It was in June 2013, I got attracted to photography strongly. The fervor towards photography made me see all kinds of pics in Flickr, spend hours on reading photography articles, and browse different models of DSLR in Flipkart and Amazon. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford a DSLR then. All I had a Second-Hand Samsung Point and Shoot Camera. As like every beginner in the photography, I started clicking flowers, puppy, trees randomly without knowing what is an exposure. The results were below average. I didn't care. After all, I was so excited, at least, I clicked photos on my own. Things were going like this but my passion doesn't seem to come down. Finally, I somehow bought a DSLR - Nikon D3300.
Now with 1.5 Years of little hands-on experience in clicking 1000's of pictures, I, at least, know: What is Manual Mode, What is Shutter Speed Priority, Aperture Priority, Auto Mode, ISO etc.
I am not going to write all these technical stuff since there are a hell lot of sites for these and also, still, I myself a novice in photography.
The reason to write this post is to share my opinions, experiences, problems, challenges I faced in DSLR Photography.
Probably the first roadblock in DSLR Photography is Manual Mode or getting out of Auto Mode. Till then, anyone, who has clicked some pics in a Point-and-Shoot or who hasn't clicked at all, wouldn't have cared a bit about these modes in spite of having manual modes in their P and S Cameras. All they point a subject intentionally or aim randomly and click a pic. That's it. You've had a pic ready to post it in Facebook. But with a brand-new DSLR, one can't keep going in Auto Mode either it gives a guilty-feeling or you end up learning nothing.
The Manual Mode Myth :
Clearly bear in mind, mostly, one buys a DSLR for better photos, diverse lens options and finally, very few, take it to the next level i.e becoming a professional for commercial purposes. So you no need to worry a bit about that last thing. You have a bought a DSLR; click pictures; admire its colors, clarity and your way of clicking. So, initially, not worrying about all these modes just go with Auto Mode for 1 or 2 months. Click pictures at least one or two days in a week. Between, spend 30 minutes of reading the basics on the below-mentioned topics.
What is Shutter Speed ?
What is Aperture ?
What is ISO ?
What is Exposure Triangle ?
What is Manual Mode ?
What is Shutter Priority Mode ?
What is Aperture Priority Mode ?
On having a keen interest, these topics can be learnt in a week with a DSLR.
After learning the ropes of clicking in DSLR, you can move to Semi-Manual Modes. With 1.5 years of clicking, still, I mostly shoot in Semi-Manual Mode - Shutter priority mode is my regular favorite.
Getting the Right Exposure:
Another big problem a beginner faces when going out of Auto Mode is getting the right exposure, either the photos come over-exposed with too much of brightness or dull with none of the subjects visible. But this can be solved by below methods:
My advice :
You shoot in any mode but it's better you start clicking pics in RAW format as soon as possible. It's very simple. All you need a photo editor Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop or any other.
So how to get into RAW format ?
I will write in the next Post.
Now with 1.5 Years of little hands-on experience in clicking 1000's of pictures, I, at least, know: What is Manual Mode, What is Shutter Speed Priority, Aperture Priority, Auto Mode, ISO etc.
I am not going to write all these technical stuff since there are a hell lot of sites for these and also, still, I myself a novice in photography.
********************************
The reason to write this post is to share my opinions, experiences, problems, challenges I faced in DSLR Photography.
Probably the first roadblock in DSLR Photography is Manual Mode or getting out of Auto Mode. Till then, anyone, who has clicked some pics in a Point-and-Shoot or who hasn't clicked at all, wouldn't have cared a bit about these modes in spite of having manual modes in their P and S Cameras. All they point a subject intentionally or aim randomly and click a pic. That's it. You've had a pic ready to post it in Facebook. But with a brand-new DSLR, one can't keep going in Auto Mode either it gives a guilty-feeling or you end up learning nothing.
The Manual Mode Myth :
Clearly bear in mind, mostly, one buys a DSLR for better photos, diverse lens options and finally, very few, take it to the next level i.e becoming a professional for commercial purposes. So you no need to worry a bit about that last thing. You have a bought a DSLR; click pictures; admire its colors, clarity and your way of clicking. So, initially, not worrying about all these modes just go with Auto Mode for 1 or 2 months. Click pictures at least one or two days in a week. Between, spend 30 minutes of reading the basics on the below-mentioned topics.
What is Shutter Speed ?
What is Aperture ?
What is ISO ?
What is Exposure Triangle ?
What is Manual Mode ?
What is Shutter Priority Mode ?
What is Aperture Priority Mode ?
On having a keen interest, these topics can be learnt in a week with a DSLR.
After learning the ropes of clicking in DSLR, you can move to Semi-Manual Modes. With 1.5 years of clicking, still, I mostly shoot in Semi-Manual Mode - Shutter priority mode is my regular favorite.
Getting the Right Exposure:
Another big problem a beginner faces when going out of Auto Mode is getting the right exposure, either the photos come over-exposed with too much of brightness or dull with none of the subjects visible. But this can be solved by below methods:
- Every DSLR would have an exposure meter. So always before clicking, have a look at the exposure meter. If the indicator is tended towards left the photo more or less may come less exposed; if it's tended towards right it may come over-exposed. Center and one or two points in the left or right may get the right exposure.
- Though any time is best for clicking a photo; as an amateur photographer, I prefer mornings (6.30 -10 AM) or (4 to 7 PM in the evenings).
- During the bright day never up your ISO beyond 200 or max 400-800 in low-light cloudy evenings, high ISO makes a photo noisy and over-exposed. Apt ISO is between 100-200-400 based on the day conditions. Click a few pics and change the ISO based on the result in Semi-Manual Mode.
- Another important thing is to shoot in RAW format. Initially, I shot in JPG for 2 months, then I came to know about RAW format. Once I got used to it, I never switched back to JPG. RAW format gives various options to correct your errors from exposure to cropping, contrast, adjust colours, reducing the noise.
My advice :
You shoot in any mode but it's better you start clicking pics in RAW format as soon as possible. It's very simple. All you need a photo editor Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop or any other.
So how to get into RAW format ?
I will write in the next Post.
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