Thursday, February 26, 2009

Shoot In "M"

.260209. Shooting with Manual mode

I was browsing through my folders of photos just then before one of it struck me to come up with this random thoughts I have in mind.

I have been shooting with a DSLR for a year now and I must admit that I still have a lot of catching up to do. Carrying a DSLR camera doesn't make one a pro or it does not mean he/she is good. Niether do I.

It was back then during my internship in a web solution company that I found my passion and interest in photography which eventually led me to blogging. Then, I did not know how far I would and could go but here I am today still blogging and ever loving to shoot. I was contemplating whether to buy a point-and-shoot compact camera or a digital-single-lens-reflex camera then before my roommate (Brian, a semipro photographer then) gave me his 2 cents worth upon my dilemma.

I made my decision on a Nikon d40. I did not regret. At all.

When I finally got hold of my new camera then, Brian thought me the basics. Shutter speed. Aperture. ISO. The list goes on... The only thing that I remember him saying clearly is SHOOT ALL THE WAY WITH "M" (Manual mode). I thank him for that or else I would have never learned to fast. So effectively.

shootinm
*the best way to learn how to shoot*

Honestly, the key and the most important way to learn shoot is really to shoot in manual mode. You have to play around with the ISO, shutter speed and aperture as much as you would want to. When shooting a lot is what you have done, practise makes perfect will then make sense to you. You will be able to get results you want. The feel of every single photo that you desire to get. Oh well, that's my 2 cents worth on shooting in "M".

24 comments:

KY said...

I'm mostly with Av & exposure compensation. :D

陈一豪 said...

Ditto for me.

Av and EC does whatever you can do in M; though if you want to expand the latitudes of your compensation then its M.

That is, discounting tricky lighting situations.

Satkuru said...

hahahahaha i am more or less in the same boat as KY :P

David Cheong said...

Uncle Andrew so pro, teach me how to shoot, i noob. How to use M mode ar?

Chee Hung said...

Sifu Andrew,
I shoot either with Aperture priority or Shutter Priority. Still not good with complete manual.
TO TO CHI KAU!!!!
Chee Hung

Jing-leBelle said...

lol i'm shooting M also!!
M rocks..lol..

pamsong said...

Wow. For a year's worth of experience, you've got great shots. I like em. =)

vialentino said...

me looking for a dslr camera too...but not now....cause like u say....having a dslr doesnt mean u r a pro....need to learn and practise

Charles Key said...

single lens reflex leh...
Of all, I most pantang use AWB, I rather jump off building than to shoot in AWB

Angie Tan said...

Yeah!

I've yet to hit the "M" mode. Currently playing around with Time and Aperture modes.

wEtwEtwAtEr said...

I shoot in the Green Box mode only wor. Andrew, please teach me how to get nice pictures like you do! =)

sandrawong.com said...

All these while i have been using "M" alll the time!

But for beginners normally "P" is the best for them to get details of perfect setting :)

then only slowly they master to "M" once they know the setting well :D

Good Job!

Harmony the Sleepy Cat said...

Great advice.
One day i also want to buy one.

Nigelais said...

So is driving a manual compared to an auto.

Can do 'more' if you know what I mean. Hehe.

I shoot in AV and the occasional M.

=)

Yatz said...

bagus..u wait for me..u waittttttt

joshuaongys said...

u wait for me also!! u wait!!

Andrew said...

[ky] haha... i'm starting to use A for events already!! coz its much needed for fast shots... LOL

[yeehou] yea... M would be rather useful if you have much time to play around with it =D but i still wanto stick with M though.. =D

[satkuru] haha.. you all sudah long time main M ma.. dats why..

[david] pls la you!! don't always say me pro padahal you are the master!! hahaha +D *bishhh*

[cheehung] walao... dun la call me sifu... hahaha.. belum officially "jum char" drink tea yet wor.. LOL besides, im not really that good la bro..

[belle] hahah cheers man! LOL M rocks... haha =D

[pamsong] hey!! haha.. thanks alot ya!! well, that's because i have my good sifu to teach me and well i enjoy shooting alot!! +D so trial and error lo...

[vialentino] yes having dslr doesnt make u a pro but it can give you alot of things to play with compared to pns.. that's why i chose to get a dslr!! haha.. faster man!! go get one NIKON !! +D

[charles] hahaha... thanks for the correction.. LOL well, i would choose AWB over jump off the building... i wont die like dat.. LOL not worth... ROFL

[angie] haha... then you should start hitting on it!! LOL +D best!!

[wetwetwater] hahaha... go out more shoot more lo!! hahah... practise makes perfect ma.. LOL +D well, u take great photos also.. besides your knowledge is more than me..

[sandra] hahaha.. you no need to say la!! you are the PRO!! besides!! you also thought me alot of things!! which i have implemented and enhanced! LOL

[harmony] haha.. yes yes!! faster go get one NIKON... hehe..

[nigel] LOL that's a good comparison!! haha... of course i understand... i am an auto driver that move up to manual! LOL

[yatz & josh] why the both of you ask me to wait ar??? LOL hahaha... owh well, when all of us has our own dslr, we can go for photoshoot together gether oredi!! =D yippie!

thenomadGourmand said...

wahh..all the cam-ming kakis..kau tow! *bowing* head...
& ya ya..wil plan the nx makan session in the car on the wy to Pg ok ok..C u soon!

ryejoe said...

i was wondering anyone from penang can shoot me for me...
not with gun la...

and andrew.thanks for ur visit but dont damn the kid...xD

vialentino said...

hey bro...i would like to get a nikon dslr camera too...but lately got a new commitment ler...

Angie Tan said...

Hi Drew,

This weekend I'll definitely try out the "M" mode. Got this link from today's e-mail --> http://digital-photography-school.com/5-situations-when-manual-focus-is-better-than-auto-focus

Cool stuff! ;-)

Andrew said...

[rebecca] haha.. LOL plan already let us know yea! looking forward to it already.. hehe

[ryejoe] oops.. LOL sorry about that.. hehe if KL cna shoot la.. penang ar.. look for dawnrose!! +D

[vialentino] no worries.. no pressure.. take ur time .. will welcome you to the club soon! haha

[angie] coolies!! im sure you gonna enjoy it! ! M best!!

UncleJosh said...

wah seh... so banyak comment~!
well... M mode is something good to get whatever you want within the frame but i guess you would have to learn to trust your camera~~~

and charles key... AWB is needed in most cases but of course... it's nice if you can set the temperature according to your liking ^^

Andrew said...

[unclejosh] LOL!! yea man!! TJ: trust your camera!! ROFL