2019-06-01 Outdoor Photographer

C

ameras typically have four main shooting modes—

Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and

Manual—represented by the letters P, A, S and M.

My photo tour clients frequently ask which shooting mode

is best for wildlife. “Is shutter priority a good choice?”

Or, “Do I always need to use manual?” Since choosing

the right shooting mode can mean the difference between

capturing a compelling wildlife image and missing the

shot entirely, it’s important to know the options.

I choose my shooting mode based on my subject and

environment, how quickly the light is changing and my

personal preferences. There’s no one right answer, but if

SHOOTING M O D E S

FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

How to choose the right combination of exposure settings for the situation

Text & Photography By Aaron Baggenstos

Horned puffin, Alaska. Photographing birds in flight

requires a quick assessment of subject, environment

and light to determine the best shooting mode.

44 Outdoor Photographer outdoorphotographer.com