All dSLR cameras, and a growing number of point and shoots, allow photographers full control of both aperture and shutter speed using the manual shooting mode. The key to this shooting mode is to understand the unique relationship between aperture and shutter speed to increase photographic control and creativity.
Aperture controls the quantity of light passing through a camera’s lens and the depth of field in each image. Shutter speed controls the duration that light can pass through a camera’s lens, affecting sharpness and motion. When used correctly, a photographer can select the proper combination to portray the image as they first envisioned.
Understanding and Selecting Shutter Speeds
Similar to shooting in shutter priority mode, the photographer must select an adequate shutter speed to capture any image. Shutter speeds vary from a number of seconds to as little as 1/8000 of a second. Represented by the fractions denominator, shutter speeds appear as 2”, 1”, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, etc. on the camera’s LCD display. Each diminishing shutter speed allows half the amount of light into the camera as its predecessor.
In manual mode, the photographer must properly survey the scene and make a number of decisions, such as freezing a fast moving object, with a shutter speed near 1/500; blur a slow moving object, with a shutter speed near 1”; or simply handhold the camera, using any shutter speed above 1/30.
While a person can normally hold a pose for nearly 1” when needed, photographers live by the rule stating faster shutter speeds result in sharper images. Keep in mind that internal image stabilization or a tripod will greatly increase the sharpness of an image shot below 1/30 of a second.
Understanding and Selecting Apertures
Represented by f-stops (f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22), the camera’s aperture determines both the quantity of light entering the camera and the depth of field portrayed in the image. Each ascending aperture allows half the quantity of light to pass through the lens. Similar to shooting in aperture priority mode, the photographer must select the proper aperture for each scene.
Portraits are often shot between f/2.8 and f/5.6, giving the photograph a shallow depth of field with a blurry background behind the subject. The wide aperture also requires a fast shutter speed, resulting in a sharper image. Landscapes are often shot between f/11 and f/22 to produce detail throughout the entire image. The slow shutter speeds associated with these small apertures force nature photographers to use a tripod to maintain sharpness.
Selecting Different Aperture and Shutter Combinations
To select a proper aperture and shutter combination, set either one at the desired number. Then adjust the other setting until the camera’s metering system shows a balanced exposure. Keep in mind that bright exposures should show a +1 reading on the camera meter, while dark scenes require a -1 reading.
Once the initial exposure is set, a photographer can still adjust either setting as desired, as long as they make an equal adjustment to the other setting. An exposure of 1/125 f/5.6 can be adjusted to 1/250 f/4 to decrease the depth of field and increase sharpness. Alternatively, 1/60 f/8 would also produce the same exposure; however, the depth of field would be greater.
Five Things to Remember when Using Manual Shooting Mode
Aperture controls the quantity of light passing through a camera’s lens and the depth of field in each image. Shutter speed controls the duration that light can pass through a camera’s lens, affecting sharpness and motion. When used correctly, a photographer can select the proper combination to portray the image as they first envisioned.
Understanding and Selecting Shutter Speeds
Similar to shooting in shutter priority mode, the photographer must select an adequate shutter speed to capture any image. Shutter speeds vary from a number of seconds to as little as 1/8000 of a second. Represented by the fractions denominator, shutter speeds appear as 2”, 1”, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, etc. on the camera’s LCD display. Each diminishing shutter speed allows half the amount of light into the camera as its predecessor.
In manual mode, the photographer must properly survey the scene and make a number of decisions, such as freezing a fast moving object, with a shutter speed near 1/500; blur a slow moving object, with a shutter speed near 1”; or simply handhold the camera, using any shutter speed above 1/30.
While a person can normally hold a pose for nearly 1” when needed, photographers live by the rule stating faster shutter speeds result in sharper images. Keep in mind that internal image stabilization or a tripod will greatly increase the sharpness of an image shot below 1/30 of a second.
Understanding and Selecting Apertures
Represented by f-stops (f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22), the camera’s aperture determines both the quantity of light entering the camera and the depth of field portrayed in the image. Each ascending aperture allows half the quantity of light to pass through the lens. Similar to shooting in aperture priority mode, the photographer must select the proper aperture for each scene.
Portraits are often shot between f/2.8 and f/5.6, giving the photograph a shallow depth of field with a blurry background behind the subject. The wide aperture also requires a fast shutter speed, resulting in a sharper image. Landscapes are often shot between f/11 and f/22 to produce detail throughout the entire image. The slow shutter speeds associated with these small apertures force nature photographers to use a tripod to maintain sharpness.
Selecting Different Aperture and Shutter Combinations
To select a proper aperture and shutter combination, set either one at the desired number. Then adjust the other setting until the camera’s metering system shows a balanced exposure. Keep in mind that bright exposures should show a +1 reading on the camera meter, while dark scenes require a -1 reading.
Once the initial exposure is set, a photographer can still adjust either setting as desired, as long as they make an equal adjustment to the other setting. An exposure of 1/125 f/5.6 can be adjusted to 1/250 f/4 to decrease the depth of field and increase sharpness. Alternatively, 1/60 f/8 would also produce the same exposure; however, the depth of field would be greater.
Five Things to Remember when Using Manual Shooting Mode
- Cameras normally provide shutter speeds and apertures in 1/3 stops. Although the difference between f/2.8 and f/4 is only one stop of light, the camera will provide f/2.8, f/3.2, f/3.5 and f/4 as possible selections.
- Aperture is often the most important selection of a still image because it determines the depth of field of the image.
- High Shutter Speeds are important when shooting fast moving subjects, such as sports or wildlife. Only shutter speeds above 1/250 can successfully freeze motion.
- Tripods or internal image stabilization can reduce the effect of camera shake when using slow shutter speeds.
- When adding either fill or balanced flash in manual shooting mode, the camera’s settings must be adjusted to maintain consistent exposures.
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