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There are a few different shooting modes that you can choose from when photographing. Your choice of shooting mode should be based on the situation at hand.
Let’s take a look at an example situation and go through the various shooting modes to see how you can pick one that would work the best for the scene.
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Let’s dissect the situation in the image shown above as it relates to choosing a shooting mode.
1. Manual Mode
This mode would give us the most versatility for dealing with the high contrast. However, it could slow down the shooting process, as we would have to be aware of our shutter speed, our aperture, and our meter reading as the situation potentially changes.
Also, it is possible that we might have to change the ISO setting (if we weren’t in an auto ISO setting), or manually reset the ISO if it was not giving us the appropriate camera settings that we desired.
In other words, this mode demands maximum attention to the technical aspects of the camera settings.
2. Aperture Priority Mode
This mode assures us a determined depth of field by allowing us to preset the f/stop.
However, that Depth of Field (DOF) window is subject to change based on the subject-to- camera distance or if we change the focal length of the lens by zooming it in or out.
Plus, we must be cognizant to the shutter speed so that we don’t get camera shake or subject blur if the men move. One element of the exposure triangle (shutter speed) is taken care of by the camera, relieving us of thinking about that one setting. We are placing our judgment onto the aperture.
3. Shutter Priority Mode
This mode assures us that we will be cognizant of the shutter speed.
We will set the shutter speed high enough to freeze any camera shake and potential subject motion, or slow enough to blur parts of the image; or everything, if that’s what we choose.
We are relinquishing control of depth of field to the camera. However, does this shot need DOF control? I think not. I would be more worried about getting the image sharp, especially if I were working quickly.
4. Program Mode
This shooting mode could potentially work well in this situation, if the camera were set to an auto ISO mode. If the camera wasn’t set to an auto ISO mode, the shutter speed might drop down too slow or the aperture might max out at the widest opening without us realizing it.
Program mode is helpful for very fast shooting. However, I would only use it in conjunction with the auto ISO mode; otherwise, you must continually monitor both the shutter speed and aperture settings!
5. Scene Modes
These shooting modes aren’t recommended if you want any sort of control over the shooting process.
Choosing the Shooting Mode
Based on the above, which shooting mode would I choose?
I would choose shutter priority mode, program mode, or manual mode – Shutter priority first, program mode only if I was using the auto ISO setting, and manual mode if I had the experience to compose the images while carefully monitoring the shutter speed and aperture setting while shooting.
There you have it. The next time you’re out photographing and wondering which shooting mode to choose, do keep the above points in mind.