I made a decision upon returning home from Alt Summit. I am officially taking my camera off Auto, well…when I have the time to fumble with the settings that is. You see, I have this amazing camera – a camera people actually comment on. And I have no flipping idea how to use it. Click…auto.
I once actually asked a professional photographer how to set my camera, and she told me to read the manual. Yeah, that’t not gonna happen. And that is actually the reason why I have kept it on Auto all this time. Because this stuff isn’t easy to figure out!!!
But that’s it. No more. After watching another girl at Alt Summit fumble with her settings as she tried to get it just right through her lens – I decided. I can do it. I can fumble my way through figuring this out and get better photos for my photo albums, for my blog, and for my life!
And PS – I just liked the idea of using a random bag of thread my Mom gave me as a sewing font. I {heart} sewing, don’t you?
Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…
Happy Sewing!
You won’t go back! I only bought my slr 2 months ago and haven’t let myself use auto so have had to learn quickly. Skip the manual, online tutorials are the best.
Thanks so much Bettina! I am learning, its painful – but so rewarding
i never use auto but instead i leave my camera on p. it gives me the best light. hope you share you thoughts with us on it…i would love to learn too! what kind of camera do you have? i bought a cannon t3i months ago and love it, but still dont know all that it does. i have bought 3 lenses for it and change those out instead of playing with the settings:) and by the way i think your photos are great!
Thanks so much Christina! I attribute all of my photos to Photoshop, don’t know what I would do without that incredible program!
Good luck! I got a DSLR for Christmas but haven’t had time yet to fiddle much with it. I did read the manual and wasn’t too impressed with what it had to say!;)lol
Man – you read the manual Cindy?! We are close enough that if you do end up figuring out how to fiddle with the settings, will you let me know?! We can meet up and you can show me!! HA
Read the Pioneer Women’s series on “What the Heck is an Apperature!” It’s what made all of this make sense in my mind! If you think of the ISO as little worker bees of light, the higher the ISO (1600) the more worker bees you have, so if you are in a darker situation, if you use a higher ISO, then it helps, but you do have to be careful because the higher the ISO, the grainier your pic can become. Which is sometimes desired. Another huge thing, is just changing your White Balance. If you can figure out your apperature on Av mode, and then change ISO and White Balance it makes a huge difference! Even still, my hubs can’t work our camera that way and I usually have all my images of myself taken on Auto or P mode, just because he doesn’t do a good job with the other things! haha! And I agree with Christina! You pics are very pretty even on Auto!
I will have to check that out Vanessa – what a great tip! I have read enough tutes that I understand the ISO and can figure out Aperture, its just trying to set them on my camera that I am having a hard time doing! So sad
So here’s what I do – I shoot one picture on auto. Then I look at the settings the camera chose and tweak from there. Shooting moving kids? Usually have to take camera settings and up the shutter speed, which also means upping the ISO or lowering the aperture, or sometimes both. It’s a great cheat.
Thanks so much Melissa! You are kind of amazing. Just so you know
You can do it!!!! Only read the manual to figure out how to change things (ISO, aperture, shutter speed) and then play with it.
Also, my first step off auto was the littel +/- button that pioneer woman taught me about….(although I can’t find the tutorial now) I’ll keep looking.
I will have to look for that tutorial from Rae – I love her!
I recently took my camera off “auto” too…. I figure I better get serious if I want to grow my business and blog… you are a real inspiration.
That is so exciting Zoe! We can fumble our way through it together
Jess,
Let me know if you need help with anything… I have a few things that I can show ya to help…
nydia(@)add-crafter
THANK YOU Nydia!!! That is the kindest offer ever…even if you don’t know what you just opened the door too. HA
Oh my goodness! These picture looks so bright and fresh! Love the idea of spelling out words with spools of thread
Hope you master that manual soon!
xo
summer
Thanks Summer! I will definitely need to pull it out, still having trouble trying to figure out how to master my settings!
love this! the pictures made me smile today. I know you can do it!
~Heather
Thanks Heather – I love you too
ok- if you don’t want to read the manual, skim the manual ;op Seriously there is great info in there!!! If you are ever in PA I’ll teach you anything you want to know!!! Take the leap, you wont regret it. (but there is nothing wrong with A on occasion)
I think I am going to have to break down and do it one night in front of the TV, I see no other option. Boo – someone needs to create a blog tutorial on this!!!
Fantastic one. I really appreciate your work. That piece of writing is informative one.
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I use Auto, but figuring out my settings is on my to-do list. I love that you are giving it a shot!