WHY YOU SHOULD SHOOT IN FULL MANUAL MODE

With all the bells and whistles on modern cameras, you might wonder if there’s any point in shooting in full manual mode.

- Jo Plumridge

We all know that auto mode doesn’t give us any control over our shots, but semi-automatic modes such as aperture and shutter priority are attractive propositions. They allow us to focus on one element of the exposure triangle, while the camera takes care of everything else.

This might seem like the best option, but full manual mode is, in my opinion, the best way to shoot. There are lots of reasons why you should shoot in manual, so let's look at some of my top picks now.

CONTROL

The primary reason to shoot in manual mode? It gives you control over your images. Shooting manual means that you setall parts of the exposure triangle ISO, shutter speed and aperture. You might wonder why it’s important to control all three elements. As we know, the exposure triangle works together, so changing one part of it has a knockon effect on everything else. By controlling everything you can decided exactly how your shot should Look.

ISO relates to the sensitivity of the camera to light, with a lower number for example ISO 100) meaning that youll have less digital noise. But a lower number also means less light hitting your camera sensor.

Shutter speed controls how much light is let into the camera when the shutter opens and closes. The faster the shutter speed, the more the action can be frozen. So, a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th sec is Ideal for shooting sports or wildlife.

If you are hand holding your camera, it's advisable to shoot no slower than 1/60th sec to avoid camera shake. Longer shutter soeeds are used to shoot at night or to add an ethereal look to clouds or running water, to give a few examples.