Introduction to Camera Modes: Manual Mode

When you choose manual mode on your camera, you can control everything independently. You can set any possible shutter speed you want and the camera won’t do any adjustments to the aperture. Likewise you can set any possible aperture f number and the camera won’t make any adjustments to the shutter speed. You control everything such as the ISO, flash, white balance and other things that we will talk about later in this course.
Exercise: Take your camera and 1) set your camera to Manual mode. 2) Go outdoors during the day and choose one subject to take a picture of. It can be a tree, a car, a house, whatever you want. 3) Take four pictures of the subject, but each picture with different settings, which are listed below. If you camera doesn’t have any of these apertures and/or shutter speed options below use the closest number you have. Notice that the last picture is with flash on.

Picture one:
Aperture f-5.6, Shutter speed 1/125 sec. Flash off.

Picture two:
Aperture f-8, Shutter speed 1/60 sec. Flash off

Picture three:
Aperture f-16, shutter speed 1/15 sec. Flash off.

Picture four:
Aperture f-22, shutter speed 1/250 sec. Flash on.

Note: Don’t worry how pictures turn out. This exercise is for you to see if you learned how to change your aperture and shutter speed together while using your camera in manual mode. If you cannot take pictures with these settings, please review the aperture mode, shutter speed mode, and manual mode along with your camera manual so you know where in your camera can make these adjustments. Being able to change and control these settings are essential for any serious photographer. Make sure you learn them to the point you can do it by memory without any help. The rest of this book will be making many references to certain techniques and tips that will require you adjusting these settings.

◄ PREVIOUS | HOME | NEXT ►