I recently began a series of four Private Lessons with someone to get them working in manual exposure mode.

During our first meeting, we metered and used our aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve a standard or mid-tonality.   

Getting to a standard tonality is essential because that's the tonality we want to start with. 

And we want to always start with it because It's a known, consistent value.

But it doesn't mean we need to keep that tonality.

We can change it by increasing or decreasing exposure or ISO to increase (brighten) or decrease (darken) our standard tonality.  

If we're working in fully automatic, we have no control over changing tonality because it'll always be automatically set to standards.

Using aperture or shutter priority, we can change tonality using exposure compensation. 

Still, that standard tonality may shift if our meter reads a light source that isn't the same light source we originally metered. 

In other words, our tonality can uncontrollably change even in aperture and shutter priority modes.

It's important to note that regardless of the exposure mode (aperture priority, shutter priority, or automatic), starting with the standard tonality is always where the camera takes us. 

Still, we can't change it at all in full automatic. And we can't change it reliably in aperture priority or shutter priority.

The only exposure mode that allows any changes in our exposure to control tonality to remain constant is manual exposure mode.

And that's one of the many advantages of working in manual exposure mode. 

It's the only mode where we get total creative control. 

And if that's something you'd

like to learn, register for the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class.

About Sam

Sam D'Amico, a professional photographer and photography instructor, helps anyone who wants to be a better photographer. 

He'll work with his students to increase their understanding of camera operation, composition, light, and lighting. 

Sam started working as a professional photographer in the mid-1980s.

Most notably, from 1992 to 1997, while working as a freelance photographer, he photographed over 500 assignments for the New York Times.

Additionally, Sam received awards for his work while exhibiting his photographs in shows. 

Sam began teaching photography professionally in 1998 through the Highland Park, N.J. recreation department. 

In 2002 Sam moved to Washington, D.C., and began teaching at the accredited Washington School of Photography in Bethesda, Md.

It was in 2003 that Sam developed his curriculum and started teaching classes in Washington, D.C. 

In 2018 and 2022, the Sam D'Amico Photography Classes were voted the "Best of DC" art class by the readers of the Washington City Paper. 

Many photography teachers spend a lot of time teaching about DSLRs and rules of composition that create homogenized, rigid photographs.

On the other hand, Sam teaches about camera operation, thought process, and the individual photographer's visual communication intent. 

This approach to teaching allows his students to use ANY camera (yes, even the camera on their phone) and break free of the rules of composition.

Approaching the creative process this way allows for fluid and spontaneous photographs unique to the photographer creating them.

Sam encourages his students to find their ways as photographers. 

He instills the skills in his students that result in creative, engaging, and unique compositions that reflect the photographer's intended one-of-a-kind visual expression.