Go Totally Manual



Right Image: Minolta Maxxum 9, 200mm f-2.8 APO  lens, Fuji Velvia 50, Bogen tripod and ball head. Spot meter ( leaves). Exposure not recorded. Manual exposure mode and manual focus.

Today's high tech, auto everything cameras are
great, but we can easily become slaves to them.
Setting our cameras to Program, autofocus mode, autobracketing, and auto zoom won't guarantee successful photographs. You don't always engage cruise control when driving, and you shouldn't use auto modes in your camera all the time either. If you want to improve your photography and be in total control of your pictures, get to know your equipment and learn when to use or not to use certain features. Manual exposure mode is the best mode to use when you have enough time to set up a shot. With fast moving subject and in changing light, aperture priority or shutter priority modes plus continues autofocus might work better, otherwise set your camera to manual mode and manual focus. 

By selecting manual mode, you are in charge of both shutter speed and aperture settings. You can take your time to decide which settings will give the best result. Best of all, you are forced to pay attention to the settings which can teach you more about exposure. You'll know if a shutter speed/aperture setting will result in proper exposure under certain conditions so you can repeat those later or make necessary adjustments. By focusing your lens manually, you can select the focus point to gain best possible depth-of-field. In bright sun light, I go totally manual. I even ignore my camera's sophisticated metering. When I photograph a medium tone subject in bright sunlight, I use the Sunny f-16 rule. I don't care if my camera suggests another setting. I know I'm right and my camera is wrong. 

I use manual mode, manual focus, and select my shutter speed and aperture. It is amazing, but I always remember how I took the picture and they are perfect most of the time. When I use auto exposure modes, autofocus, and other auto settings, it is much easier to make mistakes! We stop paying attention to what we are doing. We believe our high tech cameras will take the pictures we want. After all, we paid good money for our cameras and they are the latest generations. I don't care how expensive or sophisticated a camera is, none can think or know how you want your images to be. Use auto modes when needed. For total control over your photography, use manual selections and take your time to examine the scene. I'm not saying you should not use auto exposure modes or autofocus, rather use them when you feel they help making your shots easier. I use auto exposure, autofocus, autobracketing, and other auto modes, but I always think before selecting a mode and still pay close attention to what my camera is doing. If you want to improve your photography, try manual modes and you'll see a big difference in your pictures. Finally you call the shots, not your camera.