How do you shoot and how did you get there?

[10acres]

I was just wondering how everybody shoots. I recently switched from Canon to Nikon and have started shooting in manual using auto ISO. I started my shooting in auto mode to get used to my Canon T7i and then moved to Aperture Priority when I felt a little more comfortable. I soon got frustrated and went back to auto while on vacation in Italy and actually stopped shooting after getting back. For me the layout of the Canon was not working, it seemed my brain and fingers were not working well together. I watched a bunch of videos from different individuals and decided to try out a D90 with a 35mm 1.8.

I found a deal on a low shutter count D90 and away I went. I took it on a cruise back in February and decided to shoot in AP, but moved to manual with auto ISO quickly. I forced myself to slow down and the controls of the Nikon just seemed to come natural to me. The two dial system on the D90 just felt right. I have since purchased a >1300 shutter count D7100 and >7500 shutter count D750 that has been sent back to Nikon for a recall. Shooting in manual with the Nikon is much easier for me than with the Canon. Moral to this story is find what works for you even if it means switching systems.

I've started reading Brian Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" in hopes of learning as much as possible. I will continue to shoot in manual with auto ISO but that will change eventually. This all may seem trivial and ridiculous to some, but this is a big step for me. I am a 55 year old guy that doesn't take to learning new things very easily. I am not artistic by any means so I struggle with composition, but I'm improving. Any advice or next book to read is greatly appreciated. Harsh criticism is always welcome too.

So that's my story so far...

PS: My journey into photography started after a trip to Alaska where I took just my cell phone as a camera. Big mistake.

 

[Ysarex]

I don't care what exposure mode is set on my cameras as long as I have complete control over the exposure parameters. Typically I leave my cameras in P mode as that gives me the total control I require. I only save raw files and I only set one of two exposures for any given scene. (I love digital it's so bleep bleep easy). If possible I set an exposure that places the brightest diffuse highlight at the sensor saturation threshold (base ISO required) and click -- best possible exposure and on to the next photo. If circumstances (low light) prevent a best possible exposure then I default to my second exposure option = expose as much as possible. All of my cameras have dual gain sensors and so I generally use either base ISO or the ISO that engages the second read channel and don't bother with it otherwise unless the situation is extreme -- eg. moving grandkids indoors.

I got here by doing this as a career for the past 50 years.

 

[MontanaDave]

I typically shoot shutter priority with auto ISO with Canon R5 or Canon R7 bodies.
I shoot at 600-800mm, exclusively wildlife and typically shutter speed 1/800 up to 1/4000 second.
Typically I shoot "wide open" which is F8-F9 on my telephoto lenses.

 

[DanOstergren]

I shoot in manual. Like a manual transmission in a vehicle, I just prefer it and find it to be more fun.

 

[acparsons]

I shoot with anything and everything, digital and film. I prefer SLR and DSLRs, but have a small collection of rangefinders and point and shoots. I like to combine photography with exercise, so often do 10-20km photo walks.

 

[SunriseAvenue]

Lately I've been lazy so shoot with my phone camera. GCam is doing the work just fine (it's doing all the work forme, so nothing to complain about, duh). I need to go back to shooting in manual and work with RAWs more, I've almost lost all my editing skills by now. Probably will need to learn how to use Lightroom and Photoworks from the very beginning.

 

[smoke665]

Depends...in a studio where I have complete control over light, it's full manual, because once you meter and dial in, the settings rarely change. In ambient light settings, it depends on the circumstances. For portraits & street, I'll use Aperture Priority, for fast moving subject Shutter Priority, landscapes mainly Program. I dont set the ISO, instead limiting the range. The program modes are much faster at compensating for changing light and the EV compensation dial under my finger gives rapid manual adjustment as needed for a full data file.

 

[KJ_North]

I'm very much like Montana Dave. as I am shooting a lot of birds I shoot in manual mode and control the speed mostly. Aperture wise usually as open as the lens supports and with the Zooms that limits you a bit. ISO falls where it falls but I do gamble sometimes on shutter speed to lower ISO as best I can.

 

[SharonHearn]

I shoot in Shutter priority, Aperture priority, occasionally P mode and if I'm really struggling for a photo that I particularly want for a personal reason I will use Auto.