MAXIMIZING MOOD

Take some time to play with your camera’s white balance, contrast, and saturation settings. When you know what your camera is capable of, you’ll be able to create images that go far beyond simple documentation of a subject or scene.

This simple exercise will help you learn how to create images with mood.

• Set your camera to f/5.6 and ISO 200.
• Head outdoors and choose a subject.
• Focus on the subject and choose the shutter speed that best illuminates your message.
• Adjust the in-camera contrast and saturation settings to their lowest levels and take a photo.
• Examine the image.
• Adjust the contrast and saturation settings to their highest levels and take a photo.
• Examine the photo and compare it to the previous one.
• Adjust the white balance to its lowest Kelvin (K) setting. (If you’re using presets, try the tungsten or lightbulb setting.)
• Examine the image.
• Adjust the contrast and saturation settings to their lowest levels and take a photo.
• Examine the image and compare it to the previous image.
• Adjust the white balance to its highest setting and take an image. (If you’re using presets, try the shade option.)
• Examine the image and compare it to the others.
• Adjust the contrast and saturation to the highest setting.
• Take the photo, examine, and compare.

This is how the scene appeared. Contrast and saturation settings were set to “normal.” The image was shot in auto mode.

This image illustrates a more aggressive approach. The contrast and saturation were pushed to their maximum settings. The white balance remained constant at 5200K. The shot was made in manual mode.

The photographer chose a much faster shutter speed, making light an important ingredient.