Manual Camera Settings

Manual settings in photography can allow the photographer to adjust the different settings however they would like in order to compensate for the environment. This allows for more clear and better quality pictures.

Given 4 categories, we all took turns taking photos of the different categories. The first was a large object in the Niswonger Hangar. (Figure.1) As I positioned the camera I took time to adjust the different settings. Ensuring the ISO and the Aperture were good enough to not have the image under or over exposed I snapped the photo and moved on to the next. Next was the bike rack outside of the Niswonger building. (Figure.2) This one was trickier due to it being mid day and the sun fully out. I adjusted the settings once more. Third was a statue of an owl in low light. (Figure.3) Due to it being in low light I was forced to raise the ISO and lower the shutter speed. Last was an object of our choice and I chose a chair in the same dark as the owl. (Figure. 4) Similar settings were used in this photo as well but not as exaggerated since the chair was not relatively total darkness.

(Figure.1)

(Figure.2)

(Figure.3)

(Figure.4)

Depending on the environment that the photos are being taken, manual settings will allow you to adjust each image to come out better than auto settings. In the next few figures below are the settings that I used for each of the above images. The difference in the settings is sometimes large and sometimes small depending on the settings. For instance in figure 2 the shutter speed was faster and the ISO as low as it could go, while the aperture was as high as it could go. The high aperture allowed for light to reach the sensor but since the shutter speed and the ISO were slow, the photo was not overexposed. (Figure.2-1) The opposite was done for figure 3. The shutter speed was higher (faster) in order to allow more light to reach the lens and no have the photo come out too dark. The aperture was lowered and the ISO was raised. (Figure.3-1)

(Figure.1-1)

(Figure.2-1)

(Figure.3-1)

(Figure.4-1) 

In conclusion, adjusting the different settings when taking a photograph are very important to the quality of the picture. If one setting is off then the quality of the photo will be lower than if all 3 were set adequately. Every environment is different and will require different settings based on light and background. All of these, once mastered, will give you photographs that are clear and have the perfect amount of light.