Nature Photography: Insider Secrets from the World’s Top Digital Photography Professionals

HABIT FOUR

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CAMERA

© CHRIS WESTON

One of the problems with modern cameras is that they do too much. Everything is automated and there are programs to cover most photographic possibilities. Let me give you an example. I could take any entry-level or mid-range DSLR down to one of my local landscape hot spots, set exposure mode to the program (landscape) setting, switch on autofocus, and press the shutter. Given a pretty view, I’m likely to get a reasonable image.

But here’s the thing. Who took this picture: me or the camera? And who wants reasonable images, anyway? Aren’t we aiming for masterpieces? In this example, even had ...