How I Learned to Shoot in Manual Mode

How I Learned to Shoot in Manual Mode:

Starting out in the photography world, manual mode photography seemed so daunting and overwhelming that If I could avoid it, I was going to try. Then I came to the realization that my photography would never become great until I learned this mode of shooting. The three basics of Manual photography is: Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Learning these aspects of your photography allows you to become in complete control of the image you want to capture. 

Aperture: 

The Aperture is the hole in the lens of the camera that constricts or opens. The aperture of your image deals with the depth of field. Depth of field deals with how much of your image is in focus. When capturing portraits for example, using depth of field is valuable because you can get your subject in sharp focus, but blur the background by creating a larger aperture.  Similarly you can blur your subject but keep your background in focus by creating a smaller aperture. 

Shutter Speed: 

The shutter of your camera is what determines how much light reaches your camera sensor and for how long. This is an important part of Manual mode because you are able to creatively capture motion and low light images. A slower shutter speed will bring a more blurred aspect to images of motion or low light. A faster shutter speed will do basically the opposite, freezing time in a sharp image. 

ISO: 

The ISO of your image determines how bright or dark your images become. This is extremely helpful because you can put your own swing on how bright or dark you usually capture images. I have found that the ISO does not change often between each image you take unless you change locations. Checking your ISO often is a good method because you want to make sure you are not getting too dark as the sun gets lower in the sky. Creating silhouette or backlit subjects are popular images and also need a skillful understand of ISO use.

Confused yet? There is a ton of information on the main three aspects of manual photography, and getting them confused off the bat was one of my biggest problems. Looking up a cheat sheet of these three aspects really helped to have on hand. I also moved up gradually to manual mode instead of jumping in head first. 

Program Mode: or "P" on the camera, is one of the easier modes to start with and still have a bit of creative control. Program mode is like the AUTO mode but gives you access to the ISO (exposure). As you change the ISO, everything else stays on auto. 

The last bit of advice I can give is this: JUST DO IT!

Experimentation is key to all photography. Finding out what works and what doesn't is how I learned the most about Manual mode. Once the three aspects of Manual mode come easier to you, you can go wild! Create the images you always wanted to take! Be the photographer you always knew you were! 

~Amanda

Thanks to bethadilly for the inspiration, here is a link to her blog: http://bethadilly.com/100-photography-blog-post-ideas/