Beyond Auto Mode: A Guide to Taking Control of Your Photography

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

You now know you need to make three decisions to make an image: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. If you want to go out and try making images right now, go for it. Here is a cheat sheet for making images in manual mode.

Step 1: Choose your ISO

This is the size of your bucket. Evaluate the light levels of your scene, following these guidelines for setting ISO:

ISO 100—bright sunny day

ISO 400—daylit room or overcast day

ISO 800—dimly lit room

ISO 1600—darker scene

Step 2: Choose your aperture

This is the width of the hose. Consider the kind of image you want to make and choose your selections based on the following:

F/2.8 to f/5.6—portraits

F/8 to f/16—landscapes

Step 3: Choose your shutter speed

This is the amount of time the hose is on. Next, consider what your subject is doing and make general selections based on that:

1/30 to 1/250—your subject is not moving.

1/250 and above—your subject is moving.

Step 4: Take a test shot, evaluate, and adjust

Make an image with your initial settings and then review it on your LCD screen. It will look too dark, too light, or just right. If it’s just right—way to go! If it’s too light or dark, here is what to do:

Too dark? Do one of the following:

Change your aperture to a smaller number (f/8 to f/4, for example).

Change your shutter speed to a bigger number (move from 1/250 to 1/125, for example).

Increase your ISO (400 to 800, for example).

Too light? Do one of the following:

Change your aperture ...