P-Mode

Is it okay to use P-Mode? Would it hamper my improvement in skills if I keep using it?

Ask Ken Rockwell, P mode = Professional mode



I personally don't use this mode much, I'm pretty much shooting in Aperture priority or Manual mode.  

Stephen Graham wrote: Is it okay to use P-Mode? Would it hamper my improvement in skills if I keep using it?

No.

Yes.

That's automatic mode, where the camera makes all the decisions. How can you progress unless you take control and take risks?

Is it ok?

Of course it's ok. It's your camera and your pictures. You can shoot however you like.

Will it hamper your improvement?

No, it won't hamper it. It will end it.

It's very tempting to use the auto modes as you don't have to do anything. Point and shoot. Your pictures will come out perfectly each time. Perfectly average. Just like everyone else's.

However.......if you want pictures that make people look at them for more than 5 or 10 seconds.......if you want pictures that others want hanging on their walls......if you want your pictures to be published........the auto modes will not get you there.

The whole idea is for you to see your picture before you even lift the camera to your eye. You already know what you want, the next step is to be able to tell your camera what you want it to do. As long as the camera is making decisions, the picture that you saw will never make it to the card.

The only thing that will make you a better photographer is experimentation, practice and looking at lots of failed pictures that you shot. But the really cool part about looking at all of those failures is that with each one you just learned something. I realize it can be frustrating and there will be times when you're truly ready to give up. But the successes will come. More and more frequently.

Agree, you want to have as much control over your camera as you can.  So heck no to P mode, stick with Manual if you want to grow as a photographer. 

You can use any mode you want, its your camera. I'm amused by those that sing about "auto" mode, always shoot in manual and still use AF. Use anything to get a good shot, no?

I love how Fro Photo rags on Ken Rockwell and his opinion of P used by professionals only.  

Paris Gal wrote: Ask Ken Rockwell, P mode = Professional mode



I personally don't use this mode much, I'm pretty much shooting in Aperture priority or Manual mode.  

Right! Thanks for this. In contrast, I keep using this a lot.

garyrhook wrote:

Stephen Graham wrote: Is it okay to use P-Mode? Would it hamper my improvement in skills if I keep using it?

No.

Yes.

That's automatic mode, where the camera makes all the decisions. How can you progress unless you take control and take risks?

I understand. I guess it's time to change. Do you have any suggestion where to start?

Bryston3bsst wrote: Is it ok?

Of course it's ok. It's your camera and your pictures. You can shoot however you like.

Will it hamper your improvement?

No, it won't hamper it. It will end it.

It's very tempting to use the auto modes as you don't have to do anything. Point and shoot. Your pictures will come out perfectly each time. Perfectly average. Just like everyone else's.

However.......if you want pictures that make people look at them for more than 5 or 10 seconds.......if you want pictures that others want hanging on their walls......if you want your pictures to be published........the auto modes will not get you there.

The whole idea is for you to see your picture before you even lift the camera to your eye. You already know what you want, the next step is to be able to tell your camera what you want it to do. As long as the camera is making decisions, the picture that you saw will never make it to the card.

The only thing that will make you a better photographer is experimentation, practice and looking at lots of failed pictures that you shot. But the really cool part about looking at all of those failures is that with each one you just learned something. I realize it can be frustrating and there will be times when you're truly ready to give up. But the successes will come. More and more frequently.

This is so insightful! Thanks for Brys! 

KENT MELTON wrote: Agree, you want to have as much control over your camera as you can.  So heck no to P mode, stick with Manual if you want to grow as a photographer. 

That's my next move. Thanks! 

effron wrote: You can use any mode you want, its your camera. I'm amused by those that sing about "auto" mode, always shoot in manual and still use AF. Use anything to get a good shot, no?

Indeed, I guess there are always two sides in every coin... 

MYoung wrote: I love how Fro Photo rags on Ken Rockwell and his opinion of P used by professionals only.  

I have not fully studied it yet. But I will read about it today. 

Stephen Graham wrote:

garyrhook wrote:

Stephen Graham wrote: Is it okay to use P-Mode? Would it hamper my improvement in skills if I keep using it?

No.

Yes.

That's automatic mode, where the camera makes all the decisions. How can you progress unless you take control and take risks?

I understand. I guess it's time to change. Do you have any suggestion where to start?

Sure. Go through your photos and be merciless. Find the ones you like the very best. 

Then study the settings the camera chose for exposure. Learn from that. Then try to recreate the results using one of the other modes (start with aperture priority, IMO). Learn how different apertures affect the image. ISO and shutter speed are, I think, secondary, but you'll need to learn about them, too, and how different values are useful in different situations.

Then get out there and experiment. It's digital, and you already own the camera.

Stephen Graham wrote:
I understand. I guess it's time to change. Do you have any suggestion where to start?

The most important thing to understand is the exposure triangle, ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Know how each effects your final image and, most importantly, how each effects the other. Any time you change one of these three elements the other two are effected. And......in most cases, because you have changed one of these, you probably will have to make changes in either or both of the others, depending on where you want your picture to go.

This is where experimentation comes in. Using the light meter in your camera, set up a shot of whatever you choose to the best of your ability and look at your results. Now, change one of the three and shoot again and look at what has changed. You will begin to understand how all of these three bear on your pictures and how you can then begin to use these changes to shape any picture to match what you originally envisioned in your head when you made the decision to take any given picture.