Photography for Beginners Part 6: Manual Mode

Each post in this series builds on information discussed in previous posts. See the Photography for Beginners page on the menu for links to all the posts.

Part 5: Depth of Field

 

In this post I am going to discuss using Manual Mode. Manual Mode is usually designated by an M on your camera mode dial, if it has one.

For most beginners Manual Mode sounds intimidating. But modern digital cameras have your back. As long as you pay attention to what your camera is telling you, there’s no reason to treat Manual Mode as something scary that only experts know how to use.

Anyone who understands the exposure info displayed on the camera screen or viewfinder can successfully use Manual Mode.

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Photography for Beginners Part 3: Shutter Priority Mode

Each post in this series builds on information discussed in previous posts. See the Photography for Beginners page on the menu for links to all the posts.

Part 2:  Auto Mode & Program Mode

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In this post I’m going to discuss Shutter Priority Mode, usually designated by an S on your camera mode dial if it has one. (Tv, or time value, on Canon cameras.)

What is Shutter Priority Mode?

It’s called Shutter Priority Mode because you are making the shutter speed your priority in how you expose the image. In Shutter Priority Mode you control the shutter speed and allow the camera to automatically choose the correct aperture to go with it.

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Photography for Beginners Part 2: Auto Mode & Program Mode

Each post in this series builds on information discussed in previous posts. See the Photography for Beginners page on the menu for links to all the posts.

Part 1:  It’s All About Light – The Exposure Triangle

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In the previous post in this series I explained the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) and how the three work together. In this post I will discuss two camera modes and how you can put ISO to work for you as a beginning photographer

The details of modes and settings depend on your specific camera. If you only have a phone camera you can’t adjust much of anything, which is the primary reason phone users who get into photography purchase a real camera.

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