manual mode confused me, until i read this

when i started my journey with photography, i wanted to learn everything i could about my camera.  most importantly i wanted to learn manual mode.  i bought books, i took classes and everything made me go cross-eyed.  i was so new to all the photography terms and nothing was making any sense.  so i decided to turn my camera to aperture priority mode and i took off with photography.  that’s right, i am admitting to not knowing how to use my camera in manual mode…well, until 11 days ago, that is.  11 days ago, i bought an eBook that completely changed my understanding of manual mode and i am proud to finally say that i turned the dial on my camera to M!  all thanks to an amazing eBook that perfectly explained manual mode.

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Manual Mode Confused Me, Until I Read This

Manual Mode Confused Me, Until I Read This | Bethadilly Photographythe eBook that helped me finally “get it” with manual mode is called the unexpected everyday, written by my gorgeous friend courtney of click it up a notch!  this eBook encourages you to take a 30 day challenge of picking up your camera every single day to practice your skill!  each day, you are given a task that incorporates both a photography skill and capturing a moment in your child’s life.  now, i know what you are thinking.  you are thinking, “beth, you don’t have kids!”  and, you are right.  but even though i don’t have kids, i was still able to incorporate the daily photography skill as i was clicking my camera.  this eBook talks about great photography techniques, like leading lines, backlighting, and negative space.  i learned some really interesting techniques that i can apply to my photography, even though i don’t have a child to practice on.  but i do have some puppies, and they are great little models!  and i am definitely incorporating these techniques as i am simply documenting my everyday!

oh, and did i mention that this eBook is the reason why i totally understand manual mode now?  after being so intimidated by the M for almost 2 years, i am now photographing confidently in manual mode.  after reading just a few sentences in this book about manual mode, the light bulb above my head finally flicked on.  courtney does a perfect job of simplifying manual mode and explaining it in everyday terms.    she walks you through M mode effortlessly and, before i turned another page of the book, i picked up my camera and switched over to M.

i practically read the unexpected everyday in one sitting and, because of it, i find myself inspired to try new techniques every time i pick up my camera.  so, go get this book.  like right now!  whether you want to tackle manual mode, need inspiration on how to document your children in photos, or simply want to gain a better understanding about photography techniques, the unexpected everyday eBook is for you!

11 days ago on february 1st, i switched my nikon d610 and my nikon d600 to manual mode.  and it is all because of this amazing eBook and the sweet lady who wrote it.  thanks, courtney for inspiring me to get to know my camera even better!  i am proud to have your eBook on my bookshelf!

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  • Kathy Edmonds Gripp - Thanks for this article I bought this book over a year ago not much of a book person but you sound a lot like me, can’t wait to read and grow. My babies are puppies too! Thanks for the kick start to get Courtney’s book outReplyCancel

  • Eileen McIntyre Dibble - I had the exact same experience! I recommend it to everyone!ReplyCancel

  • Christy Clark - My child is now 21, so I don’t have children to practice with. Do you think this would be helpful for me?ReplyCancel

  • Rebekah Baier - This ebook was really the starting point of learning my camera and manual mode last year. I haven’t looked back – 100% attribute the excitement I have for my newfound passion to Courtney!! Highly recommend to everyone – with kids or not!ReplyCancel

  • Suzie Evans Horton - Always an inspiration! Once I learned how to use Manual Mode, everything made so much sense. I am going on 4 years! My boys are off to college and are not home often. I look to nature, my dog and road trips for inspiration. And when my boys come home, I ambush them. I also take tons of photos of them playing lacrosse. 🙂 Thank you for the wonderful inspiration. XOReplyCancel

  • Christina Kliphardt - I have been a professional photographer for a year and a half. I love what I do and being a part of special moments, meeting new people and watching littles grow up. I would be embrassed when season photographers would talk to me about manual and I had no clue how to answer them. It sometimes made me second guess if this was for me. I know it is though because I get anxious when a couple days go by and I have not picked up my camera. Thank you so much for sharing this! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Melissa Hanson Gomez - I bought this late last night and still haven’t received itReplyCancel

  • Patty Limaco - Just ordered! It has been on my list for awhile and your post convinced me to get it. Can’t wait to spend the long weekend reading! Thank you for the rec 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Mahogany Lit - I have been wanting this ebook for a while now. I am like you, all the info I have read about M mode just never stuck. I will say that I have put my camera on manual mode a while ago and haven’t taken it off but my pics don’t always come out the way I intended. I am always so inspired by you. Thank you for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • dawn - Courtney also helped me get manual mode with a post on her blog. Now I start in Manual & change if I can’t figure out how to get the results I want. But am no longer afraid of it.ReplyCancel

  • Helen Harris - Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll definitely check it out. Early this year, I promised myself I would stop using my DSLR as a point-and-shoot, but so far, I’ve only ventured into aperture mode. This ebook sounds like just the thing to get me started on manual 🙂ReplyCancel

    • {beth} a-dilly - you will adore this book, helen! definitely go check it out! i love aperture mode, it was a great first step for me before going full manual!ReplyCancel

  • the journal that encourages me to print my photos » beth a-dilly - […] was a photo that was chosen and featured by a photography forum or the very first photo i took in manual mode, my photos tend to hold a special memory.  using double sided tape, i placed my photos, one by one […]ReplyCancel

  • Cindy - Just finished the unexpected everyday and you just confirmed the value I thought I foundReplyCancel

  • 10 gift ideas for photographers » beth a-dilly - […] 4.  the unexpected everyday eBook   i would have never understood manual mode if it wasn’t for this eBook.  after years of struggling with the concept of photographing in M, i finally purchased this eBook and learned manual mode within days!  yes, days!  to read even more about what amazing things this eBook taught me about photography, check out my post about the unexpected everyday. […]ReplyCancel

  • 8 tips for completing a 365 photography project » beth a-dilly - […] completing a 365 photography project was the  best thing that i ever did for my photography.  it taught me how to see my everyday in an interesting way and how to portray my life through the lens of my camera.  even better, completing a 365 photography project helped me build my camera skill in ways that i never thought possible.  instead of fumbling with my camera and guessing what settings to choose, i learned how to become confident behind the lens and master manual mode. […]ReplyCancel

  • Kassie O'Driscoll - I just downloaded this book! I’m doing The Bethadilly Challenge and hope that this gives me the boost and inspiration that I need to be better at the end of the year… not to mention that I, too, have a little one on the way! This is perfect. Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Lindsey Boden - I was skeptical about how helpful this book would actually be, but I am only one chapter in and I learned so much!! Thank you so much for recommending it!ReplyCancel

  • lottie - yay well now you DO have a kid to practice on!! she’s a doll, congrats!! hope you guys are doing well!!!!<3 <3 <3ReplyCancel

  • 10 Tips For Photographing Your Own Newborn » bethadilly - […] kids is a great motivation for you to finally learn manual mode!  be sure to check out my post, Manual Mode Confused Me Until I Read This, to learn how i finally conquered M […]ReplyCancel

  • A Step-By-Step Guide For Taking Self Portraits With A DSLR » bethadilly - […] are you struggling with manual mode?  then you must read one of my most popular posts about how i finally conquered manual mode. […]ReplyCancel

  • 25 Family Christmas Pictures You Must Take » bethadilly - […] time to finally learn manual mode and get the pictures your want, even in low light!  check out how i finally conquered manual mode to inspire your camera skill this […]ReplyCancel

  • 5 Photography Projects Every Photographer Should Do » bethadilly - […] are you struggling with manual mode?  be sure to check out how i finally conquered manual mode. […]ReplyCancel

  • 10 Photography Resolutions You Should Be Making » bethadilly - […] there’s no better time than the new year to finally conquer manual mode.  i put off learning manual mode for a long time and manual mode confused me, until i read this. […]ReplyCancel

  • Bethadilly’s Bookshelf » bethadilly - […] to see how i finally learned manual mode, be sure to read manual mode confused me, until i read this. […]ReplyCancel

  • Summer Photography: 10 Photos You Must Take - bethadilly - […] for more help on how to learn manual mode, check out my post manual mode confused me, until i read this. […]ReplyCancel

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