Automatic vs Manual
why we need both
This post is inspired by a comment made by Neil Miltonon one of my previous post about phone apps.
“I’m intrigued by Camera+, as often kids in my high school class don’t have a camera of their own but I want them to be using manual”
Well, compared with Neil, I’m using both systems: analogue and digital.
Most of the time I’m using one of the semi-automatic modes on the digital camera (AV/AE or TV/S) as I do very little studio work or landscapes. The reason I’m using those modes is because I shoot lots of action. If I have to use manual mode, by the time I set up everything, the action is gone. It is a totally different story in a studio or shooting a landscape with a long exposure but I will come back to that scenario.
When I’m using any of my film cameras, I have no choice: all of them are fully manual and have no light meter integrated. I presume that also applies to Neil and I do agree with him on why he wants to teach the kids about manual mode. Any serious photographer knows that the manual mode is the one that gives you complete control.
Let’s have as example Neil’s work. When Neil does street photography, can he use an automatic mode? Oh, yes! It will be much easier for Neil to have a camera with automatic modes and work that way. But not long ago, Neil did some beautiful portraits of his musician friend (doesn’t matter what you say Neil, I like the black & white one!) in a studio using different lights. And this is where we come back to the previous paragraph. Could Neil use an automatic mode in a studio with strobes? No way! If Neil wouldn’t know how to use manual mode, he would not have the portraits photos.
I know it is easier to pick up the phone and snap few shots without worrying about control. But you can’t do that in a studio. You can’t do a long exposure shot relying on an automatic mode. In these cases manual mode is the king. And if you don’t know it, you are the loser.
Like any craft it’s about using the right tool for the job and knowing how to use it.
I'm using Automatic also for a big part of my photography. Always puts a smile on my face when other photographers strongly argue that it is not right to use Automatic, while looking at their photos.