Mr Addy started this thread with the though concerning the effectiveness/practicality of the use of manual mode on DSLR's. There are few secrets to photography, and some consider it a minor science. I believe that is a fair statement. It certainly is governed by the laws of physics of motion and light.
Through my own needs and thoughtlessness, I had inadvertently hijacked this thread to a certain degree. My apologies. Maybe I should start my own thread of the gripes and usefulness of all the photo processing software available - pros vs cons. Many of us that chase take pictures and/or video cam of the event. To various degrees, software still manages to hold us by our private parts in the final analysis...
To return to the subject, I thought carefully about why I don't use manual mode. Having read several pro photographers and how they use their cameras, I came to some hard and fast conclusions for myself. I am using the perspective of a storm chaser - nothing else am I referring to after this point - to head off confusion. I would like to share now - after my reflecting.
So here's to/for you, Mr. Addy.
Thank You...
One particular photo-pro that runs the web page of 'the Digital Picture' made it inadvertently but abundantly clear to me - why it almost impractical to use manual mode while storm chasing. Not that he directly referred to storm chasing - he didn't in fact. These same physical principals of photography shined light in this dark corner inadvertently. The answer - after such a windy buildup - is rather straightforward.
We chase and photograph clouds -for the most part. Oh sure, foreground is also present to help create a sense/dimension of depth. But which of us who has invested so much treasure and mental ability - is focusing upon 'ol man Ferguson's dog barking at us while we chase the Quinter/Windsor wedge? I though not.
Since clouds are not solid in themselves - but are really an organized collection of smaller particles, we need to treat them as such while photographing them. Our auto focus has SOOOO much trouble on picking a SINGLE point - which is constantly in motion. Aren't we asking too much of our equipment to try to pick a needle out of a haystack? This is only one obstacle in using manual mode - a loss of a fixed focal range. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it does set elements in motion that requires that ALL criteria be met for success to be achieved.
Because these clouds are moving in some vectored direction to the sun at all times, we do not have a needed consistency for a proper manual shot. We can hardly keep our light, depth, aperture, ISO, white balance, focus all in a constant range for our manual mode camera. If we do get off a full-manual shot, we had better take several shots just to ensure that at least one has the chance to make it to a desirable final product. Let's also keep in mind, that as the storm moves - so must we. We need to be able to bring consistency to the next series of frames. A tripod/window mount/bean bag is not a maybe it is a must. And a hand-held shot needs to be done - only if you rank with the likes of Jesse James - and have a razor accurate eye and a steady hand - and are willing to risk the outcome with that ability.
For that matter - is any mode better than another while chasing storms? Manual mode - by implication of its name - dictates that there are far more variables involved placed into our control. Shutter priority may help us freeze our subject, that is a tool and a strength of that mode. Aperture priority will help us prioritize the amount of light that reaches the sensor, and this has been helpful - personally. Program mode takes into account the use of auto metering the shot - and gives us flexibility of some parameters - I have found this mode quite useful too.
These ideas expressed are CERTAINLY not written in stone, but are a part of my own experience - however limited. The nature of this ramble is to re-establish the original thread on the subject of 'Manual mode and DSLR use".
Have at you!!!
