This guide is for new photographers, an explanation of what those M A S P letters on the control wheel mean and what they do, and what aperture and shutters do and how they work together. This guide is essentially for film camera users, but digital camera users will hopefully find it helpful also. Let's start with a few basic terms, what they mean and what they do.

Let's start with shutter and aperture, what they do and how they work together. The shutter is what opens when you press the release button, and lets light get to the film. Depending on the camera and setting, the time the shutter remains open can range from very slow speeds of seconds, to very fast speeds of 1/8000 of a second.

The aperture is what controls the amount of light coming through the lens. Take your lens and look through it, and turn the aperture ring. Can you see how the diaphragm gets bigger and smaller depending on which way you turn the ring? It's like the pupil of your eye. Lot's of light, smaller pupil. Not much light, bigger pupil. Now here's the confusing part, but you have to remember this. It's exactly the opposite of what you would expect. Bigger F-stop number, smaller aperture. Smaller F-stop number, bigger aperture. It also determines how much of what you're shooting is clear and what is fuzzy. This is where you get to play with settings and see what happens. I strongly suggest that you get a little notebook and note your settings until you have a real feel for how settings work together. Note the date, type of film, frame number, aperture setting, and shutter speed. This will allow you to really see what your settings do, rather than trying to remember. I did that for years until we got cameras smart enough to remember for us, and I still make notes today, even after 35 years of photography. I'm the photographer for a 7500 acre wilderness park, and I make notes of subjects and locations to go along with the technical data. It all depends on how deeply you want to get into your camera. If all this is too much, set the dial to P and fire away! :-)

Now let's talk about what the F-stop settings do in a little more detail, and then we'll put it all together with how it works together with the shutter speed.

Smaller F-stops (larger openings) are generally used in portrait and macro photography. The smaller F-stops keep the subject clear while making everything else fuzzy. This keeps anything else from distracting the viewer away from your subject. Same thing in macro (close up) photography. It makes that gorgeous flower crystal clear without any distractions.

Larger F-stops (smaller openings) help make everything clear. Let's say you're taking a group shot in front of the Washington Monument, and you want the monument and reflecting pool clear in your picture, as well as your family. For this we go to our larger stops. Again, experiment and play, try different settings. Above all, photography should be a fun and creative part of your life, a way to not only remember wonderful things in your life, but to see and show things in different ways. A quick reminder again. Say it with me, now. :-) Smaller F-stop bigger opening. Larger F-stop smaller opening.

Intermission! Go get a fresh cup of coffee, stretch a little, popcorn is as close as your microwave. :-) No problem, take your time, I'll wait for you.

Ok, everybody ready? Here we go. The way the aperture setting and shutter speed works together is pretty simple. At automatic settings, the larger the opening, the more light coming in, the faster the shutter speed. Less light coming in, slower shutter speed. This can be overridden with your manual setting, but that's another tale. So now that we have the basics down, let's get into what those M A S P settings do.

M is for Manual. In this setting you control both aperture and shutter speed manually. Different cameras use different methods, from buttons to control wheels. Your manual will tell you how your camera makes changes.

A is for Aperture. In this mode you control the aperture setting, and the camera chooses the correct shutter speed. Nice if you know how much you want clear, but aren't sure of the correct shutter speed for the amount of light available.

S is for Shutter. In this mode you set the shutter speed and the camera determines the correct aperture setting. Very nice if you want to slow the shutter down to make it look like smoke pouring over the waterfall instead of water. Here's a fun series of pictures to try. Take your tripod along, you'll need it. Set up at a waterfall, doesn't have to be a big one. I live near a flood control channel with lots of rocks in it. Makes neat little waterfalls, and you can't tell I'm shooting in town and not in the country. Set your camera to S mode, and choose a faster speed, say 1000. Now start stepping the shutter speed down. Do it in any increments you'd like, just be sure you get down to at least a full second open. That's why you need a tripod. It takes a steadier hand than mine to keep that camera perfectly still for that long. Now go get those pictures developed and see what you've done. Pretty cool, don't ya think? :-)

P is for Programmed. Point that baby, focus and shoot. The camera figures it all out for you. That's the mode I use if I know I'm going to have to shoot fast, such as when shooting deer, bobcat, or birds in flight. If the deer aren't spooky and give me time, I might use another mode, usually aperture to capture scenery.

With some practice with your different settings you'll be taking awesome photos in no time. Like everything else, practice practice practice is the key. Buy film on sale, here on eBay, ask for it for Christmas and your birthday, but get lots of film. Take 5 different pictures of the same subject in 5 different ways, and see what happens. Experiment, play, and don't worry about the shot that didn't come out just right.  It'll all come together for you. Have fun, and happy shooting!