Finding Your Mode

Most professional cameras offer several exposure modes, often leading to confusion as to what mode to use and when to use it. I’m going to limit this section to my favorite three modes.

(M) or Manual

The Manual mode allows the photographer to select his or her own ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings with the assistance of the camera’s meter. If you follow the camera’s recommended settings, this will render an average exposure; however, this mode allows you to vary from the metered settings to change the exposure and thus the tonality (lightness or darkness) of a subject.

I choose to shoot on Manual mode when I’m in a tricky light situation. Take Figure 4.10, for instance. The light is falling on the short side of my subject’s ...

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