EXPLORE CAMERA SETTINGS

Be sure to take a closer look at your camera menus and internal features

Unlike analogue cameras, where the majority of functions were mechanically operated, digital cameras are primarily run by software and are therefore dominated by virtual controls. This makes modern cameras far more flexible, but also more challenging to become familiar with – while film cameras had all of their controls visible on the body, these have been replaced in recent days with extensive scrolling or tabbed menu systems. This means that many internal hidden features can be forgotten, to the detriment of effective camera work.

Many selections made in the menu directly affect the functions of the physical controls and your ability to change settings. With multifunctional buttons, you can essentially redesign the camera, with several modes for different situations bundled together. Choosing a setup appropriate for the subject you are shooting is therefore a professional step. Areas to explore include exposure management, colour reproduction, and speed and reaction times.

For exposure calculation, many photographers may be reticent to experiment with metering mode, choosing to stay with the camera set to Evaluative (Matrix) metering. This will mean that they are never truly using the full processing power of the auto exposure system at their disposal. Regarding colour, natively the camera will attempt to render ‘correct’ colour balance. It is possible to accept this and choose to make creative changes in software, but achieving a good base image in-camera is often beneficial. Tweak how the white balance system measures and assesses colour, for bespoke tonality that matches the mood of the scene.

Finally, by delving into the custom function menus, it is possible to decide how rapidly and precisely the automatic systems should react to circumstantial changes in the camera’s environment, to make the ‘choices’ the software implements more predictable, manageable and appropriate for the subject. The main concept is that the maximum or ‘correct’ settings may not always be the best and should be adjusted for each image. You should align your artistic intent with that of your equipment.

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CREATIVE EFFECTS

When the image you are envisioning requires settings outside of the ‘average’ requirements expected by the camera, manual input by the photographer will be essential

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CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

in environments containing strong colour or complex lighting, having a full understanding of internal camera functions enables you to predict miscalculations and apply manual adjustments