What happens if you put your camera in Manual Mode



Putting your camera is Manual mode is scary. Especially if you are just starting out and have never done it before. This post isn't meant to go over the settings in detail, but to explain to you exactly what Manual mode means. (It is my opinion that knowing exactly what you are getting into can sometimes ease the fears)

So, when you put your camera in manual mode, you are essentially telling your camera that you want to control EVERYTHING that it does. This means that the camera settings are totally dictated by you, and the picture will result in how you leave the settings. For many people, if they were to just put their camera in manual mode right now, depending on the type of lighting you have, you would end up with a very dark or black picture or a over-exposed or white picture. The reason for this is because the camera didn't react to the lighting scenario you were in and change it's settings to compensate. But this is okay. In fact, this is GOOD. When shooting in manual mode, the first starting point that needs to be considered is the light. Is it bright in here? Is it dark in here? Can I add light? Should I move closer to a window? Or go outside? These are questions that should automatically be running through your mind.

Manual mode gives you the freedom to learn to balance your settings on your camera to get an exposure that YOU want, not the camera. In future posts, I will break down the different settings that you can control in manual mode. After about a week, if you follow this blog regularly, you should be able to make your own exposure decisions and change the settings without needed the camera to hold your hand anymore. 

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