Aperture settings. You control the Aperture with the dial on your camera - remember the Larger the F/stop the smaller the opening of light, the smaller the F/stop the larger the opening of light.
Try the exercise of shooting each day and reviewing the EXIF data (EXIF stands for ‘Exchangeable Image File’ it is the information your camera stores with your image file showing you your settings- check your camera manual to figure out how to get this information from your camera). Really study the data of each picture. Pay attention to the Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO values. Start asking yourself "how could this be better?"
Oh and carry your camera manual everywhere you go. Read it cover to cover. It is going to be horribly boring and confusing. And if you don't read it cover to cover, keep it with you because there will be a point that you will say "Where is that?, How do I change that?"
If you get a chance, go out and purchase Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It was THE book that opened my eyes to understanding why I should not shoot in Auto mode anymore.
And because this is my first official What the Heck? Friday post, I am giving away a brand new copy of the book to one of my readers. Just leave me a comment below. The winner will be announced in next Friday’s addition of What the Heck?
Happy Shooting!! And let me know in the comment section if there is anything you want me to focus on for future What the Heck? Friday’s.
Reader Comments (16)
Brilliant advice Kim. Bryan's book was step one to me getting control behind the camera. Exposure is key and the exercises are designed to help you learn.
Can't wait to hear more from you!
~Rachel at Verve
Ohhhh-someone else told me to get that book, ok thats the next ting on my list!!
Did you get my last email to you? I THINK I finally got my site the way I wanted...Id love you to check it out and let me know what you think. I still have A LOT of work left to do but I finally learned the CSS code to give my white layout a black border...almost looks like yours, so dont hate me though. Mine isnt all flash-but gosh do I wish it was.
I finally put up a picture of the baby Im watching in yesterdays post....how fun see was to photograph!! SHe was my 1st little little baby-only 9 pounds.
Excellent advice! Besides not ever shooting in Auto again, I like to remind people that shooting in Portrait or Landscape or any of the other preset modes doesn't count as getting away from Auto.
Hi Kim!!! First off - please do NOT enter me in your contest! LOL! I actually already have that book and agree - it is WONDERFUL!!!! I am always recommending it to new photographers and often they don't believe me! LOL!. Actually, maybe I should enter and then I can just pass on the book instead of just recommending it!
Second - great advice!!!! I actually have been forcing myself into full manual over the last few months. And it is crazy, but suddenly I grab my camera and start to adjust my settings before I even check the meter!!! I actually am starting to know, off the bat, what my ISO should be, I then adjust my aperture, and, finally, what my shutter speed should be is starting to become second nature. I never thought it would finally "click"!
And the BEST thing about full manual is that ALL my photos are consistent. No more too dark, then too light, THEN just right, then too dark etc etc.... But I still use AE occasionally when the light is changing rapidly - on a sun/clouds day and I get annoyed having to change shutter back and forth SO much. But I agree with you, you need to start at a partially manual setting, learn it in and out and then keep adding more manual settings.
Anyway, love your pictures!!!! You are getting SO good!
Have a great weekend!!!!
Oh Kim! This post and that link are going to come in handy. I am SO overwhelmed trying to learn this new camera. I never use my auto setting but generally leave it on the no flash setting which I'm sure is just as bad. I've had this camera for 3 months and still know nothing about it.
Baby steps!
xo
ALWAYS looking for photography advice (as well as photoshopelements), so I think I will find myself looking forward to Fridays here. I used to have a lot of photos (mostly animals) up on my blog, but AOL closing journals messed with that because I had almost all of them saved to AOL Hometown FTP space Sigh! I still have all of the photos, and, maybe, I'll find the time someday to re-upload them and get all of the links fixed.... yeah, in my -spare- time.
This last year was super busy for me and I took very few photos (and barely blogged) because it was so crazy. I'm looking forward to picking my camera (Canaon RebelXT) up again this summer and starting to really shoot again.
Oooh a new tips blog for me to read yay!! And I still haven't bought that book... I never shoot in auto though ;) Learnt the hard way
Now if I could understand a word of anything you just said - I might be getting somewhere, but instead I 'click' away on auto with my 'point and shoot canon....maybe one day I'll graduate, for the time being though-I'll just admire your work from afar! :)
~K
Okay you were reading my mind. Thank you so much for all this info. I really want to use my manual settings more and this will be great help.
I really appreciate your suggestion to shoot five pictures everyday with different settings and study them. I have been wanting to do this, but haven't taken the time to write out a plan. I am just beginning to get my head around the "triangle" but I need to create specific situations where I can try various settings and see how they affect the picture.
I will also add that book to the list of things I need to read! Great first post, keep 'em coming!
I have been shooting in auto since I purchased my camera.
This is the best post ever,
OKAY OKAY already. sheesh.
I'll try. ok.
it scares me. come hold my hand please? Thanks for directing me to that site, it is probably the clearest explanation I've ever seen!!!
Now. PLEASE let me win that book ;-)
Hugs.
OK...Starting tomorrow I am no longer shooting in auto! I think this may be UGLY! LOL I'll let you know how it goes!
This advice is great. The other day, I was sitting in the car waiting for someone, had my camera, pulled out the manual, and started shooting in manual. I've been shooting in A, S, and P for a while, but haven't done too much in manual.
Your post is inspiring, and I'll try to so that more. When I have more time, I'll take a look at the links you're provided. My mind is an open book when it comes to photography.
Oh, and the book? I've seen this book before but hadn't bought it yet. Now, I'll wait one more week before I do. Who knows, I might get lucky................................:)
Kim,
“What the heck?” What a great idea. Now I’ll have another good reason to look forward to Fridays! And your first WTH? post kicks off with a fundamental topic and encouraging words. After several thousand pictures, I still find myself wanting to slip back into Auto mode. A friend encouraged me to use Aperture mode, so I said “uh, sure…okay.” But I didn’t really understand what to do with it. After returning from a recent photo shoot I found that I had accidently moved to Auto mode. And wouldn’t you know, the Auto pictures turned out better. So thanks for the advice to learn and use EXIF data to study the shots.
I’ve been following your ‘Step A” advice to shoot—a lot. But I’ve been leaving to chance and skipping the study (steps B & C) part. Thanks again for the encouragement.
I’ll put “Understanding Exposure” on my “must read” list. Like the others, I’ll wait until after your Friday announcement to place an order.
Keep up the good work!
A lot of different persons get know some keys of good essay writing, but it does not mean they can write high quality essays, nevertheless a custom classification essays service would assist to compose the biography term paper of high quality and demonstrate writing skills of students.