Practicing Manual Mode Technique

Set Up Your Camera: Switch your camera to Manual Mode (M on your camera dial). In this mode, you’ll have complete control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If you’re unsure how to access it, refer to your camera’s manual for guidance.

Select a Starting Point: Begin by choosing a mid-range aperture, such as f/8, a shutter speed of 1/125s, and an ISO of 400. These settings provide a balanced starting point for most lighting conditions. You’ll adjust these based on your scene, light, and subject.

Scout a Location with Varied Lighting: Choose a location where you can practice in different lighting conditions. This could be a park, a street, or a market with varying levels of light. Try to find spots with both shade and direct sunlight to help you practice adjusting your settings for each environment.

Adjust for Exposure: Once at your location, take a test shot. Look at the exposure – if the image is too bright, increase your shutter speed or decrease your ISO. If it’s too dark, open your aperture (lower f-stop) or increase your ISO. Keep experimenting until you achieve a balanced exposure.

Experiment with Depth of Field: Try adjusting your aperture to see how it impacts the depth of field. Start with a wide aperture (like f/2.8) to blur the background, then stop down to a narrower aperture (like f/16) to get more of the scene in focus. Pay attention to how changing the aperture also affects the exposure, requiring adjustments to shutter speed or ISO.

Capture Motion and Stillness: Use a faster shutter speed (1/500s or faster) to freeze motion, such as cars driving by or people walking. Then switch to a slower shutter speed (around 1/30s or slower) to introduce motion blur, like moving water or cyclists, and see how you need to balance your aperture and ISO in low-light conditions.

Focus on Dynamic Range: Practice shooting scenes with both bright and dark areas, such as a person standing in a sunlit area with shadows nearby. Adjust your settings to handle these challenging conditions, using the histogram on your camera to avoid underexposing or overexposing parts of your image.

Review and Adjust: After each shot, review your images on the LCD screen. Look at the overall exposure, depth of field, and how well you captured motion. If the shot is too bright or dark, adjust your settings accordingly. Continue practicing until you’re comfortable balancing all three key settings.

Reflect on Your Experience: After your session, take a moment to reflect on what you learned. Consider which settings worked best for different conditions and subjects, and think about how you can apply what you’ve learned in future photography sessions.