Hi, and welcome back to The Littlest Thistle Camera Challenge! Hopefully after the last post you have worked out what camera you have available to you. This week, I’m going to really push the boat out and ask you to find a copy of your manual. I know, I know, real men don’t use manuals, but you can find them online if you happen to have ditched yours with the box. I need you to find yours, basically because I have no idea how your particular camera is set, you will need to find out ;o)
So onto the first photo challenge. Generally entry level DSLRs and bridge cameras have a collection of ‘pre-sets’. They are automatic modes, in that the camera will set things automatically, but not in the same way as the general automatic mode that people tend to use by default, and this is what we’re going to start by exploring.
Each pre-set has a particular type of photo in mind, so a little mountain symbol is for landscapes, a running man is for sports, a little head is for portraits, and a little flower is for macro, or close ups.
Your challenge is this:
For each preset, take a photo of a subject appropriate to the preset in both the preset mode and the full automatic mode. You should be able to see subtle differences between the two, the reasons for which I will cover in write up week. In order to get the best out of this experiment, you will need to have a decent amount of available light, preferably outdoors if you can manage it.
Here’s some ideas for the subjects of your photos:
- Landscapes are not uniquely wide open spaces with rolling hills and maybe the odd sheep. The following are all landscapes:
- The sports mode is really for a moving target rather than specifically for sports, so think of things around you that move fast:
Portraits are not just for humans!
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Yay! I am so happy you are doing this series! I have had a great camera for years and have barely explored its capabilities. I will definitely be following along with you! Thanks so much!!
I see. I'll try some over the weekend since I don't manage the daylight during the week. Thank you for challenging us 😉 We'll see if the weather will cooperate.
OK – Im going to give this a go ( assuming I can find my camera manual and sneak in a few minutes somewhere to take some pictures!)
Great challenge, now to find that manual…
This one will be easy for me as far as the presets go, as they are what I always use. Figuring out the auto may need me to find the manual though. Maybe that's what the A on the dial is 🙂
PS. Cute pooch
and here I was actually looking forward to shooting a running guy. ;0
awesome. Just read the assignment and have set aside a time this week when decent weather is forcasted! 😉
Thankyou for specifying that portraits are not just for humans… expect cat portraits in my future lol!
Is there a deadline for the challenge?
looking forward to this
I think I need to try to join your photo challenges. I desperately need to get to grips with taking good photos!
I think I missed a post so I need to go back and see what I missed. I have to say apart from briefly on sports I've never used any of the presets on my DSLR but only used presets on my bridge. It's weird how it seemed so wrong to even try on the DSLR as the whole point of it for me was learning the manual controls. Interestingly when you get to the level of DSLR chief has they have no presets!
Looking forward to the challenge, hope the blizzard conditions forecast don't scupper the plan 🙂
I'm oFf tO Do my homework assignment.
HA! I've been using the manual more than the camera! ;^)
I'll see what I can do!
I'm in! Are we going to post the pics anywhere or are we learning on our own with you as our guide? What is the deadline for the first challenge?
Might be tricky to find a bumble bee flying in snow today! I need to do that as I went from A to AV which is nice but sometimes I don't understand enough …
Somehow I missed this in January, but I'm off to do it tomorrow and then check the link up. I'll try to catch up in time for the next one!