Automatic typically works well; Scenes may work even better.
Bill Raymond
By now most people have made the change to digital cameras. Digital technology has made it relatively easy for manufacturers to include sophisticated capability in even the most basic equipment.
To make them easier to use, manufacturers provide an Automatic function (Auto) to make it easy to take good pictures without technical knowledge. In addition to Auto, manufacturers include red and green indicator lights, audio signals and other clues (varies by camera) to let the user know when Auto cannot do the job.
Tip 4a
Pay attention to those lights. Typically a green light (or green box surrounding the subject) or audio “ping” is telling you that everything is a go and the camera is capable of focusing and properly exposing the picture. If the indicator is red (or there is no ping), the camera may be telling you that something is wrong (the camera cannot accommodate the lighting situation) or cannot focus. In dimly lit areas, or with blank subjects (like a wall) situations, the camera may have a difficult time focusing. If this happens, try focusing on something where there is contrast; focusing systems work best where transitions occur. If the area is dim you might try turning on your flash as the camera will likely do a pre-flash to illuminate the subject to aid in focusing. This will only work with closer subjects.
If you don’t get a good picture in the Auto mode it may be that the camera is making assumptions about what you are trying to do. If these assumptions are wrong, the results will be less than optimum.
One way to tell the camera more about what you’d like to do, without getting technical, is to use the Scenes mode (may be called something else in your camera) present in most cameras. Typically it shows up on the camera as icons which depict a flower representing close-ups, mountains for scenes, runners for action, stars for night shots, etc. When you select one of these, the camera knows to prioritize lens opening, shutter speed or sensor sensitivity and will make adjustments accordingly. While this approach won’t solve all of the lighting challenges you are likely to encounter, it will help with many of them.
Tip 4b
Look at your camera manual. If you cannot find it, go to the camera website under Product Support and find Operators Manual on the website. If you put in your camera model you should be able to download a copy. Look in the manual section regarding Auto mode; the Scenes mode write-up will likely follow. Follow the instructions for selecting the Scene mode that best represents your situation. Experiment with this to see how it works. Don’t forget to go back to Auto when you no longer want to use that selection.
Bill teaches Photography Basic and Intermediate Workshops as part of the Art Club offering of courses; Photography Basic—January 8 and 15. For more information look at the signup folders in the Expressions Gallery of the Arts and Crafts Building.