One of the best things you can do as a new photographer is to take your camera out of automatic mode and begin learning how to control it manually. This can be a bit daunting, but once you get the hang of it, you will b glad you made the leap. This helpful video tutorial will get you started on the right foot with using your camera's manual mode.
Coming to you from Photo Genius, this great video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of using manual mode on your camera. You might wonder why, as advanced as today's cameras are, we would ever take the camera out of auto mode and control different settings ourselves. There are two reasons for this. First, it is true that modern cameras are remarkably advanced pieces of technology, but they are not infallible, and understanding which situations might cause it to fail can help you ensure you always get the shot. Second, a camera can only work to create a correct exposure. It does not know what you are thinking creatively, and as such, it might not choose the right combination (of which there are often many) that will lead to a shot that both properly exposed and that matches your creative vision. Getting comfortable with working manually will make you both a more competent and more confident photographer. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
Switching to manual exposure and back button focus were two of the best things I've done for my photography. Not for everyone, but it allows me to dial in everything to my liking. With mirrorless, I just use my viewfinder or LCD on all but the brightest days to see what the image will look like. It also helps that I have aperture, shutter speed, and ISO mapped to a separate dial, so I can make instantaneous adjustments.
I really do like to use manual mode especially when using older manual lenses with adapters on my Olympus OM-D EM-5 II. When using one of the auto modes like Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority instead of back button focusing I chose to use the preview button on the front of the camera as my fingers can access it quite easily with my index finger on the shutter release. You can actually learn a lot about how exposure works by experimenting with manual mode and that way you also get used to your camera much quicker.
First I want to Thank You for the view of the back of Canon and Nikon today and have not changed in 23 years, so glad I went Sony. Second saying you need to go Manual is like a slap to one's wallet, Auto comes preloaded on the camera with years of math and formulas and one has payed for it. On a Sony there are two types of Auto to choose. Also saying P, S, A are also Auto, yes somewhat! The first thing you should of shown is a chart of Shutter Speeds, F Stops and ISO and the relation to each in stops of light, there is one of many on the net that can be printed. You can get the same result playing with the three settings in different places. On the bottom of a Sony you have a Meter Mode (M.M.) that indicates +/- and you can adjust any one of the wheels to get a zero, fun to play with getting the same result with different settings. The one thing I did not see was a histogram very important that lets you know brights and darks in the image and a need to also get a 3/4 to the right for fewer blinkies of each when reviewing the image.
One point is you can ask any photographer of any genre and they will say Aperture is used 90% of the time. Why? Is depth of field and sharpness, even using the widest lens f/8 to f/11 is used so that is a fixed value and depending on day or night ISO will also be set so the camera will pick a SS.
It like capturing the Moon, the lightbulb at night, SS and ISO are equal but start at 125, it bright so a low ISO but a fast SS because it moves, but if you also want to stop clouds you can use SS 250 or 500 and A is set to f/8 to f/11 for sharpness.
To best learn manual settings is to use full Auto then review settings then go into Manual and use those settings but adjust each also to see the outcomes, best if you have a rear liveview LCD.
Also the dark image can be brightened in post getting detail but a bright image will lack detail if played with, so it is alright to have a dim image for you can work it.
If your camera has Zebras and you adjust in the negative EV to rid say in clouds or a white bird you will have a dim or dark image BUT you will detail like in fall and trees of color will shine with Zebras with the reflection of sunlight and clouds will be washed out, the reason Cloudy days are best for colors.
Sad the most used camera is the phone camera and in auto 99% just fast and easy like pocket film of yesteryear!
Gotta say, your photos are fabulous!