Camera Settings
In previous Masterclasses, we’ve often talked
about getting to know your camera’s settings and how working in manual
mode means having total control over your exposures. However, Annabel
prefers to take a different approach with her camera, and suggests that
worrying about technology and settings should not be something that
takes up the photographer’s time.
‘When
you first start you should never feel self-conscious about working in
auto mode,’ says Annabel. ‘There’s a lot of snobbery about working in
this way, but there’s no need for it. The auto mode is there to help you
so you can concentrate on taking a great image. Once you’re comfortable
with your equipment, you can start exploring how best to take control
of exposures.’
While Annabel encourages people to explore the
capabilities of their camera, she also recognises that doing so can get
in the way of actually taking images.
‘I don’t believe that you
need to know too many things about how your camera functions in order to
take great pictures,’ continues Annabel. ‘It’s great photographers who
take great pictures, not great cameras. Photographers, particularly
those new to image making, can get tied up trying to figure out
f-settings and what every little dial and button does on their camera.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s counter-productive.’
Annabel’s advice
to our readers is to work with the settings that have served her well
for the past 20 years of her career. First, set your camera to AV mode.
Then set the aperture to f/5.6 and the ISO to 400. Set the camera to
‘one shot’ and the white balance to auto.
‘If you have your
camera locked on these basic settings, as soon as you pick up your
camera you’ll be able to shoot straight away,’ she says. ‘In that way,
you can spend your time working on your backgrounds, directing your
subject and ensuring that your composition is as you want it.’
