Photography Pocket Guide: Camera Settings for Specific Situations

Book Synopsis: This very short book might be one of the best investments you have ever made. It has the potential to save you many hours of frustration and may facilitate photos you never thought you could take. The guidelines and settings in this book are not the only possibility but I have found them to be extremely helpful. They simplify the process of taking exceptional photos and will save you an enormous amount of time and effort.

One night I was at one of my favorite spots waiting for the full moon to peak over the horizon. While I was waiting, two other photographers came and joined me on the hill. They were both clearly experienced photographers with top-of-the-line gear. As we talked, they both told me they had no idea how to set their cameras so they would be ready when the moon appeared. This is not so surprising. It just meant they had never done a moon shot before. When I first tried it took me several attempts before I got a keeper. Since these were experienced photographers, communication was easy, and I brought them up to speed in less than a minute.

That night, after the shoot, I started thinking about some of the more difficult lessons I had learned. My biggest challenge had been the night sky and specifically the Milky Way. Even if you live in a dark skies city like I do and know where and when the milky way will be visible, it is still barely visible to the naked eye. For years, I tried unsuccessfully to get a decent shot. Finally, out of frustration I did what men are so reluctant to do. I asked a woman friend how she got her great Milky Way images. In a matter of 30 seconds, she told me what I had been missing in my attempts. This was a transformative moment for me, and I was out night after night photographing in the dark.

I didn’t just shoot the milky way and the night sky, I shot rock formations under the full moon. I then realized a simple cheat sheet for these special shots would be of value to others. This very short book is the result. Just enough to remind you how to capture images you don’t see every day.

I have always been adamant about using a sturdy tripod for landscape photography. I have recently learned how to shoot landscapes without a tripod. This is also a game changer. Other quick lessons include hand-held HDR images, real estate images, and wildlife.

This book is purposely short because it is intended to be carried in a camera bag and used for quick reference.