by Whitney Schuyler Hubbard,
Staff Photographer

Cameras have many features to help you control the quality of the photos you take, and some of the most effective and simplest to use are your shooting modes. Your camera comes equipped with a variety of shooting modes that allow you to control the speed and manner in which the shutter of your camera operates. Shooting modes are important tools because they equip you with specific ways to control the very different situations you may encounter while shooting, from a portrait of yourself with your family, to a gymnast's fast paced acrobatics. While these options vary from camera to camera, there are five standard types of shooting modes: single frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, self- timer, and mirror lock-up.

Single frame (S): You might think about this as an "auto" mode, as your camera is set to use this mode by default. When your camera is set to single frame, you will take one photograph each time you press the shutter button. You can use this mode in most situations to get the job done.

Continuous low-speed (CL) and Continuous high-speed (CH): These two modes are often referred to as "burst mode," because they enable the photographer to take several photos in a sequence very quickly, just by pressing and holding the shutter button. As the names suggest, continuous high-speed works more quickly, which uses up more battery power, while low-speed operates at a slower rate, resulting in a smaller burst of images taken. Depending on the model of your camera, you may be able to take between one and ten photos per second. This mode is ideal for those hard to catch moments, like your child's spontaneous dance moves, or the action of a jumping subject in mid-air. From your sequence of images, you may select a single, special moment you might never have been quick enough to catch, or you may create a narrative series with all the photos you took.

Self Timer (usually displayed as a clock): The camera will take a photograph after a certain interval of time, usually ten seconds. Your camera may allow you to customize how much time you wait before the photo is taken. If you've ever wondered how to include yourself in family photos, or take a simple self portrait, this mode is the answer. Also, the self timer can be used to prevent blurry images caused by camera shake when you are taking a long exposure in a low light situation.

Mirror Up / Mirror Lock Up (MUP / MLU): To use this mode, press the shutter button to flip the mirror up, and then press again to take a photo. If the shutter is not pressed within thirty seconds, the camera will automatically take a photo. This mode requires a little more understanding of your camera in order to use it properly, and you may not find it necessary for your needs. This mode will help to maximize the sharpness of your images. It works best for photos that are planned, like a landscape photo, and would not be a good option for photographing a precise moment, like the quick plays of a basketball game.

While all of these options may sound complicated, they are in fact very simple to use and easy to set up on your camera. While some cameras may require you to access the shooting modes through the menu options on the LCD screen, many will come equipped with a dial on the top of the body, which you simply turn to chose the desired mode. You simply select your mode, and your camera will do the rest of the work for you. To find out how to control the shooting modes on your specific camera, or to learn more about which modes work best for certain situations, check your user manual, or search for your model online, and download a free copy of the manual there.

"As a REALTORŪ, one's professional image is extremely important. I really appreciated the fact that Mangiante's photographers valued my portraits and delivered excellent results. I will continue to recommend Mangiante and trust them for my personal and professional photography needs."

Weichert, REALTORSŪ - Chapman & Associates - Briscoe Ellett, III

On October 9th, Adobe announced the release of a free Photoshop app for your iPhone, which allows users to edit photos in their library, or to take a photo through the application and edit it immediately. The app includes controls to crop and rotate, adjust color and create black and white images, and features a set of simple filters that allow for creative experimentation. Users are able to save the images they edit, and there is an option to upload the images online to share with other users in a Photoshop.com gallery.

The app is very simple to use, operating by the touch of a finger, which should come naturally to iPhone users already accustomed to those kinds of controls. The editing process includes an 'undo' function, and saved images do not replace their originals, so users are free to experiment without fear of ruining a special photo.

To download Photoshop for your iPhone, visit
http://mobile.photoshop.com/iphone/ or simple search for it in the App Store. It should be easy to find; the new app has remained at the top of the Top 25 list since it's release.

Photography is an ever-changing industry for both professionals and consumers. With the advent of digital photography, we can all strive to be great photographers. Likewise, we believe photography is a great career aspiration for children in our community.

Mangiante Photography, LLC offers our photography experts for complimentary speaking engagements and photo classes at Mid-South schools. There is no cost or obligation to the school or the students. We can tailor the information to your specific group, age category and level of expertise.

Do you need someone to speak to your art, yearbook or photography class or club? As professionals in the photography industry, we truly believe in the continuation of our industry. We feel that sharing our knowledge with the community, specifically students, is a great way to give back to the community that has built our business.

Call or email us to find out how to schedule a speaker for your school!