Choosing the Appropriate Shooting Mode - Part 3

Manual Shooting Mode

 I took this photo using Manual shooting mode.  

 Other shooting modes could not provide my 

desired exposure.

You have learned that shooting in creative or semi-automatic mode gives you a certain degree of control over the result of your photo.  One of the most popular semi-automatic modes among digital camera owners,  beginners especially, is  the Program (P) mode.  P-mode is similar to AUTO mode but it allows you to override the automatic exposure settings determined by your camera.  For more advanced digital camera users, Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority modes are more often used.

Exposure

Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

In order to capture an image in a digital camera, first and foremost, we need light to reach the image sensor.  Image sensor was discussed here.  The amount of light needed ideally depends on the intention of the photographer.  If the photographer wants a bright photo, then the camera must allow more light to reach the image sensor. Conversely, less light is needed to produce dark photo.

ISO Sensitivity Value

There are basically three camera settings that determines how bright or dark your photo will be:

1. Shutter Speed
2. Aperture
3. ISO Sensitivity Value

Let me first expound on #3, the ISO Sensitivity or ISO Speed or simply referred to as "ISO" in the photography world.  I will neither elaborate why it was called ISO nor explain its technical details, but will rather stress on its function.