Your DSLR’s Scene modes are a positive first leap away from full Auto mode. They do give you some control, as they allow you to inform the camera of your creative wishes so that it can choose settings accordingly. Scene modes do have their limitations, however. You can’t override the camera’s setting choices when you use them (for example, you can’t increase shutter speed in a low-light scene), it is impossible to control ISO and white balance, and the built-in flash will fire when the shutter speed slows, whether you want it to or not. Below are the most common Scene modes.
Portrait mode tells the camera that you are taking a snapshot of a person. It reacts by choosing a wide aperture, which gives your image a shallow DOF. The result will be a clear subject set against a nicely blurred background.
Landscape mode informs the camera that you will be photographing an expansive landscape and that it should choose a smaller aperture to achieve clarity from front to back in the scene. You may need a tripod, as smaller apertures yield slower shutter speeds.
Close-Up/Macro mode is ideal for photographing flowers or any kind of object up close. It works especially well with telephoto zoom lenses, as you can zoom in on your subject to make it look a bit larger.
Select Sports mode when you wish to freeze a moving subject. The camera chooses a faster shutter speed to help prevent blur in the shot. This mode works best in bright light.
Night Portrait mode/Night mode will select a slower shutter speed to let in enough natural light to expose the low-light shot. You will most likely need a tripod for this mode. The built-in flash may fire to get a correct exposure of a subject that the camera assumes is in the foreground.