While working with a photographer today during the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class, the photographer asked which exposure mode is best to work in and why.
 

If you know me, you know my answer, but let me share the one I shared in class.

I said that the best exposure mode is subjective.
 

But in general, we’ve got two choices.

We’ve got automatic exposure modes that let the camera create the picture for us.

Or we’ve got manual exposure mode, where we create the picture because we have full control over every element of a composition related to the camera and lens.

And, as usual, I just don’t answer, we create an opportunity to put it (my answer) to the test.

Nothing beats firsthand experience: we tested my answer with a hands-on experiment to compare the reliability, consistency, and predictability of picture creation across automatic and manual exposure modes.

Automatic settings often make exposure decisions that don’t match what we see or want—scenes with high or low brightness, like snowy landscapes or black things like a pile of coal.
 

Also, because of what a meter does automatically or because of what we do with a meter manually, which is to achieve a standard or mid tonality, a lot of of the times we’re left with photographs that are too light or too dark.
 

And since we didn’t have a snowy landscape or a pile of coal, we did this with a white paper cup and a black lens.

During our studies and practice, we switched between automatic exposure modes, including fully automatic, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual.
 

The automatic exposure modes did the work for us. In manual exposure mode, we did the work because we could set aperture, shutter speed, and ISO together.

When working in automatic exposure modes, tonalities were inconsistent and unreliable, even when adjusting compensation in the priority exposure modes.

However, when working in manual exposure mode, our exposures became consistent, even as the objects we are photographing changed.
 

In other words, we controlled the composition of our photograph rather than having the camera control it for us.

Manual exposure lets us decide how bright or dark our pictures are.

Once we choose our exposure and ISO settings, our tonality/exposure remains consistent, unlike in automatic exposure mode.

The big deal about manual exposure mode is about being a better photographer because it’s about being reliable and predictable with our results.

If you want to learn to work in manual exposure mode and create more consistent, intentional photographs, consider enrolling in the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class, or you could learn the same material through a series of private lessons.

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.