Almost all digital camera's that are more than a point and shoot camera allow you to set some settings manually. Doing this allows you to set the aperture and the shutter speed independently of each other. The advantage of having the capability to do this is, you can adjust the settings to fit the situation of shooting for optimum outcome. If your camera has the capabilities to use manual settings, and you are not taking advantage of it, you may be missing out on some of the best shots you can get. Take a few minutes and read this article, take some notes, and try to remember these tips next time you are out shooting. It could mean the difference between a good picture and a great picture.

Here are 10 tips you should memorize to help you take better photos with your camera with manual settings. You don’t have to have an SLR to use these tips, but you need to have a camera that you shoot in manual mode.

1. The sunny 16 rule. The basic rule for taking photos outside in direct sunlight. Set camera for F16 and shutter speed to 1/100.

2. The correct exposure for shooting the moon. Full moon F11 at 1/iso. ½ moon, F8 at 1/iso. ¼ moon, F5.6 at 1/iso. Set camera on manual, set aperture at the proper f stop, then set shutter speed at. If you are shooting at iso 100, set shutter speed to 1/100.

3. The slowest shutter speed you should use for hand held shots, without image stabilization, is 1/ focal length of lens. Ex. If shooting with 300mm lens, you should not shoot below 1/300 if shooting hand held.

4. To get the best depth of field when taking a long shot. Focus the camera about 1/3 of the way into shot, and set camera to aperture priority. Set aperture to largest f number you can while still having a fast enough shutter speed.

5. If your taking an important shot. Bracket the shot or take several shots at different exposures. Also shoot in RAW format if you can. You can do a lot in post processing if you need to.

6. Use your fill flash when shooting outside. This will fill in facial shadows and make for better exposed shots if your shooting objects that are within your flash range.

7. To get proper exposure for a sunset shot. Point the meter at the area directly above the sun, don’t include the sun in the metering. Then set your camera to 1 stop less than the meter reading.

8. When shooting with a snow covered ground, stop down 2 stops to get the snow to come out white in the shot and not gray.

9. To stop action. If subject moving across in front of you, you need to have shutter speed of 1/500. If moving at 45 degrees to you 1/250 will do, and if moving toward you at a reasonable speed 1/125 will do.

10. Flash rule. If flash range is 20 ft at iso 100, it will be good to 40 ft at iso 400.

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