We get emails and questions at least a couple of times a year about camera settings. There is no easy answer! As the more you know about shooting in manual, the more choices you have to really create exactly the scene you want. BUT we want to post for the RECORD a quick guide to shooting in Manual. Now, after you read this? If you really want to learn? Email us. Let’s do a one on one class together!!! Join our mailing list! We will be doing shoot alongs and offering various ways to learn and grow!

DSLR cameras offer photographers the ability to shoot in manual mode, giving them complete control over the exposure settings of their photographs. This control can be overwhelming for beginners, especially when it comes to understanding the three main exposure settings: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. In this blog post, we'll explain these settings and offer tips for shooting in manual mode.

ISO

ISO is the sensitivity of your camera's sensor to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the camera is to light, which means you can shoot in low light conditions without using a flash. However, a higher ISO also increases the amount of digital noise in your images, which can make them look grainy and less sharp.

For outdoor photography in daylight, you can usually use an ISO of 100-400. For indoor photography or low light conditions, you may need to increase your ISO to 800 or higher. When shooting in manual mode, it's important to keep an eye on your ISO to ensure that your images are not overexposed or underexposed.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to the length of time that the camera's shutter is open. A faster shutter speed allows less light to enter the camera, while a slower shutter speed allows more light to enter. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second, such as 1/100 or 1/2000.

A faster shutter speed is ideal for freezing motion, such as in sports photography, while a slower shutter speed is ideal for creating motion blur, such as in long exposure photography. When shooting in manual mode, it's important to adjust your shutter speed according to the scene you're shooting to ensure that you're capturing the desired effect.

Aperture

Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light enters the camera. Aperture is measured in f-stops, such as f/2.8 or f/16. A smaller f-stop number (such as f/2.8) means a larger aperture, allowing more light to enter the camera. A larger f-stop number (such as f/16) means a smaller aperture, allowing less light to enter the camera.

Aperture also affects the depth of field in your images. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop number) creates a shallow depth of field, with a blurred background and a sharp subject. A smaller aperture (larger f-stop number) creates a greater depth of field, with more of the image in focus.

When shooting in manual mode, it's important to adjust your aperture according to the desired depth of field for your image. For portrait photography, you may want to use a larger aperture to create a shallow depth of field, while for landscape photography, you may want to use a smaller aperture to create a greater depth of field.

Conclusion

Shooting in manual mode with a DSLR camera can be challenging, but it also offers complete control over the exposure settings of your photographs. Understanding ISO, shutter speed, and aperture is essential for capturing the images you want. Remember to keep an eye on your settings and adjust them according to the scene you're shooting. With practice, shooting in manual mode will become second nature, and you'll be able to create stunning images that truly capture the moment.