Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers.

Rare times I use Aperture Priority.

Q: YOU’VE SAID IN A TRAINING VIDEO THAT YOU RARELY USE APERTURE PRIORITY MODE. WHAT ARE THOSE RARE TIMES WHEN YOU ACTUALLY USE APERTURE OR SHUTTER PRIORITY?

A: I use Aperture Priority (Av on Canon cameras) when I’m running and gunning on a job or just casually walking the streets and shooting in conditions that change from sun, to open shade, to sun, to deep shade, to sun, to cloudy, etc.

In run-and-gun situations, like chasing a subject moving through different lighting conditions, Av or Tv (Shutter Priority) are helpful because the light is constantly changing and you may not have the time to stop and constantly dial in new settings. Photo ninja photographers can do it. You had to in the days of all-manual ...