Manual Camera Settings Explained

Hello, I’m Jaden. I bring joy to my friends whenever they want a great picture taken. I’m going to show you how to experience the joys of photography. I’m going to show you 8 easy steps to creating a professional looking picture. You will be taking pictures like a pro after reading this. Did you know there are 34,301 professional photographers in the U.S.? So, let’s get started on how to take your own professional pictures.­­

Camera (I am using a Canon), subject to take a picture of

To take an image that looks professional, first you must set your camera settings to match the light in the room/atmosphere. Turn your dial to set your camera to manual, you should never have the camera set to auto. The auto setting does not always give you the best exposure possible.

The first setting to adjust is shutter speed. Shutter speed is the length of time your shutter stays open when you take a picture. Use faster shutter speed to freeze motion (if you are taking a picture of something moving or action). Sport photographers use a shutter speed like 1/1000 of a second. Use a slower shutter speed if you are taking a picture of a still object. When taking a picture of a still object a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second would be appropriate

The next setting to adjust is aperture. Aperture is the size of the opening of the lens. The smaller the number, the larger the opening. If you are taking an image and want a smaller depth where the subject appears sharp while the foreground and the background appear blurry, then you should use very wide apertures like f/1.8 or f/2.8. Using an aperture like f/32, squeezes the light that passes through your lens. It ends up interfering with itself, growing blurrier, and resulting in photos that are noticeably less sharp.

The next setting is ISO. ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization which is an organization that sets international standards for all different kinds of measurements. ISO is simply a camera setting that will brighten or darken a photo or the sensitivity of the sensor. The larger the number the more sensitive that sensor is (that little piece of electronic equipment in your camera to the light coming in). At ISO 200 it is twice as sensitive as it is at 100. As you increase your ISO number, your photos will grow progressively brighter.

After setting these three things, check your live view. After checking the live view, adjust your settings to make your image the best you possibly can.

To get an image that is not shaky you want to use a tripod or both hands to keep the camera stable. Anything you can set your camera on works to, just make sure it is sturdy.

Another tip to use is putting your subject on a third. The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject on the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open.

Use different shot types to help with the psychology of the image. Shot types might include wide shot, medium shot, extreme close up, dutch tilt, etc.

A wide shot is a shot that shows the subject within their surrounding environment. A wide shot tells the audience who is in the image and where the image is set.

A medium shot is a shot approximately from the waist up. A medium shot is used to emphasize both the subject and their surroundings by giving them an equal presence in the shot.

An extreme close up is shot frames a subject very closely, often so much so that the outer portions of the subject are cut off by the edges of the frame.

A dutch tilt is an angled camera shot where the horizon line isn't parallel with the bottom of the frame, and vertical lines are at an angle to the side of the frame.

Lastly, snap your picture!