Day 11 - Manual Mode1) WHY MANUAL MODE?
2) USING MANUAL MODE ON THE NIKON D3300/D5000
3) CAMERA SIMULATOR - MAKING THE NUMBERS WORK
4) PRACTICE SHOTS!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) WHY MANUAL MODE?
Programmed Auto mode (P) is an Automatic mode.
Shutter Priority (S) and Aperture Priority (A) are Semi-Automatic modes.
Manual (M) is just that...a fully manual mode.
YOU now control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
While more difficult to use, Manual mode lets you assert control of the camera. Depending on the purpose of your photograph, you can decide what variable gets set first and which is the most crucial to realizing your vision.
Manual mode also lets you force the camera into exposure levels it otherwise wouldn't choose (i.e. deliberately darkened or brightened images). A prime example of this is the silhouette shot, which we'll look at in a few weeks.
2) USING MANUAL MODE ON THE NIKON D3300/D5000
2) USING MANUAL MODE ON THE NIKON D3300/D5000
3) CAMERA SIMULATOR - MAKING THE NUMBERS WORK
4) PRACTICE SHOTS!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) WHY MANUAL MODE?
Programmed Auto mode (P) is an Automatic mode.
Shutter Priority (S) and Aperture Priority (A) are Semi-Automatic modes.
Manual (M) is just that...a fully manual mode.
YOU now control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
While more difficult to use, Manual mode lets you assert control of the camera. Depending on the purpose of your photograph, you can decide what variable gets set first and which is the most crucial to realizing your vision.
Manual mode also lets you force the camera into exposure levels it otherwise wouldn't choose (i.e. deliberately darkened or brightened images). A prime example of this is the silhouette shot, which we'll look at in a few weeks.
2) USING MANUAL MODE ON THE NIKON D3300/D5000
To recap, in Manual mode:
- ISO is set the same as the other modes
- The thumb wheel controls the shutter speed
- In order to change aperture, you must press down the Exposure Compensation (+/-) button while using the thumb wheel.
What should I set first?
Depends on the type of shot.
For images that depend on the shutter (long exposures, action shots), try
1) ISO
2) Shutter Speed
3) Aperture
4) revisit ISO if necessary
For images that rely on shallow or extended depth of field (portraits, images of still subjects), try
1) ISO
2) Aperture
3) Shutter Speed
4) Revisit ISO if necessary
3) CAMERA SIMULATOR - MAKING THE NUMBERS WORK
Click HERE for a link to the interactive camera simulator we used earlier. Set it to Manual, randomize all the settings, and then try to make them work. Try some different "looks:" close-up portrait vs. full-focus landscape shot.
4) PRACTICE SHOTS!
With your camera partner, go out and experiment in a variety of light environments (i.e. try all of these in bright, medium and low light). Use a tripod for slow exposures if needed!
- Action shots
- Still portraits
- Deliberately overexposed
- Deliberately underexposed
- ISO is set the same as the other modes
- The thumb wheel controls the shutter speed
- In order to change aperture, you must press down the Exposure Compensation (+/-) button while using the thumb wheel.
What should I set first?
Depends on the type of shot.
For images that depend on the shutter (long exposures, action shots), try
1) ISO
2) Shutter Speed
3) Aperture
4) revisit ISO if necessary
For images that rely on shallow or extended depth of field (portraits, images of still subjects), try
1) ISO
2) Aperture
3) Shutter Speed
4) Revisit ISO if necessary
3) CAMERA SIMULATOR - MAKING THE NUMBERS WORK
Click HERE for a link to the interactive camera simulator we used earlier. Set it to Manual, randomize all the settings, and then try to make them work. Try some different "looks:" close-up portrait vs. full-focus landscape shot.
4) PRACTICE SHOTS!
With your camera partner, go out and experiment in a variety of light environments (i.e. try all of these in bright, medium and low light). Use a tripod for slow exposures if needed!
- Action shots
- Still portraits
- Deliberately overexposed
- Deliberately underexposed