If you are brand new to photography, you are likely using your camera in auto mode right now. And while modern cameras are highly advanced devices, auto mode can be fooled quite easily and will not always give you the results you want, which is why you should consider learning manual mode. This great video will show you the huge differences between the images that can be made with auto and manual mode.
Coming to you from Photo Genius, this excellent video will show you how auto mode can fail you and thus, why you should consider learning manual mode. Auto mode can give impressively accurate results in a range of scenarios, but as you move to more extreme situations or into more creative ideas, auto mode will likely start to fail you. And beyond that, many scenes have a wide variety of equally valid ways to be captured, and understanding manual mode will give you the tools to choose the one that best matches your creative vision. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
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When I bought my first dslr, 6 years ago, it was for one purpose only : astrophotography... (Some say it's difficult, but in fact, it's easier than many can think). With that in mind, I knew that I had to learn to use the manual mode. So I didn't use any auto (or semi-auto) mode until I could find my way in manual mode. Now, I use manual mode when I have to shoot in interior, in low light, and when I do astrophotography, and usually, I use A (aperture), and sometimes S (only when I shoot cars on a circuit).
He lost me at the blurry rock. The only reason for the rock to be blurry is the 2 second timer wasn't long enough for vibrations to end. Auto would not affect focus. He could have screwed up the focus himself if he focused on the water, but common sense says focus on a fixed object.
The implication is auto screwed up focus, so he leaves new photographers with a misconception.
Also misleading is that he had it on Auto ISO with no upper limit. Aperture or shutter priority with a histogram and EV adjustment would work well too Agree manual is a basic skill to be owned but the perspective could be more balanced
Manual ISO and aperture or shutter priority with EV adjustment is essentially manual. The only time I need full manual is if I can set the controls for the exposure, then take multiple photos where something changing in the scene will affect the meter reading. You're good until the light changes.