So, you've just purchased your new "SUPERCAMERA." At the start you will probably begin shooting in AUTO mode. Most photographers get their start in AUTO, but in order to master the craft, or at least expand your understanding of how to make the best use of available light, create dramatic scenes, isolate subjects, ... you will need to take advantage of the M-Manual, A-Aperture priority (Av for "Aperture value" in Canon), and S-Shutter priority (Tv "Time value" in Canon). Taking control of these shooting modes and understanding the creative possibilities available to you when employing them will define a turning point in your skill and ability on your way to becoming a proficient shooter. In AUTO the camera makes EVERY decision relating to exposure and in many cases, focus (That just seems crazy to me, but nonetheless, true). The firmware in your camera assumes you don't care about the highlights it clips off, or the shadows where you wanted to see details. In the following weeks, I'll provide mini lessons here to guide you toward an approach to confidently employ these shooting modes. We will explore the use of exposure compensation, twiddle with metering modes, and go deeper into other pieces of the photography puzzle that will help you see like a photographer and free your creative mind so you can execute your vision when a possibility presents itself before you. If I had thought to create an image of this Great Egret in AUTO to demonstrate how badly the camera would have "Missed" this shot, you would have seen a boring background with a stagnant pond, a public bathroom, and a washed out white blob in the shape of a not-so-great Egret. Using just a little bit of knowledge that is easy for me to explain here, I'll uncover my "trick" for making a shot like this. Stay tuned.