Lesson 8: Shooting in Manual Mode

1. Decide your priority (background blur vs. freezing motion)
2. Set aperture first, based on that priority
3. Set shutter speed second, factoring in motion and the handheld rule
4. Check your light meter, adjust ISO to correct exposure without disturbing your first two choices
5. Take a test shot, check the histogram (not just the screen — it can mislead in bright light)
6. Adjust and reshoot — Manual is iterative, even for professionals

Manual earns its complexity in specific situations: inconsistent lighting, a backlit subject the meter keeps misreading, or a series needing identical exposure across frames. Outside those, Aperture Priority with exposure compensation gets you most of the same control with far less friction.