For those new to the craft, Peter Burian gets down to the basics of 'in-camera' controls and outlines what you can do to your images without relying on a computer and its software.
As the interchangeable-lens digital cameras become ever more versatile, they are offering a wide range of features for creative control. However, sometimes the dozens of functions - and a 150-page owner's manual - can seem overwhelming, so a lot of cameras are set for the full AUTO mode. While intelligent automation can often provide nice pictures, you can get even better results by taking over some control, and you should learn to do so. Branch out and experiment – with digital photography it won’t cost you much at all! Even if you decide to ignore many of the in-camera options, it's well worth using a few of the straight-forward features to exercise your creativity. In my experience the following handful of modes, functions and overrides are easy to use and quite intuitive. If you're willing to experiment, you can control the exact effect you'll get in your photos. And if all of the following creative controls are already second nature to you, be sure to discuss them with novices in the family who might also use your camera.
Scene Modes for Effects
When you must shoot quickly and want to use full automation, switch from AUTO to one of the Scene modes for some control over the ‘look’ of your photos. These modes such as Sports, Portrait or Landscape are usually abbreviated with a relevant icon; select the one that’s most pertinent to the type of subject. The camera will often set a suitable aperture and shutter speed (both discussed later) as well as pleasing colour rendition, sharpness and contrast for that type of scene...
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Successful image printing at home; How to shoot into the light; Storage and data safety; Profile - Jack Atley; Maritime Memories; Locations - Charters Towers, Qld; Fuji X-Pro 1
