Suppose we have time to shoot with an DSLR. Before actually shooting, some settings have to be adjusted to get a picture. Suppose we have a brand new DSLR in hand and every setting has to be defined.
Of course, getting the right picture depends on the subject, the context, the personal taste, etc. but I don't matter on the artistic point of view, just on the order (if such a determined one exists) and the importance of all the required technical step.
As a debutant, I imagine it could be this (rather simple) one:
- ISO, depending on the current lightness ;
- white balance, depending on the light color ;
- aperture, depending on the desired depth of field ;
- composition, depending on the subject ;
- shutter speed, depending on the desired exposition ;
and finally...
Is this a correct way to handle things? Is such an order (this one or another) very typical or does it change for each picture? If different, what's yours, and why?
Answer
I never really thought about it, and I don't really think there's a right sequence, but I guess my typical sequence is:
- White balance: I shoot raw, and almost always leave the camera in Auto White Balance, because it's usually an OK starting point, and precise adjustment will be done in raw development.
- Shooting mode: Most often Aperture Priority (Av)
- "Independent variable": That is, for Aperture Priority, I set the aperture that I want to shoot
- First guess at ISO: Based on my perception of the light
- Check "dependent variable": Point the camera at a "typical" or "approximate" version of the shot's composition and see if the camera-selected exposure variable (shutter speed in Av mode) is acceptable. Adjust ISO if not.
- Exposure compensation: Adjust +/- exposure compensation based on subject matter (e.g. + compensation for snow scenes) and/or a test shot
- Focus, compose, and fire: I would not typically want to be worrying about exposure any more when making the final composition.
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