Does anyone have advice on how to shoot photography in manual?

  • Thread starter Thread starter May May
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May May

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I just took a digital photography class and got used to shooting everything in Av (aperture priority) and Tv (shutter priority). I'm going to be taking a film photography class soon, but I only have a manual camera. Any tips on shooting in manual? Sometimes I feel like I can't capture quick moments because I spend ten seconds getting the light meter right, and by then the moment is gone. Maybe I just need to practice and get faster...? Any advice on how to get better shooting in manual?
 
Learn to count stops. Start counting from the sunny 16 rule (see link). Sunny day outside, 100 speed film, requires f/16 aperature, and 1/125 shutter.

Okay, sunny 16 has a light value of 15. An overcast day has a light value (lv) of 12. Each number down in light value is half the light, so you need to do something to double the light that is entering the camera.

Each full stop of the aperature is double or half the light. Each shutter speed is double or half the light that gets let in. Either of those movements is call a stop.

So for the overcast, 100 speed film, LV 12, I count three stops: I can have 1/125 and f/5.6 aperature, or I could have f/16 and 1/15 shutter speed, or I could mix the two, have 1/60 shutter speed and f/8 aperature.

You light meter should tell you something similar, but for normal shooting, you don't really even need it that much. Negative film has exposure latitude, meaning that if you overexpose or underexpose it by a bit, then you still have a good picture.
 
when shooting full manual its a matter of practice and pre-planning. If you know your going to shoot at dusk, then go the day before to the area and pre-scout the scene, take some basic light measurments. Get a feel for the area. That will help alot. Also, trust your instincts and not always what the meter tells you to do. Most important, have fun. When its fun, your not working or thinking so hard and it becomes easier.
 
Learn to count stops. Start counting from the sunny 16 rule (see link). Sunny day outside, 100 speed film, requires f/16 aperature, and 1/125 shutter.

Okay, sunny 16 has a light value of 15. An overcast day has a light value (lv) of 12. Each number down in light value is half the light, so you need to do something to double the light that is entering the camera.

Each full stop of the aperature is double or half the light. Each shutter speed is double or half the light that gets let in. Either of those movements is call a stop.

So for the overcast, 100 speed film, LV 12, I count three stops: I can have 1/125 and f/5.6 aperature, or I could have f/16 and 1/15 shutter speed, or I could mix the two, have 1/60 shutter speed and f/8 aperature.

You light meter should tell you something similar, but for normal shooting, you don't really even need it that much. Negative film has exposure latitude, meaning that if you overexpose or underexpose it by a bit, then you still have a good picture.
 
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