Manual mode is on the way between the amateur photographer and the professional, it is not enough to use it, you have to understand it, decipher it, know each option and what influences others, until you find the ideal balance for a perfect image. To follow this path, there are many months or even years left, but we will start with enlightenment, which is the powerful boss of manual modes.
Three parameters indicate whether your photo is sufficiently illuminated: aperture, exposure time and ISO. To do this, you need to adjust all three to the most appropriate settings possible and it is possible. It will only be valid if there is an external factor, such as the time, the position of the object to be photographed or the improper use of artificial lights or inappropriate lenses, we will get to know them better and discover the best way to use them, depending on the type of photo you want to photograph.
- Diaphragm: The diaphragm is inside the photographic lens and spiral-shaped.
- The light passes through a hole in the center of the diaphragm.
- The larger it is.
- The more light enters.
- Perfect when there is little light in the room.
- If it is smaller.
- Less light enters and.
- In this case.
- The ISO setting should be adjusted.
- Opening the diaphragm defines a very important thing in photography that is depth of field.
- Also called DOF (Depth of field) It is he who indicates which of the objects near the main lobby will also stand out in the photo.
Time: The sensor is called ‘lens curtain’, if opened quickly, the sensor will have a faster exposure time, if opened slowly, the exposure time will be longer. This means that if the exposure is fast, you will freeze the image, capturing the details of the exposed object. This setup is ideal for racing, sports and on-the-go activities. Otherwise, with a slow pose time, if you want the same thing. moving photos, you’ll tremble and leave with a movement rate. To do this, a tripod is essential.
ISO: That the sensor needs an ideal amount of light, as you know, but knowing what the ideal amount of light is ISO task, this is the third element, in addition to the diaphragm and exposure time that, if adjusted, will give high quality images. If it is night or in dark environments, increase the ISO. If it is in bright environments, you can decrease it until the sensor is balanced in your machine configuration.
How do I know if I did it right? To find out if you have adjusted the diaphragm, exposure time and ISO in the best possible way, there is a tool in the manual that will help you a lot, it is the famous and appreciated photometer, with it you will be able to know how the light works each of these three is. Each time you frame with your digital camera and slightly press the shutter (without clicking), the photometer enters the scene to measure the light and present the result on the screen. Exposes a measure with a plus sign ( ), a zero (0), and a minus sign (-). So, when the photometer cursor is centered, it’s a sign that everything is set for you to click.
Take the test, take a picture of yourself inside with the photometer at -2, 2 and zero and verify the result. The photo in (-2) will probably be too dark. The photo with the photometer at (2) will be excessively clear, with the white blown and the zero (0) will be ideal, with the necessary shadows and lighting.
So the photometer’s always right?
That depends. You’re always looking for a brightness balance, but this one, in many cases, may not match what you want, for example, if you want to photograph something dark, or black, very close, if you leave the photometer at zero (0), the image can be very clear. The same goes for very clear, natural or white objects. One tip is to look before clicking, the best scenario to take the photo.
Another golden trick, used by many photographers, is hand tactics. It works like this: if you have to take a picture of someone up close and that person wears a black T-shirt, the photometer will probably fit into an unfavorable balance for your photo, however, if you put the palm of your hand in front, it will roughly adjust to the correct settings. This is because the palm of our hand has a luminance similar to the standard photometers.
Have you noticed how each of these three elements interacts and depends on each other to achieve a perfect image?Following these tips, your photos will improve a lot and following our blog, they will be better and better!