I have participated in many discussions on various exposure modes during my learning process in the craft of photography.  Most cameras, with the exception of the cheaper models, have various choices of exposure modes including fully automatic, program, priority, and fully manual.  For some reason, most photographers in my online communities sing the praises of shooting everything in the fully manual mode.  I understand when a fully manual mode is required to achieve certain goals, but I have no idea why anyone would choose fully manual exposure mode for anything else.  Maybe it makes the photographer feel better about what they are doing.  Can a better photo be achieved using the manual mode as opposed to the other choices? 

FULLY AUTOMATIC

In the fully automatic mode, the camera makes all the exposure decisions for the photographer.  No thought of the process is required.  The photographer simply must point the camera and press the button.  When a photographer wants to take some creative control over the photograph, one of the other modes must be chosen.  The primary advantage of shooting in the fully automatic mode is that you don’t have to worry about anything concerned with the exposure.  You are always ready to shoot and the camera does all the work for you.  If the camera thinks you need a flash for the photo, the flash will pop up and be ready to fire when you press the shutter release button.  The drawback of the fully automatic mode is that you don’t get to make any creative exposure decisions. 

PROGRAM MODE

The program mode is very similar to the fully automatic mode with a few exceptions.  When a photo is composed in program mode, the camera automatically selects proper exposure values, but the photographer may override them if he chooses.  The program mode also requires the photographer to take control of flash and ISO settings.  The program mode is an advanced fully automatic mode.  Program mode behaves differently among camera makes and models, so it’s important to check your user manual to see how this mode behaves on your specific camera.  Any manual adjustments in the program mode will usually be reset to the automatic mode after each photo is made.

PRIORITY MODE - SHUTTER

The shutter priority mode is not a fully automatic exposure mode.  In shutter priority mode, the photographer is responsible for choosing a shutter speed for every photograph.  When the photographer has selected a desired shutter speed, the camera will automatically select a matched aperture size for a correct exposure.  In this mode, the photographer is responsible for choosing shutter speed, ISO setting, and flash configuration.  The shutter priority mode is most often used when a photographer wants to stop action or show movement with blur in a photograph.  In other words, when a creative decision on the photographer’s part about capturing motion must be made, this exposure mode may be a good choice.

PRIORITY MODE - APERTURE

The aperture priority mode is very similar to the shutter priority mode.  In this mode, the photographer must manually select an aperture size.  Once that selection has been made, the camera will select an appropriate shutter speed for a correct exposure.  Much like the shutter priority mode, the photographer is responsible for choose the aperture size, ISO setting, and flash configuration.  The aperture priority mode is most often used when a photographer wants to control the depth of field in a particular image. 

MANUAL MODE

There is nothing automatic about the manual exposure mode.  The photographer is responsible for choosing every aspect of the exposure.  The photographer must select an aperture size, a shutter speed, an ISO setting, and configure any flash settings for the particular setting. 

Here is a chart showing the relationships of the various exposure modes:

Now, back to the original question.  Why would a photographer choose manual mode for everything?  I have a few theories, but no really strong conclusions.

• Some photographers may consider the resulting image to have more personal value if they manually controlled everything about the exposure. 
• Some photographers like to modify exposures to create an effect that can’t be achieved in one of the other modes, such as over or underexposing a photo by more that would be allowed by an exposure compensation change.
• Some photographers believe that the resulting image is better in some way when shot in manual exposure mode.

I can’t think of any good reason that a photographer would shoot everything in manual exposure mode unless everything they do is done in a studio with studio lighting equipment.  I believe that letting the camera do some of the work significantly reduces the likelihood of bad exposures.  When a photographer is in a dynamic environment, I believe it’s counter-productive to have to set a manual exposure for every scene.  One of two bad things is bound to happen quite frequently.  The photo will be improperly exposed, or the photo opportunity will be missed.

I don’t believe there is any added value in photography of shooting everything in fully manual exposure mode.  I do strongly believe that knowing how to do it is important to any photographer.  Back in the good ole’ days when our forefathers had to walk up hill barefoot in the snow both ways to school with their sister on their back, cameras didn’t have any automatic modes.  Somehow they managed to survive though.  The only difference between that time and now is that we are able to produce more good photos in the same amount of time. 

Let your camera work for you.  There is no shame involved!

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