Know Your Camera: Semi-Automatic Creative Modes in Digital Cameras

Previously I covered a detailed post on automatic shooting modes or basic modes, found on various cameras. I left these, a tad advanced, semi automatic modes for later. They will be easy to understand now, once you have gone through my previous post introducing 'exposure' and what constitutes it; in layman's words- how a camera works. 

So we'll get to the point now and discuss the three semi-automatic modes.

Aperture Priority Mode/ A or AV:

It is a semi-manual, semi automatic mode which let you control your aperture and decides all other setting for itself, like shutter speed, ISO, white balance, etc. This allows it to balance the exposure. Choosing your aperture setting comes in really handy when you are shooting something where you need to have a control over depth of field, like some stationary object or scene with no chance whatsoever of  a moving subject hence no need of controlling shutter speed. 

A larger number for aperture setting means the opening in your camera while shooting will be small and less light will enter through it. This means depth of field will be larger and more of the scene will be in focus. Consequently your camera will select a slow shutter speed. Similarly small number of aperture setting will be opposite in all the above, i.e. large aperture, small depth of field, less focus and fast shutter speed.

I hope it helps you understand the relation between 

the digit for aperture setting and the size of aperture.

Shutter Priority Mode/ S or TV:

It works in similar way as the aperture priority mode, but let you select the shutter speed and camera chooses the other settings. This mode is useful where you are shooting subjects in motion, like sports or moving cars, so in that case you'll use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. On the other hand you can be creative by using slow shutter speed in low light situations to create certain light effects, or to capture an action in blur, like a waterfall or a Ferris wheel.

Program Mode or P:
In a few cameras Program Mode is very similar to Automatic mode. It might sound confusing, but one needs to check their respective digital cameras to understand how much it differs from the latter.
Mostly program mode gives you a little power over other features like ISO, White balance etc. controlling the aperture and shutter speed itself.

Manual Mode or M:
Now this one is not a semi automatic mode but a fully manual mode- i thought to mention it along-with as a comparison. It gives you full control over all the elements that affects the image. It provides flexibility to a photographer to be creative. But one needs to think about and know for sure what they are doing. Even by the sound of it you know a professional can handle that. So majority of digital camera owners use the above priority modes instead of manual.