Nikon D5200 Digital Field Guide

Chapter 8: Real-world Applications

The key to capturing great images is to know which settings to use to achieve the desired results, although having a good eye doesn’t hurt, either. The D5200 has scene modes to capture most subjects you will likely encounter. However, this chapter is intended to guide you away from relying too much on the camera.

In this chapter, I cover how you can make decisions based on the how and why of the settings, as well as some new techniques that allow you to take the photograph — not the camera. Yes, there are times when it may be convenient to let the camera take over one, or even all of the settings. However, understanding what the camera is doing, even though you are setting it to Automatic, is the key to becoming a photographer rather than a picture-taker.

Exposure, composition, camera setting, and equipment choice are all factors in creating an image. The key is to know how to put it all together and make it work in any situation.

Abstract Photography

Many people, especially nonphotographers, assume that digital photography is an art form that presents subjects as they are because the camera can capture a perfect likeness of just about anything. While this can be true, photography is also one of the most abstract forms of art. Photography is about taking a three-dimensional object and portraying it effectively using only two dimensions.