AE-L/AF-L: What, Why, and How
A detailed look at the AE-L/AF-L button on a digital camera, how it works and when it is most useful to control exposure and focus.
Category: Camera Settings
How and When to Use Manual Focus in Photography
In photography, mastering manual focus remains an essential skill often overshadowed by the convenience of autofocus lens technology. Understanding it…
6 Tips to Maximize Image Quality
Tips on how to maximize image quality with camera settings and practical application.
Autofocus Modes Explained – Your Complete Guide
The right autofocus modes can make or break your shot. While the sheer number of them - in addition to related settings like AF Area modes - may seem …
Zone Focusing: Why, When, and How
With the zone focusing method, anyone can take pictures that are sharp and well-exposed in most environmental conditions. In the right hands, zone foc…
Understanding Digital Camera Modes
Digital camera modes are often misunderstood and an area of confusion for many new photographers. This article takes you through the basic camera mode…
Focus Modes: When and How to Use Them
Looking to master focus and composition? Level up your skills with this in-depth focus modes guide for digital photography!
How to Use Bulb Mode for Long Exposures
Feel like mastering the art of long-exposure photography? Find out how to get started in this detailed bulb mode guide!
Program Mode: What It Is and How to Use It
Want to get the most out of program mode? Read our comprehensive guide to learn how to use programmed exposure for the best results!
Camera Metering Modes Explained
Knowing how and when to use which metering mode can initially be a bit confusing. You can learn about the various modes in this article.
Shutter Priority Mode: When and How to Use It
Ever wanted to learn how to use shutter priority mode to create stunning images? Read our complete guide to find out!
How to Shoot in Manual Mode
Manual camera settings may be challenging for beginner photographers. In my opinion, shooting in manual mode with your camera is a great way to learn…
Aperture Priority Mode: A Complete Guide
Want to harness the power of aperture-priority automatic exposure? Read our comprehensive guide to find out how!
Back Button Focus: Why, When & How to Use It
Back button focus is a customization that separates focus from the shutter release button, assigning focus to a distinct button.
What is Exposure in Photography?
In photography, your exposure determines what gets recorded on your camera’s image sensor. The science behind exposure in photography is called Sensitometry. Getting the right…
A Guide to the Best Camera Settings for Street Photography
In street photography, fast-paced action is the norm. You might not be dodging literal bullets like some others, but excellent awareness and reaction speeds are…
The Best Camera Settings for Landscape Photography
The process of capturing landscape photography is different for everyone and because of that, there are a lot of different ways to approach your shot.…
How to Read a Histogram for Better Exposure
Learning how to read a histogram can be intimidating. Surely it’s better just to ignore it. But what the histogram tells us is worth the…
What is Shutter Speed in Photography? Basic Guide for Beginners
What is Shutter Speed? Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open when you take a photograph. The shutter speed is basically…
What is ISO in Photography?
The acronym ISO refers to International Standards Organization. This gives us absolutely no clues as to how it is relevant in photography. The ISO setting…
Spot Metering – A Beginner’s Guide on How to Use it
Using the spot metering mode on your digital camera can help you make better photos. Spot metering helps you set more precise exposures than other…
How to Use a DSLR Camera: Basic Guide for Beginners
Using Your DSLR Camera Learning to use a DSLR camera is on the mind of every new photographer who has one. These cameras are complicated…
Understanding White Balance in Photography
Did you know that light can be colored? Not only LED, neon, or fluorescent lights, but natural daylight can have a distinct color cast. This…
The Best Camera Settings for Portrait Photography
Selecting the camera settings for portraits is challenging for many new photographers. Even some more advanced photographers who are not used to portrait photography find…
What is Aperture? An Introduction Lesson
Aperture in photography is a diaphragm in lenses that controls the amount of light that can enter the camera. This function works in a similar…
Sunrise Photography Tips from a Pro – The Ultimate Guide
Sunrise photography is breathtaking. Many of us miss the best free show nature has to offer daily by not waking up in time for it!…
How Do You Know if You Have a Correct Exposure?
Setting a correct exposure is foundational to good photography. But what is a correct exposure? A correct exposure is one that you are happy with.…
What is a Viewfinder and How is it Used?
Have you ever taken a moment to think about your camera’s viewfinder? It’s a component of our equipment that is often overlooked and ignored. But…
What is the Sunny 16 Rule and How to Use it?
Some photographers say the Sunny 16 Rule may be outdated due to the advancement in technology. Maybe you have never even heard of this metering…
Exposure Compensation: How to Use it Correctly
Pick up a digital camera nowadays and one of the things you’ll instantly notice is the Exposure Compensation on the menu screen. It’s a strange-looking…
9 Best Camera Settings For Product Photography
Product photography can be a challenging but lucrative niche. But, it’s important to understand how to get the best product images that really accentuate the…
11 Camera Settings for Night Photography Without Flash
Nighttime photography is already very challenging, but it’s even more so if you want to take photographs without a flash. There are lots of reasons…
14 iPhone Photography Tips to Take Better Photos
Smartphones are ubiquitous in American culture, and in fact, around the world. Everyone has one, and everyone is always snapping photographs using their phones. Smartphone…
Understanding ISO Sensitivity
In our course on understanding the exposure triangle, we spoke of the importance of light in photography and about controlling how much light gets exposed…
What are AF Area Modes?
AF Area Modes Let me start by making a clarification. This isn’t a discussion about auto-focusing modes or auto-focusing in general. Though, at certain stages…
Using the Pop-up Flash on Your Camera
Pop-up Flash This article, though primarily intended for DSLR users, would be just as useful for any digital camera user with a built-in flash. I…
Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)
What is Auto Exposure Bracketing? Auto exposure bracketing, or AEB, is a term that is used to signify a process where the camera automatically takes…
Basic Camera Settings
Did you recently purchase a new camera but are not sure which camera settings to use? You’re not alone. Most beginner photographers are initially overwhelmed…
Shutter Release Modes
There are several shutter release modes you can select to determine how and when the camera shutter activates to capture the image. If you’re a beginner…
Hyperfocal: Range of Focus
Range of Focus (Hyperfocal) The area in a photograph, from near to far, which appears to be in sharp focus is called “depth of field”…
How to Adjust the Aperture on a DSLR
Adjust the Aperture Figuring out your aperture is important to learn in tandem with shutter speed. If you are unsure of the aperture, visit the…