Auto ISO
Paul Malley • 4 April 2022
A very useful feature on most cameras nowadays is Auto-ISO. As competent Photographers, we have come to know the importance of ISO, alongside Shutter Speed and Aperture in the infamous 'Exposure Triangle', whereby a variance in one of the three interlinked functions, requires a change to another, in determining or maintaining what the camera sees as a correct exposure.
I like to use Aperture priority in my Wildlife work, to afford the correct depth of field for the subject. Often, in wildlife, (much as in sport and action work), the subject is fast moving (a diving bird, a running athlete etc). Not really much of a problem, as we could set a wide aperture and maintain a fast shutter speed by introducing a higher ISO; but why do that manually? What happens if the bird, runner, or subject enters changing light situations, as the sun appears or disappears?
For me, this is where Auto-ISO comes in. It is often located in the menu, or below the Native ISO reading on the camera. By simply selecting Auto-ISO, I can maintain a wide Aperture and a fast shutter speed and let the camera change the ISO as the situation demands. It has become a fundamental set-up in my workflow on site; I can even set a 'range' of the Auto-ISO, which the camera will maintain to ensure correct exposure, without making any change to Aperture or Shutter Speed (usually between 200-6400). Simply put, having confidence in the camera's metering ability, ISO handling capability and speed of operation, means I can concentrate on the action, instead of attempting to change values. It also gives consistency in a shutter speed, for action (or my elusive swooping birds).
As well as knowing when, to use Auto-ISO, like all things in photography, there is a compromise, hence there are times when NOT to use it. When working in a studio, or in a lighting-controlled environment, you have the time and ability to 'lock' the ISO and remove the need for any change. I do not use Auto-ISO in Manual mode, as I often apply + or - exposure compensation, and the Auto-ISO would trip in and attempt to correct or override my requirement. It is locked out by default in bracketing exposures, too, as it would operate to attempt to make each frame exposure correct.
It's fair to say that there are some wonderful technology features built into today's modern cameras. For me and my style of work, Auto-ISO is a step forward, but it should never lull anyone into having a firm grasp, understanding and knowledge of why and when to use it. At the end of the day, the Photographer 'sees' the image, the kit 'records' it.
I like to use Aperture priority in my Wildlife work, to afford the correct depth of field for the subject. Often, in wildlife, (much as in sport and action work), the subject is fast moving (a diving bird, a running athlete etc). Not really much of a problem, as we could set a wide aperture and maintain a fast shutter speed by introducing a higher ISO; but why do that manually? What happens if the bird, runner, or subject enters changing light situations, as the sun appears or disappears?
For me, this is where Auto-ISO comes in. It is often located in the menu, or below the Native ISO reading on the camera. By simply selecting Auto-ISO, I can maintain a wide Aperture and a fast shutter speed and let the camera change the ISO as the situation demands. It has become a fundamental set-up in my workflow on site; I can even set a 'range' of the Auto-ISO, which the camera will maintain to ensure correct exposure, without making any change to Aperture or Shutter Speed (usually between 200-6400). Simply put, having confidence in the camera's metering ability, ISO handling capability and speed of operation, means I can concentrate on the action, instead of attempting to change values. It also gives consistency in a shutter speed, for action (or my elusive swooping birds).
As well as knowing when, to use Auto-ISO, like all things in photography, there is a compromise, hence there are times when NOT to use it. When working in a studio, or in a lighting-controlled environment, you have the time and ability to 'lock' the ISO and remove the need for any change. I do not use Auto-ISO in Manual mode, as I often apply + or - exposure compensation, and the Auto-ISO would trip in and attempt to correct or override my requirement. It is locked out by default in bracketing exposures, too, as it would operate to attempt to make each frame exposure correct.
It's fair to say that there are some wonderful technology features built into today's modern cameras. For me and my style of work, Auto-ISO is a step forward, but it should never lull anyone into having a firm grasp, understanding and knowledge of why and when to use it. At the end of the day, the Photographer 'sees' the image, the kit 'records' it.
Merciless
Photo By: Paul Malley
Cadwell Wheelie
Photo By: Paul Malley
Louth Photographic Society
The Exhibition will be in place from 10th - 29th September 2026
I was scrolling through the archives yesterday, and found these "Still Life" images. Still Life is an interesting photographic genre that requires good lighting, and compositional skills, but the results can be amazing. Here are four images of the genre, "Breakfast" showing cereal falling into a bowl, "Four Candles" (no not the ones from the Two Ronnies sketch), the moody "Decaying Tulip", and the simple but effective monochrome "Opener". Perhaps these images might give you some inspiration.
I joined the NELPS outing at Chambers Farm Woods on Wednesday. The NELPS visit to Chamber Farm wood and butterfly garden was well attended, with several members from NELPS, Grimsby, Dunholme and Louth, kind thanks to all that came, although it was very hot the butterfly garden, being rather full and slightly unkept did not let us down with butterflies, two less common were seen, a Comma butterfly and a humming bird moth, with loads of very lively common blue butterflies. Most of the insects in the butterfly garden were highly active, and by the time an insect was spotted, it was off!! I managed to just about get an image of the Comma butterfly, and nobody stood a chance with the humming bird moth, it was too fast. The dragonfly was more accommodating remaining fairly still posing for us. The next NELPS outing will be to the Peoples Park in Grimsby on Wednesday 19th, I'm busy on that day, but I will be attending the meeting at the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum on Wednesday 26th. Many thanks to NELPS for organising these outings, it was a thoroughly pleasurable morning.
A visit to Whitby for a sunset picture didn't quite go to plan. Unknown to me today is the last day of the Whitby Regatta. Whitby in the summer is usually busy, but today it rivaled Time Square in New York. My planned shoot of the East Pier was a non-starter because for tonight only there's a fun fair along West Pier where I planned to shoot from. I had to re-think and resort to plan b, which was also a non-starter because the East Pier was closed as it was packed with fireworks. Plan c was OK though and I got an image I'm pleased with.
I've been up to RSPB Bempton Cliffs this week, and have taken some excellent photographs, the weather was fine, and the lighting was less harsh than usual. This pair were on the cliff top, obviously well established, and saw off this interloper trying to muscle in on their space, those beaks look very vicious. I hope that everyone else is having a productive summer break.
For club interaction, we are invited to these NELPS photo shoots. So lets start this club interaction, NELPS are now on there summer break, but it does not stop there. The NELPS club president has put together some outdoor photo shoots:- Lincoln 5th Aug meet at the Cathedral 11am Not forgetting the photo exhibition by Lincoln Camera Club in the Usher Gallery! Chambers Farm Wood & Butterfly Farm 12th Aug meet at 10am. Peoples Park Grimsby 19th Aug meet at 10am. Trolley Bus Museum Sandtoft 26th Aug meet at 10am Cadwell Park 10th Aug motorbikes, 24th Aug cars and both are track days so free to get in.
Sutton & Trusthorpe Camera Club have their annual Exhibition at the Meridale Hall, Sutton on Sea, on 29th / 30th August. Drink and a Home-made cake only £3!
I’ve lost my photographic “mojo”, that desire to go out and take impactful photographs. That creative spark has gone, vanished, will it ever return? Writers talk of a “writers block”, when they just sit in front of a blank page, and can’t think of anything else to write, I’m the same, still out with my camera, but just not creating anything meaningful. Some of this I suppose is due to the fact that I’ve almost stopped my genre of model photography, we had the Studio evening, and other than that I’ve only had 2 model shoots this year. So what is my photography genre now? I know that I’m not a bird photographer, I haven’t got the patience to sit in a bird hide for hours with a long lens, waiting for the right bird shot to appear. Landscape, possibly, but I look at the work of some of our members, and YouTube videos, and don’t know whether I can achieve as good a standard in my work? I do enjoy macro photography, but again do my photos reach a good standard? One way forward is to look at our Societies annual project, this year it’s “water” one photo a month depicting water. Then of course there are the planned photo competitions for the rest of the year, those subjects could inspire me to go out and take some images. Anyway, that’s me, enjoy the rest of the summer, and if any of our members could share a photo, with a line or two of text I will be very happy to post on this blog.
Good Morning All Last week we had a very good evening at Kirkby Gravel Pits, it was a warm sunny evening and there was wildlife about to photograph. There were Dragonflies about, but all flying, but we did manage to photograph some Damselflies and grasshoppers etc. We then called at the local pub in Kirkby on Bain for refreshments. There were only 7 of us, if you have other ideas for outings please let me know and I will look into them for next year. Derek has also done a blog on the evening. Louth did make it through to the LPA Battle finals coming fifth overall, the final is on the 18 th October at Nettleham village hall. That was the last event before the summer break, so we now have a break before returning in September. I won't be doing any newsletters unless there is something to report. If you do anything interesting over the break you can always send Derek a blog for our website. There are things you can do over the break, the monthly project of water, preparing for the PDI competition in September, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". In September our first meeting back will have members speaking on the topic "15 minutes on what you have done over the summer", you may want to prepare something for this. Have a good summer, Graham
Lincoln Camera Club are holding an exhibition at the Usher Gallery, Lincoln. Commencing July 30th to November 1st.
