When it comes to using a DSLR, I always recommend giving the manual settings a try. After all, if you control your settings, then you also control how your photo turns out. Auto mode may try its best, but it can’t read your mind!
As someone who had to go through the same learning curve, I know that it can be confusing and take a while to get used to. However, like anything else, the more you use it, the easier it’ll get. The pay-off is worth it! Trust me!
And fear not! For I am here to help. Well um… I hope this helps at least 🙂 I call this a “quick” guide because I skip over many technical details. Rather than going into why it works, I’ll go into how you can think about it. Let’s get started!
Thinking in terms of light
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Light is extremely important in photography. You can think of the three major manual settings in terms of how much light you are letting in.
Shutter speed
- Is how long the shutter is open, and it’s measured in seconds. Shorter time = Faster shutter.
Example: 1/400 second (1/400th of a second) is faster than 1/100 second. - It’s often compared to a water faucet. If you leave the faucet on longer, more water comes out, right? This is the same as the shutter. The longer it’s open, the more light comes in.
- Slow shutter: longer time, more light, but higher chance of blurring your photo.
- Fast shutter: shorter time, less light, but better for getting clear shots.
