Canon T3i Experience

Take Control of Your Camera

Since the camera is a tool to take the images you want to take, you can’t always allow the camera to make decisions for you. You have to take control of the camera to ensure that you capture exactly the images you intend - by autofocusing where you want, setting the aperture or shutter speed that you want, and obtaining the exposure you want. While the T3i is an intelligent camera, it cannot read your mind and your intentions and does not know that you wish to focus on and properly expose the small blossoms in the foreground, while making the background appear out of focus, and the branches to be caught still and not be blurred from the motion of the wind, on this bright, sunny day (see Figure 2). You have to tell the camera to do all of this, through the various controls and settings, such as the autofocus AF Mode (focus on the blossoms), the Exposure Metering Mode (properly expose the blossoms), the Aperture setting (the out-of-focus background), the Shutter Speed (freezing the motion of the branches), the ISO (bright day) and the White Balance (sunny day).

Figure 2 - Japanese Garden, Brooklyn, NY - Autofocus, exposure metering mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance all considered in creating this image. Shutter speed 1/125, aperture f/6.3, ISO 200

One has to think about all this stuff for every photo? Well, yes, that is what digital SLR photography is all about. At least if you wish to consistently create dramatic and compelling images. That is why the T3i has all these controls and features for you to make use of. You’re not in the realm of point-and-shoots anymore!

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