Forget MANUAL MODE, PROS do it THIS way!

Summary

In this insightful video, professional nature and wildlife photographer Sim debunks the myth that manual mode is the only way to achieve professional photography results. He explains that while manual mode offers maximum control and is ideal for controlled lighting situations, it isn't always the best choice for every scenario. Sim introduces two semi-automatic modes—aperture priority (AV) and shutter priority (S or TV)—that can outperform manual mode in many situations. He demonstrates how these modes allow photographers to focus on composition and technique by automatically adjusting settings based on the photographer's chosen aperture or shutter speed. Sim also highlights the importance of exposure compensation and setting minimum and maximum limits for camera settings to suit personal preferences. The video concludes with a discussion on using manual mode with auto ISO for situations where both shutter speed and aperture are critical, allowing the camera to balance exposure while the photographer maintains creative control. Sim encourages viewers to choose the mode that's right for them and to experiment with different settings to capture their unique and amazing photos.

Takeaways

• 📸 **Manual Modes Misconception**: Contrary to the belief that only manual mode is for professionals, other modes can be equally effective in certain situations.
• 🤔 **Automatic Mode Limitations**: Auto mode sets all parameters but may not always understand the desired depth of field or subject movement, leading to potential mistakes.
• ⏰ **Manual Mode for Controlled Lighting**: Manual mode is best for situations with consistent lighting, like a studio, or when you have time to set up each shot.
• 🌅 **Landscape Photography and Manual Mode**: Sim, the speaker, uses manual mode for landscape and Milky Way photography due to the consistent light direction and time for setup.
• 🔄 **Adjusting Settings in Manual Mode**: In changing light conditions, manual mode requires constant adjustment of settings, which can be cumbersome and detract from the creative process.
• 🌈 **Aperture Priority Mode (AV or A)**: This mode is suitable for genres like portraits where the depth of field is critical, allowing the photographer to set the aperture while the camera adjusts shutter speed.
• 📅 **ISO Settings in Semi-Automatic Modes**: In AV or TV modes, ISO should be set according to lighting conditions, with options for automatic ISO adjustment.
• 🎥 **Shutter Priority Mode (S or TV)**: Ideal for action or sports photography where freezing motion is key, this mode lets the photographer set the shutter speed and the camera will adjust the aperture.
• 📈 **Exposure Compensation**: A feature in semi-automatic modes that allows photographers to adjust the brightness of an image if the camera's auto-exposure is not spot on.
• ⚙️ **Customizing Camera Settings**: Many cameras allow users to set minimum and maximum shutter speeds, apertures, or ISOs to prevent the camera from choosing unsuitable settings.
• 📈 **Auto ISO in Manual Mode**: When both shutter speed and aperture are critical, using manual mode with auto ISO can balance exposure while the photographer focuses on creative elements.

Q & A

What is the common misconception about shooting in manual mode?

The common misconception is that real photographers always shoot in manual mode, and other modes are only for beginners and amateurs.

What are the three main camera settings that affect the brightness of photos?

The three main settings that affect the brightness of photos are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.

Why might automatic mode not always be the best choice for photography?

Automatic mode might not always be the best choice because it doesn't consider the photographer's creative intentions, such as whether the background should be in focus or blurry, or how fast the subject is moving.

What is the advantage of using manual mode in certain scenarios?

Manual mode provides the maximum control over the camera settings and is excellent in scenarios where lighting is controlled or consistent, like a studio or landscape photography.

Why can shooting in manual mode be challenging in changing light conditions?

In manual mode, every time the light changes, you need to adjust your settings to get the exposure right, which can be time-consuming and may distract from the creative process.

What is aperture priority mode (AV or A) and when is it most useful?

Aperture priority mode allows the photographer to set the aperture while the camera automatically sets the shutter speed. It is most useful in genres where the aperture is the most important setting, such as still life, portraits, and street photography.

How does shutter priority mode (S or TV) differ from aperture priority mode?

Shutter priority mode allows the photographer to set the shutter speed while the camera automatically adjusts the aperture to achieve the correct exposure. It is useful in situations where freezing motion or creating artistic movement is critical.

What is exposure compensation and how is it used in semi-automatic modes?

Exposure compensation is a feature that allows the photographer to adjust the exposure to make the image brighter or darker than what the camera's automatic settings would choose. It adjusts the parameter that the camera is managing, such as aperture in shutter priority mode or shutter speed in aperture priority mode.

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What is the benefit of using a website like Squarespace for photographers?

Squarespace provides a platform for photographers to showcase their work in fine detail. It allows for customization and the ability to create a professional online presence, including the option to monetize the site with an online store.

What is the purpose of setting minimum and maximum settings for camera parameters in semi-automatic modes?

Setting minimum and maximum settings ensures that the camera doesn't pick a shutter speed, aperture, or ISO that is unsuitable for the photographer's needs or style, such as avoiding overly slow shutter speeds for handheld photography.

What mode does the speaker prefer for wildlife photography and why?

The speaker prefers manual mode with auto ISO for wildlife photography because it allows control over the creative elements like shutter speed and aperture while letting the camera handle ISO adjustments, which can be faster in changing light conditions.

What is the final advice given by the speaker regarding the choice of camera mode?

The speaker advises that there is no 'right' mode on a camera; the best mode is the one that is right for the individual photographer's needs and style.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Understanding Camera Modes for Photography

This paragraph introduces the video and challenges the notion that only manual mode should be used by serious photographers. It emphasizes that other modes can be more suitable in different situations. The speaker, Sim, a professional photographer, discusses the limitations of automatic mode and the precision of manual mode, particularly in controlled lighting conditions. However, manual mode requires constant adjustment when lighting changes, which can detract from the creative process. The paragraph also briefly mentions semi-automatic modes like aperture priority and shutter priority, which can be more efficient for certain types of photography.

05:02

🎨 The Benefits of Aperture Priority Mode

The second paragraph delves into aperture priority mode (Av or A on the mode dial), which is ideal for genres where the depth of field is crucial, such as still life, portraits, and street photography. In this mode, the photographer sets the desired aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve correct exposure. The paragraph explains how this mode allows for creative control over the background blur while the camera handles the technical aspects. It also discusses how to adjust ISO settings according to lighting conditions and the use of exposure compensation to fine-tune the image brightness.

10:03

🏃‍♂️ Shutter Priority Mode for Action and Movement

This paragraph focuses on shutter priority mode (S or Tv on the mode dial), which is essential for capturing fast-moving subjects like sports, motorsports, and wildlife. It allows photographers to set the shutter speed to freeze or intentionally blur motion, with the camera automatically adjusting the aperture for exposure. The speaker also talks about the importance of setting minimum and maximum limits for settings like shutter speed and ISO to suit the photographer's preferences and ensure sharp handheld photos. The paragraph concludes with the concept of using manual mode with auto ISO for scenarios where both shutter speed and aperture are critical, giving the photographer control over creative elements while the camera manages the ISO.

Keywords

💡Manual Mode

Manual mode in photography refers to the setting on a camera where the photographer has full control over the three main parameters that affect the exposure of a photo: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. It is often considered the most precise mode, providing maximum control, and is excellent for scenarios with controlled or consistent lighting. However, it requires constant adjustment when lighting conditions change, which can be a drawback in dynamic shooting environments. In the video, the speaker explains that while manual mode is powerful, it is not always the most efficient or practical choice for every photography situation.

💡Aperture Priority

Aperture Priority (denoted as 'A' or 'AV' on a camera mode dial) is a semi-automatic mode where the photographer sets the aperture, and the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve correct exposure. This mode is preferred when the depth of field (how much of the photo is in focus) is a priority, such as in portrait, still life, or street photography. The video script illustrates its use with an example where the photographer selects a wide aperture (low f-number) to blur the background, and the camera automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed.

💡Shutter Priority

Shutter Priority (notated as 'S' or 'TV' for time value on a camera) is another semi-automatic mode where the photographer sets the shutter speed, and the camera automatically selects the aperture to achieve the correct exposure. This mode is crucial for genres like action sports, motorsports, or wildlife photography where freezing or intentionally blurring the motion is key. The video emphasizes its use in controlling the creative aspects of the image, such as capturing the sharpness of a fast-moving subject or creating a sense of motion with a slower shutter speed.

💡ISO

ISO in photography determines the camera's sensitivity to light. A higher ISO value means the camera is more sensitive to light, allowing for faster shutter speeds in low-light conditions but potentially introducing more noise or grain into the image. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses setting ISO according to lighting conditions and using it in conjunction with aperture or shutter priority modes to let the camera automatically adjust the other settings for optimal exposure.

💡Exposure Compensation

Exposure Compensation is a feature that allows photographers to adjust the brightness of an image beyond what the camera's light meter recommends. It is used in semi-automatic modes to fine-tune the exposure when the camera's automatic settings do not achieve the desired brightness. The video script explains how to use exposure compensation by moving the light meter indicator to the right for a brighter image or to the left for a darker one, depending on the photographer's creative intent.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is a website building and hosting platform that provides users with various tools and templates to create their own websites. In the video, it is mentioned as a sponsor and highlighted for its ease of use and customization options, making it a suitable platform for photographers to showcase their work professionally. The speaker encourages viewers to use Squarespace to build a website to display their photography in a detailed and appealing manner.

💡Depth of Field

Depth of field describes the range of distance within a photo that appears acceptably sharp. A shallow depth of field (achieved with a wide aperture) keeps the subject in focus while blurring the background, which is often desired in portrait photography. The video script discusses how aperture priority mode allows photographers to control the depth of field by selecting the desired aperture setting.

💡Light Meter

A light meter is a device that measures the intensity of light. In the context of the video, the light meter is a feature within the camera that helps determine the correct exposure settings. The speaker references the light meter when discussing how semi-automatic modes use it to automatically adjust shutter speed or aperture to achieve a balanced exposure, aiming for a middle gray that reflects 18% of light.

💡Auto ISO

Auto ISO is a camera setting that allows the camera to automatically adjust the ISO value to achieve the correct exposure, based on the lighting conditions and the other manually set parameters like aperture and shutter speed. The video script explains how using auto ISO in manual mode can be beneficial for photographers who want to control the creative aspects of their image but do not want to be distracted by constantly adjusting the ISO in changing light conditions.

💡Composition

Composition in photography refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a photo to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing image. The video emphasizes the importance of focusing on composition alongside technique, especially when using semi-automatic modes that handle some settings automatically, allowing the photographer to concentrate more on the creative process rather than technical adjustments.

💡Nature and Wildlife Photography

Nature and wildlife photography is a genre that involves capturing images of various natural environments, landscapes, and animals in their habitats. The video script mentions this genre in the context of the speaker's professional background and uses it as an example to discuss the challenges and benefits of using different camera modes. The dynamic and unpredictable nature of wildlife subjects makes certain semi-automatic modes particularly useful for this genre.

Highlights

Photographers are often told that shooting in manual mode is superior, but this video challenges that notion.

Manual mode is best for controlled or consistent lighting situations like a studio.

Aperture priority mode (AV or A) is recommended for genres where the background blur is desired.

Shutter priority mode (S or TV) is ideal for action photography where freezing motion is critical.

ISO can be set automatically in semi-automatic modes to adapt to lighting conditions.

Exposure compensation can be used to adjust the brightness of an image in semi-automatic modes.

In aperture priority, you can control the depth of field while the camera sets the shutter speed.

For fast-paced subjects, shutter priority allows you to control the motion capture without worrying about aperture settings.

Squarespace is recommended for building a professional website to showcase photography.

The video provides a discount code for Squarespace to its viewers.

Manual mode with auto ISO is a versatile option that balances creative control with automatic adjustments.

The presenter, Sim, uses manual mode with auto ISO for wildlife photography to control shutter speed and aperture.

There are no 'right' camera modes; the best mode is the one that suits the photographer's needs and style.

The video emphasizes the importance of choosing a mode that allows the photographer to focus on composition and technique.

Camera settings should not hinder the creative process but rather enhance it by simplifying technical adjustments.

The presenter discusses how to customize camera dials for personal preference in different shooting modes.

Understanding and setting minimum and maximum thresholds for camera settings is crucial for achieving desired results.

The video encourages viewers to experiment with different modes to find what works best for their photography style.

Transcripts

this video is brought to you by

Squarespace if you need a website or

domain visit squarespace.com hey

everybody and welcome back to a new

video have you been told that real

photographers shoot in manual and that

other modes are for noobs and amateurs

in this video I'm going to show you

that's not true and I'm going to show

you two modes that in many situations

are better than manual if you stay till

the end I'll show you the mode that I

use to take photos like this this and

this my name is Sim and I'm a

professional nature and wildlife

photographer living in Eastern Canada I

make weekly videos giving you photo tips

or taking you behind the scenes for

wildlife and nature photography

subscribe if you want to see

[Music]

more okay let's start off with a quick

look at the mode dial on most cameras

you can change how the camera operates

to change the three main settings that

affect your photos brightness shutter

speed aperture and ISO by turning this

dial to switch between modes most people

can guess how a for automatic works it

sets all the settings for you this can

work but it doesn't know if you want the

background in Focus or blurry or how

fast your subject is moving as such it

may make some mistakes at The Other

Extreme is manual this is where you set

all three main parameters on your own

while this does provide the maximum of

control and is excellent in some

scenarios that doesn't mean it's better

now why is that while manual is very

precise it's best use when the lighting

is controlled or consistent in every

direction maybe like a studio or you

have lots of time to set up your shot I

use manual in landscape photography or

Milky Way Photography as I can take my

time and get the settings I want and the

light is very consistent as I'm often

pointing in the same direction for

several photos but these situations of

controlled lighting or having all all

the time in the world are actually a

very small part of Photography the great

majority of Photography is done while

walking around or looking for shots or

moving around your subjects or your

subjects around you like portraits or

Wildlife or even your kids sports with

sun in One Direction and shade in the

other in manual every time the light

changes you need to change your settings

to get the exposure right if I shoot

this camera in manual out the window and

then indoors using the same settings

there's a problem the same settings

won't work with the two scenes with

different amounts of light as they need

different settings to get the shot right

that means in manual you're always

playing with the settings while outdoing

photography a partly cloudy day is a

prime example of when manual is a pain I

go out to shoot wildlife and every time

the sun goes in and out I'm playing with

the settings and that is taking you away

from the creative process of focusing on

more important things like composition

and technique and for me finding

Wildlife wouldn't it be nice to have the

camera take care of some of this for you

but not making the same mistakes as the

automatic mode to the rescue our

semi-automatic modes shutter and

aperture priority aperture priority a or

AV on your mode dial is the mode to use

where setting the aperture is the most

important setting for the photographer

and it's okay to let the camera set the

shutter speed to get the exposure right

set the iso accordingly for the lighting

conditions low in good light and higher

in low light or even an automatic and

set the aperture to the desired F number

the camera then automatically sets the

shutter speed to the speed needed to

balance the exposure that is to get the

brightness of the photo to be shown as

zero on the light meter what's known as

medium or 18% gray a gray that reflects

18% of light this is the mode of choice

for those people who shoot genres where

the aperture is the most important

setting for them like still life

portraits street photography and people

this is because in in these genres

having the lens wide open to get a nice

blurry and smooth background is often

seen as desirable and in aperture

priority you can set that aperture but

don't really care what the shutter speed

is let's look at this scene I'll pick

the iso for the light in this case I'll

pick ISO 1000 now I pick the aperture to

get the background blurry so I use a

wide aperture a small F number like F2

and see as I change the aperture the

camera keeps the exposure constant at

zero on the light meter by adjusting the

shutter speed which in this scenario

isn't a critical setting I can even add

or remove light as if the scenario is

changing or the sun is coming up from

behind the clouds and the shutter speed

is adjusted to keep the exposure right

and it can do this in fractions of a

second just keep shooting now if we're

going to spend all this effort to get

the best image quality out of our photos

don't we owe it to them to show them off

at their best that's where our website

comes in and a great time to thank the

sponsor of this video Squarespace as

many social media platforms move more

and more into video as a trend rather

than photography I think having a

website is more important than ever we

need a place where we can showcase our

work in fine detail rather than the

small thumbnails which don't show off

all the work that went into a photo or

is favoring video over your photos I

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to launch go to squarespace.com Simon to

save 10% off your first purchase of a

website or domain but let's say you

shoot in a genre or situation ation

where the shutter speed is the most

important setting that's where shutter

priority comes in s or TV for time value

on your camera action sports Motorsports

and Wildlife are genre as we having

enough shutter speed to freeze the

movement of your subject is critical or

maybe you want a slow shutter speed on

purpose for artistic movement in the

shot like water in a waterfall for these

the shutter speed is critical but maybe

the aperture isn't in these scenarios

set the iso to what you want and then

you only have one setting to worry about

shutter speed move it up when you need

more less when you need less and TAA the

camera will adjust the aperture to get

the exposure right note that on some

cameras the buttons of what is

controlled where may change in the

different modes on my Canon camera the

dial by the shutter button is the main

dial for both modes when I use shutter

priority it controls the shutter speed

but when in aperture priority it

controls the aperture you can customize

this differently if you want in in my

case I like the same dials to control

the same settings regardless of the mode

I'm using in these modes if you happen

to notice a blinking setting on your

back LCD it means that the camera can't

keep adjusting the setting to balance

the exposure for example lenses have a

minimum and maximum aperture so once you

hit those your camera can't go any

further on some camera brands it won't

let you change the settings further on

others it may let you continue to change

the settings but leave you under or

Overexposed I once had a student from a

wildlife photography course email me in

a panic from I think it was Panama as

her camera wasn't obeying her settings

commands and she was heading out into

the jungle soon and wouldn't have a

means to get in touch we spoke on the

phone and I figured out that this was

the issue in these scenarios see if you

can change the iso or one of the other

settings to allow the camera to get the

exposure right now what do you do in

these modes if the image is still too

bright or too dark remember the camera

is trying to get the exposure exposure

to be middle gray and while it usually

will do a very good job it won't always

get it right that's where exposure

compensation comes in in semi-automatic

modes you adjust the exposure brighter

by moving the light meter indicator to

the right darker to the left use this to

get the exposure just right in case the

camera's Choice isn't perfect remember

that the parameter that the exposure

compensation will change to change the

exposure is the one you're letting the

camera manage so exposure compensation

will adjust aperture in shutter priority

but will adjust shutter speed in

aperture priority see here in aperture

priority the exposure compensation dial

changes the shutter speed to make the

image brighter or darker so make sure

you have exposure compensation on a

handy dial if you have a spare dial on

your camera either a top dial or the

thumb dial on many cameras you can

customize this to your liking if you

don't have any spare dials look for this

icon next to a light meter on your back

LCD or even on the top LCD now an extra

trick from the pros when using aperture

and shutter priority there may be

minimum and maximum settings that you

don't want to surpass for example in

aperture priority you may be fine

letting the camera pick the shutter

speed except you never want it to go

under a certain threshold to make sure

your handheld photos are sharp in a dark

venue your shutter speed may go down to

1/10th or even 1 second that's no good

handheld what do you do many cameras

allow you to set minimum and maximums

for your settings so the camera doesn't

pick something that doesn't work for you

so you can set the minimum shutter speed

at 1100th of a second or maybe the

maximum aperture at F16 or the maximum

ISO at 6,400 know your limits as per

your style and tastes and program them

in and finally what the heck do I do if

both the shutter speed and aperture are

critical to the shot and you don't want

to leave those to chance but you're

shooting in busy action and changing

light manual with auto ISO to the rescue

you set the shutter speed to freeze or

blur the action as needed you set the

aperture to make the background blurry

or in focus and just let the camera pick

the iso to balance the exposure set the

maximum ISO you're comfortable with and

you're Off to the Races and you know

what I shoot in this mode all the time I

like Fast shutter speeds to freeze

Wildlife movement and I like a blurry

background these two settings control

the creative elements of my photo and

are the critical ones I want to control

but I don't care what the iso is in my

photos ISO 100 400

800600 I don't care my image quality

might be affected but not the creative

aspects of my photography and the camera

can change these settings much faster

than I can in the field and in changing

light excellent and remember there's no

real or right mode on a camera you use

the one that's right for you let me know

in the comments below what your choice

is if you'd like to know more about

shooting in manual with auto ISO I have

a whole video on it right here if this

video was deserving give it a like and

YouTube will share with other aspiring

photographers helping them get to the

next level in their photography and I

hope that you can use these tips to go

out there and shoot in a new mode and

get your own unique and amazing photos I

know you can do it