ggbutcher
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,842
- Solutions
- 4
- Reaction score
- 1,487
I use my Z 6's Highlight-Weighted matrix mode, all the time in daylight situations. It preserves highlights at the expense of a stop or so of headroom, but the so-called ISO invariance of the Z 6 lets me pull up the shadows nicely in most situations. This bring me so much more joy than the ETTR pet tricks...Modern still photography cameras runneth over with a wide range of exposure modes and customizable buttons that can do just about everything...except take your dog for a walk
Among the most commonly asked questions in the DPR forums is, in a nutshell, "What settings do you use with this camera to get this shot?" I'm generalizing to not call attention to any particular brand or model, but I hope you're taking my point. There's a lot of interest in the larger photography community in hearing what settings other photographers use to make the photo they envision.
I'm starting this thread in the interest of creating a space where folks can share which exposure mode(s) and settings they use, and how those settings choices help them come home with "the shot," but without sparking a "this mode is best" flamewar. What I ask of all participants and contributors is that we adopt an attitude that every exposure mode - fully automatic, program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual with auto ISO, full manual - exists for a reason. The reason is that, depending on an individual photographer's interests, needs, and where they are on this path of visual storytelling, every one of those modes has its place. So, while a particular exposure mode may be a great fit for one person and possibly for others of a similar mindset, that doesn't exclude other modes being a better fit for photographers who take a different approach to the image-making process.
In short, let's share what works for us, as individuals, while allowing room for others to share what works for them. If we do that, folks who come to DPR looking for guidance on how to use these incredibly complex pieces of technology to make a good photo will find an approach that resonates with them. And given that no one approach is going to appeal to all other photographers, let's leave room for others to share different approaches.
OK, with that said, I'm going to attempt to model what I've asked of all of you.
I currently shoot full manual and have been for about four years. When I started doing digital photography, I probably spent at least a few months shooting in full auto with my Nikon D70. I wasn't new to photography - I'd shot film for about a decade before moving to digital - but I think I enjoyed being able to focus solely on composition while relying on the camera to choose the settings.
I did a lot of landscape photography in those early years. I was also an active backpacker and travel photographer. Eventually, the creative voice inside me said, "Hey, rather than let the camera have all the creative fun, let's become more involved in setting selection and have some fun, ourselves."
I experimented with different exposure modes. I know I tried shutter priority and aperture priority. I also did quite a bit of exposure bracketing for a few years when I was into high dynamic range (HDR) photography.
Along the way, I upgraded from the D70 to a Nikon D90. About nine years ago, I upgraded to a full-frame Nikon D600 and, for whatever reason, that move opened a series of doors for me. I started photographing local college football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. I started doing portrait photography. I was still doing landscape work but the other genres were taking up more of my time.
It was about this time that I started shooting in manual plus auto ISO for the college games and full manual for the flash portrait shoots I was doing. I also started feeling frustrated by having to remember which exposure mode and custom settings I'd been using the day before so that I could reset the camera to a different mode for the photography I wanted to do the next day. I didn't like changing between exposure modes.
About four years ago, I upgraded from my full-frame body to an APS-C Nikon D500 for the wildlife and bird photography I was doing. This was a relatively new interest for me. (I'll spare you the story of how I got into birds & animals.) When I made that equipment upgrade, I also decided to give something a try: shoot full manual for everything. I've not turned back.
To reiterate, this is my journey and I'm under no illusion that everybody would find joy & happiness shooting full manual. It works for me and, if I'm correct in thinking that I'm not so different from others, it may be a good fit for a few others. But I fully understand and respect that other photographers find success using a different workflow. That's the point of this thread, after all: to share exposure modes and settings others may decide to try.
I shoot full manual because it simplifies things for me. I'm often working in low light so I keep the long lens I use (Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E) wide open. I do this for two reasons. It allows the maximum amount of light to reach the sensor and it creates a photo having a shallow depth of field. The abundance flight maximizes exposure (and image quality) while the shallow depth of field creates separation between the subject and the background.
I use a default shutter speed of 1/2000 for birds in-flight (to freeze movement) and 1/500 for perched birds or grazing wildlife. But those settings can vary across a wide range.
When out getting set for wildlife before sunrise, my settings are f/5.6, 1/30, ISO 6400 and a white balance setting of 10000K. Yes, I also manually select white balance. I do that, not because it improves image quality, but because it keeps me engaged in the shoot while I'm waiting for critters to arrive on the scene. The fact that shooting full manual requires me to be more mindful of lighting conditions and camera settings gives me something to do between photo ops. It keeps me from getting bored
As the morning light brightens, I'm keeping shutter speed at 1/30 while lowering ISO from 6400 to 1600. Simultaneously, I'm adjusting the white balance from 10000 to 7200, to 6200. By lowering ISO first before increasing shutter speed, I'm giving priority to delivering a deeper exposure to the camera sensor. I shoot raw so, truly, there's little benefit to manually adjusting white balance other than it keeps me engaged in the shoot. Staying aware of the environment is a plus for me. It requires me to be more aware of the evolving lighting conditions and the settings adjustments I make keep me ready for the next photo op.
After sunrise, it may take only 15-minutes or so to go from f/5.6, 1/30, ISO 1600, 7000K to f/5.6, 1/100, ISO 400, 5300K. By keeping pace with the changing lighting, I'm aware of any activity in the meadow or forest and am ready for the next animal to show up.
By 7:30 am, I'm packing up my gear to head to a new location; a place where birds may be getting active. Once there, I'm adjusting my settings. I'm still in full manual, still shooting with the lens wide open, but am now at between 1/12000 and 1/1250 in shutter speed. Shutter speed choice depends on how clear or cloudy the sky is. Clouds act as a giant soft box, which makes for a flattering light on a subject, but also knocks down the brightness of the scene. Under clear sky conditions, I can be at f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 400, 5300K. Depending on the density of the cloud cover, I may be at f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO 1600, 7200K, or something in-between.
While scanning the area for approaching birds, I may notice a patch of clouds obscuring the Sun or a short break in the clouds allowing sunlight to paint the scene. Instinctively, I'll adjust shutter speed and/or ISO to compensate. I don't even have to look at a display. I just count the number of clicks and I know what the new setting is.
As mentioned previously, it's an approach that keeps me engaged in the shoot and requires that I'm paying attention to the environment. And if I'm being honest, I do wildlife and bird photography as much for the experience of being out in nature as for the joy of making a good photo. So, an exposure mode that keeps me engaged with and observing a beautiful natural setting, is a definite plus for me.
Which mode(s) do you use and why? What about your photographic approach brings you joy?
When the scene is evenly lit I'll fall back to Matrix mode. This is recent, I was using highlight-weighted all the time but figured for family snaps indoors I was having to do too much post-processing...
