Is auto-mode a no-no here?

[ARWildflower]

I should explain. I'm new back to photography after a 20 year hiatus. (Think pre-digital!). I am experimenting with my new camera and all it's many capabilities, but feel funny about posting photos taking primarily in auto mode. It sorta feels like cheating. However, I'm trying to concentrate on one or two things at a time. Maybe lighting and composition, for instance, with auto settings. Or Aperture mode, with the rest of the settings being auto. Is that cheating? Should I resist posting photos until I'm doing more manual work?

Also, I'm doing some pp for many of my shots, maybe nothing more than cropping to tweak the composition, but something. Some people seem to consider pp to be a negative thing and other accept it as part of the process. Is it a "better" picture if it is posted soc, or is a pp shot still considered a "good capture" if it's tweaked?

Just some general wonderings that I'm hoping you more experienced folks can clear up for me.

No one cares what you do, you're fine.

[zarquon]

I use auto mode all the time. It's very helpful when you need to take a quick photo and don't want to be fussing with settings. I do try and spend some time each week going over a new part of my camera, some shooting mode, a setting in the menu, just trying to learn all it can do. But I still take over 1/2 my photos in auto mode

[ARWildflower]

Originally Posted by zarquon

I use auto mode all the time. It's very helpful when you need to take a quick photo and don't want to be fussing with settings. I do try and spend some time each week going over a new part of my camera, some shooting mode, a setting in the menu, just trying to learn all it can do. But I still take over 1/2 my photos in auto mode

Thanks for your input. So if I post a shot to an assignment that has been done in auto mode, hopefully no one will shun me for being a cheater? ;-) Glad to hear it. I do hope to get away from it more as I get better, but have much to learn. I appreciate you!

Originally Posted by maxharvard

No one cares what you do, you're fine.

LOL! I suspect you're more correct than I care to admit. The quality of the photos here makes me no more than a student at the feet of masters and my little shots can't hold a candle to most of what I see. Still, I do like to behave appropriately. Thanks!!

Originally Posted by ARWildflower

LOL! I suspect you're more correct than I care to admit. The quality of the photos here makes me no more than a student at the feet of masters and my little shots can't hold a candle to most of what I see. Still, I do like to behave appropriately. Thanks!!

Your thinking about it too much. There is no such thing as appropriateness when it comes to how you use your camera, use it as a hammer for all I care.

[KodiakStar]

Indeed. It's about the end result, not how you get there. Of course, getting back into the groove, you can do how I did to learn. Look at your settings between auto-mode and manual, then tweak the manual settings until you get the exposure that you feel is best (or other settings as needed).

You can be perfect with all your settings, but if you have no compositional skills, whats the point!

[dcclark]

I'm glad that you want to focus on composition and lighting -- those are FAR more important that any technical details. If working in auto mode lets you work on what you want, then awesome! Do it! You may find that, as you progress, you want more control -- that's when you should start looking at other modes. But don't worry until then.

[ARWildflower]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Your thinking about it too much. There is no such thing as appropriateness when it comes to how you use your camera, use it as a hammer for all I care.

OK, I'll confess you've scored the winning point. Being accused of thinking too much is something I'm quite familiar with. How about I quit stressing over it and just keep enjoying my camera? Not so much as a hammer...but I'll keep it in mind as a future option.

Thanks!

[ARWildflower]

Originally Posted by KodiakStar

Indeed. It's about the end result, not how you get there. Of course, getting back into the groove, you can do how I did to learn. Look at your settings between auto-mode and manual, then tweak the manual settings until you get the exposure that you feel is best (or other settings as needed).

You can be perfect with all your settings, but if you have no compositional skills, whats the point!

Thanks for validating my thinking here. That's pretty much what I'm trying to do. Glad to hear I'm on track.

Originally Posted by dcclark

I'm glad that you want to focus on composition and lighting -- those are FAR more important that any technical details. If working in auto mode lets you work on what you want, then awesome! Do it! You may find that, as you progress, you want more control -- that's when you should start looking at other modes. But don't worry until then.

You're probably right that I'll get to the point where I want more control, but after hearing from all you guys, I'll feel less like a slacker to allow the camera to do some of the work for me. Thanks tons!

[KodiakStar]

Main thing I found was, this is supposed to be FUN! (unless you got good enough to make money off it. Then its a job, but should still be fun).

If you stop having fun, then evaluate what you have been doing, and change it up. Worried about settings, put it in auto. Photographing too many flowers and getting tired of them, take pictures of trees.... etc.



Go out, have fun, photograph, and then share here with us