Photography Explained Podcast

What Is Manual Mode? Do I Really Have To Learn How To Use It?

September 28, 2021 Rick McEvoy Episode 88
Photography Explained Podcast
What Is Manual Mode? Do I Really Have To Learn How To Use It?
Show Notes Transcript

What Is Manual Mode? Do I Really Have To Learn How To Use It? Hi and welcome to Episode 88 of the Photography Explained podcast.

I’m your host Rick, and in each episode I will explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details. What I tell you is based on my lifetime of photographic experience. And not Google.

Here is the answery bit.

In manual mode in photography you set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually. In manual mode when you take a photo the exposure is determined by what you tell the camera to do – the camera has no influence over the exposure achieved. Manual mode is used by photographers who want complete and creative control of the exposure of an image.

Listen for more, or check out the transcript and even the blog post - so many ways to find out more!

What’s next?
Episode 89 - Camera Shake - What Is It And How Do I Stop It Happening?

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Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

 Photography Explained Podcast Episode 88 - What Is Manual Mode? Do I Really Have To Learn How To Use it? 

What Is Manual Mode? Do I Really Have To Learn How To Use it? Hi and welcome to Episode 88 of the Photography Explained podcast.

I’m your host Rick, and in each episode I will try to explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details. What I tell you is based on my lifetime of photographic experience. And not Google.

 Before I go on if you have a question you would like me to answer just go to photographyexplainedpodcast.com/start

 Here is the answery bit

In manual mode in photography you set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually. In manual mode when you take a photo the exposure is determined by what you tell the camera to do – the camera has no influence over the exposure achieved. Manual mode is used by photographers who want complete and creative control of the exposure of an image.

OK – that is manual mode in a nutshell – lets dive into this.

Why are there so many modes on cameras?

There are so many modes on cameras to cater for the different levels of photographers, and the massive range of scenes that people photograph. There are automatic, semi-automatic and manual modes.

Why do photographers use manual mode?

Photographers use manual mode when they to control the exposure using their own combination of aperture, shutter, and ISO.

Photographers use manual mode in challenging lighting scenes, and when their creative requirements mean that the exposure set by the camera will not get the image that they want.

Does manual mode only involve aperture, shutter, and ISO

Basically yes, manual mode only affects aperture, shutter, and ISO – nothing else changes.

A word on ISO

ISO is set by the user in many modes, not only manual. There are some automatic modes when the camera will change the ISO though.

What is the exposure triangle?

It is the relationship between the 

  • Shutter speed - how long the shutter is open and the sensor exposed to light
  • Aperture – the size of the opening in the camera lens that lets light into the sensor
  • ISO – the sensitivity of the sensor to light.

I will list some related podcast episodes later where I explain this in more detail. Well just enough detail of course….

How do you do manual photography?

Well first you set the ISO. You press the shutter release halfway which takes a meter reading of the light.

You choose the aperture and shutter speed that give you the image that you want.

Do professional photographers use manual mode?

Some do, some do not. I would imagine that most do some of the time, when conditions dictate. But there will be many who never do.

And some who only ever use manual.

As always in photography, it depends.

Does manual mode affect white balance?

No. White balance is set separately.

What do I do?

I use AV Mode. I select the ISO and the aperture, and camera selects the shutter speed that gives the correct exposure according to the camera meter and what is being photographed.

Why do I not use manual mode?

Because for my work aperture is the most important thing that I want control of. And the ISO I use is always the lowest ISO on my Canon 6D to get the highest quality and no noise in my images. I take 99% of my commercial photos on a tripod, so I am not concerned about the shutter speed.

I use AV Mode which gives me all the control I need, and means that I do not need to worry about the exposure, meaning I can concentrate on the composition and keeping my clients happy.

What mode should you shoot in?

Whatever mode you feel comfortable with. If you want to shoot in Programme Mode then that is up to you.

But this is the point of manual mode

Sure you don’t have to use manual mode, but you should learn how to use it. It will help you understand the exposure triangle, the relationship between aperture and shutter and ISO, and get you thinking differently.

The talky bit

It has been said many times that to be a “proper photographer”, yes I am using air quotes here. To be a proper photographer you have to take photos in manual mode.

You have to take photos in manual mode.

Nonsense. Utter nonsense.

I don’t. I use AV Mode. I select the ISO, and the aperture, and the camera selects the shutter speed. I am using an exposure determined by the camera.

If I need to use manual I will, but I very, very rarely have to.

If you use manual mode and follow what the camera tells you to do that is not a whole heap different really is it from using say AV Mode.

So no, you do not have to use manual mode.

If you do then that is great – if you prefer to use manual mode that is up to you.

But I use the mode that works for me, with the perfect balance of control by me and exposure determined by the camera.

If you are happy in Programme Mode, or whatever automatic mode or modes you use then that is just fine. Do not listen to anyone who tells you it is not.

But I will say this again. If you want to learn photography, and develop your skills then you should learn how to use manual mode. Learning manual mode is giving yourself practical training in the exposure triangle, one of the fundamentals of photography.

One line summary

You do not have to use manual mode on every photo, but you should learn how manual mode works and in turn the exposure triangle. This will give you a better understanding of exposure that will help you develop as a photographer.

Related episodes

Here are some related episodes that will help you build on what I have told you in this episode.

Episode 4- What Is The Exposure Triangle?

Episode 21 - What Does Exposure Mean In Photography?

Episode 27 - What Is The Exposure Triangle? (Revisited)

Yes I episode 27 was a rerun of episode 4, which I was not happy with.

Episode 31 - What Are The Different Camera Modes?

Next episode

Photography Explained Podcast Episode 89 – Camera Shake - What Is It And How Do I Stop It Happening?

Camera shake ruins photos, so it is important that you know what it is and how to avoid it! So I will tell you in this episode.

Shout out

This space needs filling so get on touch and get your shout out on my ever growing podcast.

I’m done

Thanks for listening to my small but perfectly formed podcast. To find out more about my podcast and do stuff to help me check out Photographyexplainedpodcast.com/start.

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I’ve been Rick McEvoy, thanks again very much for listening to me and for giving me 11 ¼ (ish) minutes of your valuable time, and I will see you on the next episode.

Cheers from me Rick