Art Modes & Fancy Functions

Before I start getting deep into the world of ISOs and apertures (seriously, both those things currently baffle me), I thought I’d see what fun things my camera can do without getting too technical.

Most digital cameras, even the most basic point-and-shoots, come with at least a couple of built-in functions for creating different visual effects at the click of a button. On my Olympus, these functions are called ‘art modes’ and can be accessed by a dial on top of the camera.

Art modes provide a range of creative options that you can apply without any post-production editing. Perfect if you’re pressed for time, in-experienced, or just feeling a little lazy.

Valentines day may have been a few weeks ago now but, as my roses are still going strong, I thought they would make an attractive subject for my art mode experiments. The above photos were taken on Auto mode so you can see what my lovely roses look like without any arty additions. Keep scrolling down to see how they look after receiving the art mode treatment. (FYI none of these photos have had any additional editing).

PIN HOLE – This mode mimics the style of a pin-hole camera. I love the retro look and the emphasis it gives to the centre of the photographs:

 

POP ART – In my opinion, pop art creates over-saturated colours and loses some of the details. It may have its uses but I’m not really a fan:

 

PALE & LIGHT – The muted colours and increased lighting create a more delicate look with a slightly vintage feel:

 

WATERCOLOUR – An interesting effect for sure but they definitely don’t look like any watercolour paintings I’ve ever seen:

 

DRAMATIC TONE – Shadows are enhanced and highlights are dimmed creating dramatic, if somewhat creepy, results:

 

KEY LINE – A fun effect that turns photos into graphic art:

 

CROSS PROCESS – One of my favourites, this mode creates lovely sharp colours and contrasts:

 

So there you have it, a quick tour through the wonders of art modes. They might not all be to your liking but they’re definitely fun to play around with. So if you’re looking for something different without faffing around with fancy editing software, why not see what functions your camera has to offer…

CNL

Katie x