Things That You Do Before Pushing the Shutter Button

[Tigerkn]

Please help a beginner.

Generally, once you are done with the imagination of an image/angle that caught your attention of either landscape; wildlife; people; etc and it is time to capture that moment, what is the list of things in sequence that you do?

Example: I found a tree that grew oddly at 45 degree in front of a while fence and beyond it is a single house up in the hill and plan to use it as my practice view for landscape. I took my time and look around to see what else I want to include in the image and pick the best angle including FG & BG. Once I was done with all that I do / set:


RAW
Manual White balance
M mode
Low Aperture (high F number, 6-11?)
Lowest ISO since it was sunny (strong light)
Shutter Speed adjustment to center the exposure.
Tripod (if handheld, not slower than lens’s focal length? IS help?)
“Just in case” I take more that just one and take one under and one over expose
Photoshop (light / color / crop / etc.)
Please teach, I am all about learning and I am having a blash :). Thanks in advance! KN

[jra]

1. Determine aperture, focal point and DOF desired
2. Look at scene and contrast, determine what's important and how I want it exposed.
3. Focus, meter, check shutter speed if handheld.
4. Click shutter and check histogram.

[mattia]

- It's always set to RAW, so no change there
- Determine best metering method, select
- Check for appropriate ISO setting
- Camera in Av for anything 'normal' (including most low-light stuff)
- Select appropriate aperture
- Select focus point
- Meter
- Shoot

- Check historgram, adjust EC if necessary.

Pretty much all of this can be done without taking the eye off the camera viewfinder as it shows up in the viewfinder. I tend only to use M mode when I know the lighting's going to be weird enough to confuse the hell out of my metering, or if I'm doing long exposure stuff that metering's completely useless at.

[CAL Imagery]

Manual WB? That's hardcore.

[tmwag]

Hold my breath

[Sorarse]

About the only thing I do is make sure I've taken the lens cap off.

[harroz]

so true!!, it is the last thing I do before I hit the shutter, sometimes when I have it, hold, then move or re adjust I run out of breath and have to breath and hold again;-) I even explain this to my clients sometimes because I'm like.. whew! when I've held too long;-)

Hold my breath

[toxic]

I have all the metering, white balance, etc. done before I take any pictures...I just determine how much DoF I want, choose a focal point, and frame properly.

[bacchanal]

First I set my fancy import beer down, then I dramatically take off my shades and stow them in an inside jacket pocket.

In slow-mo I pull the 5D2 from my Domke f6...

I'm always in RAW, and I usually set the following before I start shooting: Metering, AF mode, WB, Shooting Mode.

The rest is pretty much what jra listed above. It's a little more involved when off camera flash or filters are used. The goal I think is to get a good enough understanding of your gear that by the time you're ready to click the shutter all you're thinking about is composition/timing/focus etc.

[Moose408]

I have all the metering, white balance, etc. done before I take any pictures...I just determine how much DoF I want, choose a focal point, and frame properly.

Yep, that pretty much sums up what I do.

Whenever I pick up my camera I adjust all of the settings. RAW, WB, metering mode, ISO, mode (typically Av, or Tv for sports). I then only change these if conditions change. ISO and mode I do without even thinking about it.

[chauncey]

"Lowest ISO since it was sunny (strong light)"

If you go during those golded hours, that light may not be as strong.
Check your orientation, where will the light and shadows be, try for a dramatic effect.

[Big O]

sounds about right to me.

[Tigerkn]

You are funny :)
First I set my fancy import beer down, then I dramatically take off my shades and stow them in an inside jacket pocket.
In slow-mo I pull the 5D2 from my Domke f6...
I'm always in RAW, and I usually set the following before I start shooting: Metering, AF mode, WB, Shooting Mode.

The rest is pretty much what jra listed above. It's a little more involved when off camera flash or filters are used. The goal I think is to get a good enough understanding of your gear that by the time you're ready to click the shutter all you're thinking about is composition/timing/focus etc.

I am still learning but so far M WB shows true color better than AWB
Manual WB? That's hardcore.

I need to learn how to read histogram
1. Determine aperture, focal point and DOF desired
2. Look at scene and contrast, determine what's important and how I want it exposed.
3. Focus, meter, check shutter speed if handheld.
4. Click shutter and check histogram.

- It's always set to RAW, so no change there
- Determine best metering method, select
- Check for appropriate ISO setting
- Camera in Av for anything 'normal' (including most low-light stuff)
- Select appropriate aperture
- Select focus point
- Meter
- Shoot

- Check historgram, adjust EC if necessary.

Pretty much all of this can be done without taking the eye off the camera viewfinder as it shows up in the viewfinder. I tend only to use M mode when I know the lighting's going to be weird enough to confuse the hell out of my metering, or if I'm doing long exposure stuff that metering's completely useless at.

I try to remember to do this everytime as well
Hold my breath

I forgot it a bunch of time :lol:
About the only thing I do is make sure I've taken the lens cap off.

[irishman]

Manual WB? That's hardcore.

I believe he means using a WB preset--like sunny, shade, flourscent, etc. As you know, this is different than a manual WB.

[Tigerkn]

I really practiced the MWB off of the grey from the inside of my Lowepro's bag not presets. I picked up some gray cards included instruction as a package and I should get them by the end of the week. I will share the instruction here if anyone needs it.

MWB shows true color better than AWB, it takes more work but I still take my time to do it when I can :).

[CAL Imagery]

I started to use AWB a while ago and have stayed with it. It's pretty accurate and if it's off, it only takes 15 seconds to change on ACR or PS.

But, if you all want to set your own or use the presets, knock yourselves out.

[HSK]

Say a prayer to the god of photography. If anyone knows his official name please tell me.