How to Use Digital Camera Scene Modes

Advancement in technology has made digital cameras fun to own and use. Digital cameras have become smaller and more powerful. You can now take professional quality photographs using even the lowest-priced, off-the-shelf digital cameras. Newer digital cameras are equipped with scene modes, a feature that allows you to customize your photos. Using scene modes tell the digital camera the kind of picture you are taking.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Digital Camera
• Camera Tripod

1. 
   Auto or Defaut Mode for Digital cameras

   Set your camera to Auto Mode. This is the default mode and it is excellent for daytime photos. In this mode, your camera makes all the necessary adjustments without your input and gives you the best picture it possibly can.

2. 
   Portrait Mode for Digital Cameras

   Set your camera to Portrait Mode. This mode is best if you are taking people pictures. In this mode, your camera selects the appropriate shutter speed and aperture combination for the best picture while minimizing distractions from the background. Your digital camera also scans faces for best quality if it is equipped with Face Recognition technology. It is best for taking pictures outdoors on a clear day.

3. 
   Landscape Mode

   Use Landscape or Panoramic Mode for wide-angle photos. This mode tells your digital camera to focus on distant objects. and is excellent for taking photos of wide scenes, city skylines, mountains or field of flowers. When you use the landscape mode, your digital camera selects the right exposure combination to maximize the front to back focus. Your camera’s depth of vision increases so near and far objects remain in focus.

4. 
   Action or Sports Mode

   Set you camera to Action or Sports Mode for moving objects. This mode is useful where the subject is in action like in football or basketball games. In this mode, your camera freezes the action in the frame without blurring your picture by raising the shutter speed as high as possible depending on the lighting conditions. To use the action mode, get closer to your subject, follow the subject with your lenses and shoot. Action mode also allows for continuous shooting.

5. Set your camera to Macro Mode for close-ups. This is the mode to use when you take pictures of small objects like insects and small flowers. To take close-up shots of these small objects, move your camera lenses close to the object and click away.

6. 
   Night Scene and Night Portrait Mode

   Use the Night Scene or Night Portrait Mode for night photos. This mode is excellent when you need clear pictures while capturing background lights. In this mode, your camera turns on the flash and red-eye reduction technology.

Tips & Warnings

• Newer digital cameras are now equipped with more modes like Beach and Snow, Sunrise and Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Steady Photo, Party and Indoor, Theater and Document. These modes do what their names suggest.
• To avoid taking blurry pictures while using action and night scenes, it is best to use tripod. This ensures your digital camera is steady when your take your pictures.
• Depending on the manufacturer of your digital camera, these modes may have different names. Consult your owner’s manual to determine the names of the various modes.

Resources

• Basic techniques
• Camera mode scenes
• Guides to digital camera shooting modes