Is it possible to shoot wildlife using Aperture Priority?

[Pao Dolina]

Ever since the beginning I've been using Manual mode to take photos of wildlife. Now does anyone use Av as there shooting style. If you do what settings do you use?

[Danny J Brown]

I use Av over 90% of the time but everybody has there own style. I decide how much depth of field I want depending on the situation, set the F stop, and the camera provides the fastest shutter speed for that DOF. I use the exposure compensation dial on the back depending on lighting conditions to get a proper exposure from there. Typically, I leave my Canon 40D camera at +2/3 as my starting point for exposure when shooting Av. This helps to limit noise in the background shadows because I don't have to brighten the photo in PP. When shooting birds in flight where you are dealing with the change from vegetation BG to sky BG you should follow Artie's instructions for using manual exposure. Hope this helps.

[Charles Glatzer]

Yes, it is possible when you know the parameters and can anticipate the outcome. Knowing how to use the AE Lock effectively will be of great benefit. Many get confused when dealing with modes and pattern relationships. A firm understanding of both Metering Patterns and Metering (Priority) Modes will allow you to choose the best method of exposure under varying conditions.

In Manual you must make a cognitive decision, you must first decide which variable aperture or shutter speed is most important, setting that first into the camera before adjusting the other variable to render the correct exposure. In Av you must first select the aperture of choice, the only difference is the camera will select the other variable, shutter speed in this case. In both manual and auto metering modes the amount of exposure variance from the null point to render the correct exposure will be determined by the Meter Pattern in use not the Metering (Priority) Mode.

Example

When shooting penguins in the Falklands last year the partly cloudy skies made for fluctuating lighting conditions. I set the camera to Av, Meter pattern to Spot mode, metering off the penguins white chest I set exposure comp to plus 2 EV, depressing the AE Lock button allowed me to vary my compostion while retaining the correct exposure. Moreover, you can secure the AE Lock to the shutter button when using the back button to AF.

Best,

Chas

[Jeff Donald]

In both manual and auto metering modes the amount of exposure variance from the null point to render the correct exposure will be determined by the Meter Pattern in use not the Metering Mode.

Metering Pattern I understand, matrix, evaluative, spot, center-weighted averaging, partial spot etc. But when you say Metering Mode, I've never heard that term before. I'm sure you're referring to AV, TV, P, M, S, A etc. But wouldn't Exposure Mode be less confusing? Not trying to be picky, just trying to better understand what you're saying, it's the teacher in me. If I had a student refer to AV, TV, M, P as a Metering Mode I'd be confused and assume they meant Metering Pattern.

[Charles Glatzer]

Metering Pattern I understand, matrix, evaluative, spot, center-weighted averaging, partial spot etc. But when you say Metering Mode, I've never heard that term before. I'm sure you're referring to AV, TV, P, M, S, A etc. But wouldn't Exposure Mode be less confusing? Not trying to be picky, just trying to better understand what you're saying, it's the teacher in me. If I had a student refer to AV, TV, M, P as a Metering Mode I'd be confused and assume they meant Metering Pattern.

Jeff,

You are correct, and using the term "Exposure" Mode may be easier for most to comprehend and better differentiate from Metering Patterns.

Thanks,

Chas

[Grady Weed]

Chas,

Your understanding of photography, willingness to share knowledge and ability to convey that all in a way fairly easy to understand is much appreciated.

[Charles Glatzer]

Jeff,

I'm still a bit up unsure on the use of Exposure as proper terminology in the context. I know Canon uses Exposure Mode. But, you are not really choosing exposure, only a priority variable.
I think Priority Mode or Exposure Priority Mode may be more appropriate and easily understood.

What do you think?

Best and thanks again,

Chas

[Narayan Pai]

yes aperture mode is the best along with manual mode sometimes....I think the majority here shoot in Av mode if I am right.

[Charles Glatzer]

yes aperture mode is the best along with manual mode sometimes....I think the majority here shoot in Av mode if I am right.

While there is no one method/mode that is best for every scenario I would venture to say Manual is most often more appropriate, with Av sometimes.

With Av or Tv every time you change the size and tonality of the subject to the background within the viewfinder you will need to apply a different amount of compensation to maintain a similar result.

Pick a subject of one tone and a background of another, shoot one image with compensation applied to render a correct exposure, then zoom in or out shooting another image without changing the compensation and let me know the result ;) BTW- at times simply going from horz to vertical will yield different results in Av. You need simply point the camera at different subjects with the sun over your shoulder and watch the meter move radically up and down...yet, all the tonal values are receiving the same illumination.

Best,

Chas

[Narayan Pai]

Thank you Chas for your feedback....it's really helpful :)