Nikon D3100: Portrait Scene Modes
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If you’re currently shooting portraits in Auto mode, you may find the final result to be a bit disheartening. You don’t have to fully understand aperture values and shutter speed to capture a nice portrait. In the beginning, you can use the dedicated portrait modes on the D3100 to turn your ordinary portraits into eye-popping portraits.
Credit: Alex Leung - Photo Gallery
With a simple twist of the mode dial, you can quickly setup your D3100 to take portraits…
Portrait Mode
In portrait mode, the D3100 adjusts the aperture so that the depth of field is reduced. A shallow depth of field helps isolate your subject against a smooth background. In addition to this, the D3100 adjust the color hue to reflect natural looking skin tones. You can adjust the ISO manually or set it to auto. You can also set the flash to auto, auto+red-eye or off. I recommend using portrait mode outdoors during daylight hours. In bright situations, enable an ISO of 100 and set the flash to auto.
Night Portrait Mode
In night portrait mode, the D3100 adjusts the aperture and lowers the shutter speed so that the subject and background are well lit. The slower shutter speed allows more light to hit the image sensor which effectively brightens the background, getting rid of the “black background” effect when using flash in low light. You can adjust the ISO manually or set it to auto. You can also set the flash to auto + slow sync + red-eye reduction, auto + slow sync or off. I recommend using night portrait mode indoors and outdoors during nighttime hours. In dark situations, enable auto ISO and set the flash to auto + slow sync. This will allow you to get more natural looking exposures in low light situations. If you have access to a tripod it will greatly reduce the likelihood of camera shake, resulting in sharper photos.
Child Mode
Child mode isn’t really meant for portraits, rather it’s meant for capturing kids running around the house. It raises the aperture value which increases the depth of field, putting the subject and background into focus. You’re better off using one of the above mentioned portrait modes for close-up shots of your kids.
Guide Mode
In addition to the portrait scene modes, The D3100 also comes equipped with a GUIDE mode that gives you quick access and information to a variety of portrait settings.
After rotating the mode dial to Guide mode, select the ‘Shoot’ option. You’ll be presented with two selections; easy and advanced. In each of these modes you’ll be presented with a guided on screen display to walk you through the entire setup and shooting process.
Easy operation
Under the easy operation selection, you’ll have access to portrait, night portrait and sleeping faces modes.
Advanced operation
Under the advanced operation selection, you’ll be able to control depth of field and shutter speed. For portraits, use the soften backgrounds feature to create a blurred background effect.
Check out the Nikon D3100 homepage for more tips, advice and recommendations. Happy shooting!
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i Have nikon d3100 can u pls tell me how to change the shutter speed as i want to focus on one object and soften background pls tell me the ideal settings.
thanks
Thanks for the instructions on shooting in black and white. Pefect instructions, walked me right through it and back.
I have a D 3100 with a 18-55 AF-VR lens and I bought a 55-200 AF VR for sports shots – mainly my sons Ice Hockey. What I am having trouble with is outdoor shots with my 55-200 but they are all washed out. I tried different settings – but to no avail, anyone have any ideas? I’m also considering a 18-200 AF VR lense to have a all around lens and sell my other two, any coments would be appreciated… I’m a beginner at this but I want to get it down – the posibilities are awesome!
Thanks
Hi Rick.
55-200 not fast enough for sport. Nikkor 70-300 should do the job. If U had tight budget, do not afraid with Tamron 70-300 with VC. To prevent your image washed out, better go for Shutter Priority. Your aperture setting will be taken care by your D3100, corresponding with ambient light. Increase ISO if your image look dark. Off the VR, because you are using 55-200, to make less hunting focus.
Any help on how renumber new saved images? My nikon 3100 saves to new folder each transfer, and restarts numbering images. I would like to have images sequentially numbered regardless of folder . Thanks jyri
Heay Moose, grt work..I am a newbie n learning a lot. like others will refer ur site everyday n try out diff selections…Try posting videos on how to atke photos in different conditions..looking forward to it..
CHEERS…
Just found out about your website. Very helpful for beginner like me. I wish there is a section for a step by step tutorial for taking good picture with D3100.
Just found your site. So far I like what I have read. Thanks for trying to help us out here. I have read the owners manual and still not sure what I am doing. Shopping for a bigger lens also.
Thanks for the tips! I’ll try these out right now.
Hi Moose,
I am strugeling to take pictures of white flowers and overall my photos turn out white. i have set my WB to auto and it still do the same thing. We are going away the weekend and would like to get it right before we go on holiday. Help Please.
Hi, Moose. Just wanting to let you know I find your site very helpful and easy to understand, even for a total newbie like me- I am just starting to be interested in photography and have bought a Nikon D3100 as my first camera. I think I’ll be turning a lot to your site for help and tips. Keep up the great work:-)
Amanda
I know I don’t have the right camera, I know this now after buying the Canon Elph 100 – I must have read something wrong somewhere because I thought it had Av and Tv mode but it does not…
Do you know how I can create different depths of field with this? I know I can use the portrait shot but it’s not quite like I was hoping for?
Looking to take the senior h.s. portrait of my daughter. I want to light up her face…but have a soft look….and have the background fuzz up a bit. Will shoot outdoors. Direct sun? Indirect sun? Any suggestions?
can you please tell me how to make my appature work because when i take a picture, the pictures black? my shutter speed is on 1/4000 so its real fast but like i said ins going black when i take a photo… please help!
if your shutter speed is 1/4000 you are basically not letting enough light in to expose the image. This type of setting is for a bright area and it basically moves so fast as to freeze time, every detail. Good for birds, water, other super quick moving items in bright areas.
Hope that helps.
I would be very grateful if you could tell me how to access the white balance. It keeps telling me that isn’t available under current settings???
Thank you!
love your site but would love to be able to sign up for emails when you have a new post! may be something you would like to add……
thanx for all the great information!!
Just purchased a Nikon D3100 camera and was thinking of doing a photography course just to learn how to use the camera etc because the manual might be in English but still another language to me!!!! Thanks for having such a great website helping us who want to learn how to get the best pictures from our wonderful new tech cameras. Any extra tips will always be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Moose…This site was really helpful for me since am being a beginner, its easy to know these tips quickly by reading instead of going through the entire manual.
I am still learning to take pictures with a bright background, if you have any tips I would be grateful.
Hey Moose,
I am going to take some pics of a ball team at night under the lights. Can you give me some sound instruction on settings. I need these to be good quality for the parents. I am using a Fuji HS10.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
thanks for the great tips. they have helped my so much. We are working on portrait mode and using Aperature. I think I have some fairly nice photos to show her. I posted one of my dog Flash on your facebook page. Thanks for taking the time to help all of us. It is appreciated from my end that is for sure.
Hi, I just bought a T1i, but somehow the LCD is no longer showing the images from the viewfinder, don’t remember what setting I have changed or any button, do you have any clue?
I am new to DSLR photography and computers (I am 65 years old)
Is there a cost to subcribe to your site?
Moose, do you have any experinece with the GP-1 GPS system? i understand how it works but i undrstand there is other plotting software it will interface with.
Thnaks
Ted
Howdy Ted,
To be honest I haven’t used one personally, but I do have a few photo buddies who haven’t exactly been enamored with it. Their biggest complaints were related to poor reception and battery loss. As for plotting software, I believe you have to use Nikon’s ViewNX software and my Picturetown in order to view your geotagged photos.
- Moose