Understanding Manual Mode in Photography

If you're aiming to shoot in Manual Mode, it's important to know that this is the only mode where you have full control over the "exposure triangle"—Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. While the concept of a triangle might seem confusing, mastering these three settings will allow you to take well-exposed photos in any situation. Don't worry if the theory feels a bit overwhelming; with practice, you'll be able to shoot in Manual Mode with ease. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Switch to Manual Mode: First, set your camera’s mode dial to "M" for Manual.

2. Learn Your Camera's Controls: Refer to your camera’s manual to find out which dials control Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO in Manual Mode.

3. Start with Aperture (Av):

   • Aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera. Indoors, use the lowest aperture number (widest opening) to let in more light.
   • Outdoors, you can experiment with different aperture settings, but for now, start with the lowest number available.

4. Set Your Shutter Speed (Tv):

   • Shutter Speed determines how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light, affecting motion blur. For static subjects, a lower shutter speed is fine.
   • For moving subjects, increase the shutter speed to a range of 1/250 or higher to freeze the action.
   • A good starting point is to match your shutter speed to the focal length of your lens (e.g., 100mm lens, use 1/100th of a second).

5. Adjust the ISO:

   • ISO controls the camera’s sensitivity to light. A lower ISO (e.g., 100) produces a cleaner image with less noise but requires more light.
   • For outdoor shooting in bright conditions, ISO 100 is usually sufficient. Indoors, you’ll need to increase ISO to somewhere between 800 and 6400, depending on the lighting.
   • Since DSLRs don’t always show the exact exposure in the viewfinder, take a test shot and adjust your ISO accordingly if the image is too dark. Increase the ISO incrementally  until you achieve a well-exposed photo. 
   • If you are using a mirrorless camera you will be able to see how changing the ISO will impact your photo.
     

This approach is a simple way to begin shooting in Manual Mode. With practice, you’ll become faster and more intuitive in adjusting these settings, and you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO interact to create a perfectly exposed image.