One of the rarely spoken about settings on your camera is the ‘P’ mode. A lot of photographers jokingly refer to it as ‘P’ for ‘Professional’ which, to be honest, is not even funny. In fact, I think it’s a bit of a deliberate insult that’s designed to put down anyone who uses it. And in my view anyone who says such a thing is downright rude and clearly has a problem with social interactions. Best ignore folk like that I think….
So lets get down to the nitty-gritty and look closer at ‘P’ mode. And I have to admit that it’s something I rarely talk about, but…if you’re new to digital photography then I think it’s appropriate to include ‘P’ mode in your photographic armoury. After all, the camera manufacturers have included it as one of the functions of most cameras so it seems to me that it’s worth a closer look:
P mode, or Program mode, is a camera setting that allows you to have some control over the exposure settings while letting the camera do most of the work. It can be useful if you want to learn more about manual settings, or for situations where you need to adjust quickly to changing light conditions.
In P mode, you can set the ISO, which affects the sensitivity of the sensor to light and the image quality. You can also use exposure compensation to fine-tune the exposure by adding or subtracting stops of light to make the image brighter or darker. You can also adjust the white balance, which affects the colour temperature and the accuracy of colours in the image.
However, in P mode, the camera chooses the aperture and shutter speed combinations that it thinks are appropriate for the scene. The aperture controls how much light enters the lens and affects the depth of field, or how much of the scene is in focus. The shutter speed controls how long the sensor is exposed to light and affects the motion blur, or how sharp or blurry the moving subjects are.
If you want to have more control over these settings, you can use program shift, which lets you change the aperture and shutter speed combinations that the camera selects for you. For example, if you want a blurred background and some bokeh, you can use a wider aperture (smaller f-number) and let the camera choose a faster shutter speed. Or if you want to freeze motion, you can use a faster shutter speed and let the camera choose a smaller aperture (larger f-number).
P mode is a good option for learning how to use the camera and getting familiar with different settings. However, please don’t see it as a substitute for manual mode, which gives you full control and flexibility over their image.
So why is P mode rarely mentioned in learning how to take photos? There are several reasons:
- P mode is often seen as a “lazy” or “amateur” mode that does not require much skill or creativity from the user. Some photographers may think that using P mode means giving up control and letting the camera make all the decisions for them. They may also think that P mode does not allow them to express their artistic vision or style.
- P mode is often overshadowed by other modes that are more popular or widely used. For example, A mode (Aperture priority) and S mode (Shutter priority) are often recommended for beginners who want to learn how to control depth of field or motion blur. M mode (Manual) is often seen as the ultimate goal for advanced photographers who want to master their craft. These modes may seem more appealing or challenging than P mode, which may seem too simple or boring.
- P mode is often misunderstood or misused by some users who do not know how to take advantage of its features. Some users may not know how to adjust their ISO, exposure compensation, white balance, or program shift in P mode. They may also not know how to read their histogram or use their exposure meter to check their exposure. They may end up with poorly exposed or composed images that do not reflect their intentions or expectations.
These reasons may explain why P mode is rarely mentioned in learning how to take photos. However, this does not mean that P mode is useless or inferior. On the contrary, P mode can be a very useful and versatile tool for many situations and purposes and there are some benefits of using P mode:
- P mode can save time and hassle when shooting in changing or unpredictable light conditions. For example, when shooting outdoors in cloudy weather, sunny weather, or during sunrise or sunset, the light can change quickly and dramatically. Using P mode can help you adapt to these changes without having to constantly adjust their settings manually.
- P mode can allow you to focus more on composition and creativity than on technical details. For example, when shooting portraits, landscapes, street scenes, or events, you may want to capture the mood, emotion, story, or action of their subjects rather than worry about their aperture or shutter speed. Using P mode can help you concentrate on framing, timing, perspective, and expression rather than on numbers and dials.
- P mode can offer some flexibility and control over exposure settings without being too complicated or overwhelming. For example, when shooting in low-light situations, such as indoors or at night, you may want to avoid using flash or tripod and still get sharp and clear images. Using P mode can help you adjust ISO and exposure compensation to get enough light without introducing too much noise or blur. You can also use program shift to choose between different aperture and shutter speed combinations that suit their needs.
To sum thing up: P mode is a setting that allows you to have some control over the exposure settings while letting the camera do most of the work. It can be useful if you want to learn more about manual settings, or for situations where the you need to adjust settings quickly to changing light conditions. However, P mode is rarely mentioned in learning how to take photos because it is often seen as a “lazy” or “amateur” mode that doesn’t require much skill, and although It’s also often overshadowed by other modes that are more popular or widely used I do think that it has a place in our photographic armoury. It’s also often misunderstood or misused by those who don’t know how to take advantage of its features. P mode can be a very useful and versatile tool for many situations and purposes. It can save time and hassle, allow you to focus more on composition and creativity, and offer some flexibility and control over exposure settings without being too complicated or overwhelming. Therefore, P mode should not be ignored or dismissed, but rather explored and experimented with by anyone who wants to improve their photography skills and enjoy their photography experience.
Happy snappin’ folks
Meter The Light 