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Microsoft Picture It! Companion Guide
27
Chapter 2: Making the Most of Your Camera
When using macro mode, make sure to turn off the flash, since the flash does
not provide proper illumination at such close range. Tripods are a good way to
keep the camera steady for a close-up shot. If you don’t have a tripod, set the
camera on a firm surface, focus the photo, and then activate the shutter with the
self-timer. This way, your hand does not have to touch the camera and acciden-
tally introduce any movement to the shot.
Action Mode
If you’re photographing subjects such as athletes, moving cars, or even fast-
moving children, a camera’s action mode helps keep your subject in focus. The
most significant characteristic of action mode is the faster shutter speed of at
least 1/500
th
of a second, which helps to freeze the action of your moving
subject. The action mode in most cameras also uses a wider aperture setting (to
offset the fast shutter speed), and multipattern light metering, which compen-
sates for overly bright and overly dark areas.
Action mode uses a fast shutter speed to freeze the action of a fast-moving subject.
Digital cameras create a unique challenge for shooting action photography: the
time lag between pressing the shutter button and the actual exposure. With film
cameras, pressing the shutter button causes the shutter to open virtually
simultaneously. But with digital cameras, you might have to wait as long as
four seconds before the photo is taken. When shooting moving objects, four
seconds can seem like an eternity.
When the lag is a
drag
Some digital cameras
have a much shorter
shutter lag than
others. Consider this
factor when buying
your next camera.