Experienced photographers typically set their camera’s Mode Dial to Manual or Aperture Priority for most of their work. But there’s another option that’s frequently overlooked and you’ll learn exactly how it works and when to use it in the quick tutorial below.
This “secret” mode is known as “Hybrid Manual” and in offers plenty of control while avoiding intricacies of the conventional Manual mode. In the next 10 minutes instructor Pierre T. Lambert explains everything you need to know, and why he says that combining Manual Mode with Auto ISO is the best way to unlock the power of this style of shooting.
Lambert earned an engineering degree before deciding to pursue his true passion as a professional travel photographer. He explains the hybrid shooting mode like this: “It allows you to combine the flexibility of adjusting various parameters with the advantages of a camera’s intelligence, and a lot of experienced photographers use it every day.”
The best way to follow Lambert’s expert advice is to grab your camera and a notepad before launching the video. Along the way you’ll learn how ISO impacts images when shooting in Hybrid Auto, as well as the best way to adjust aperture and shutter speed accordingly to achieve the best possible results.
By letting the camera set ISO automatically, all you have to take care of is the other two variables of the familiar Exposure Triangle. Lambert admits that there are extreme situations in which the exposure may miss the mark, like with a subject against a very bright background or the reverse.
So what to do? Lambert recommends leaving the camera set to Auto ISO and using EV Compensation to balance out the tones. His starting point is to bump exposure up or down by a single stop and take things further as necessary.
There are a few other key considerations to understand, and one of the most important is a setting that prevents the camera from increasing or decreasing ISO beyond reasonable limits. You’ll may have to dig through your camera’s to locate this option, but it works the same regardless of the specific model you own.
Once you get the hang of shooting in Hybrid Auto (and it doesn’t take long) there’s a good chance that you’ll use this powerful approach more often than not. Lambert’s instructional YouTube channel includes other helpful lessons like this one. So be sure to check it out.
We also suggest watching the tutorial we featured earlier with another accomplished outdoor photographer who demonstrates five powerful techniques for shooting and editing impressive photographs of birds and other wildlife subjects.
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