Top 12 'Auto-Mode-Busting' Photo Challenges to try for Beginners to Take Creative Control of Their Camera - Goh Ling Yong
Ah, the "Auto" mode. It's the comfortable, safe green square on your camera dial that promises a decent photo every time. And let's be honest, it often delivers! It’s the perfect starting point, a reliable friend that ensures you don’t miss that fleeting family moment or a beautiful sunset. But after a while, you might feel a little... limited. You see a stunning scene, but the photo your camera takes in Auto mode just doesn't capture the magic you felt.
That feeling is your creative spark telling you it’s time to take off the training wheels. The buttons and dials on your camera aren't there to be intimidating; they are your tools for artistic expression. Moving beyond Auto mode is the single most important step you can take to transform your snapshots into photographs that truly reflect your vision. It's about telling your camera what you want to do, not just accepting what it thinks is best.
But where do you start? Jumping straight into the deep end of Manual mode can feel overwhelming. That's why I've put together these 12 fun, practical, and "auto-mode-busting" challenges. Think of them as mini-games for your photography skills. Each one is designed to teach you a core concept in a hands-on way, building your confidence one click at a time. Let's get you in creative control!
1. The Aperture Challenge: Portrait vs. Landscape
This first challenge tackles one of the most creative tools at your disposal: aperture. Aperture (measured in f-stops like f/1.8, f/4, f/11) controls how much of your scene is in focus, a concept called "depth of field." A wide aperture (a low f-number like f/1.8) creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background beautifully. A narrow aperture (a high f-number like f/16) creates a deep depth of field, keeping everything sharp from front to back.
Your mission: Switch your camera to Aperture Priority mode ("A" or "Av"). Find a subject, like a flower, a pet, or a person. First, set your aperture to the widest setting your lens allows (e.g., f/1.8, f/3.5). Focus on your subject and take the shot. Notice how the background melts away into a soft, dreamy blur? This is perfect for portraits. Now, without moving, change your aperture to a narrow setting, like f/11 or f/16. Take the same photo. See how the background is now much sharper and more detailed? This is ideal for landscapes where you want everything in focus. This simple exercise instantly demonstrates your power to direct the viewer's eye.
2. The Shutter Speed Challenge: Freeze vs. Flow
Next up is shutter speed, the master of motion. Shutter speed determines how long your camera's sensor is exposed to light. A fast shutter speed (like 1/1000s) freezes action in a split second, while a slow shutter speed (like 1/15s or longer) captures movement as an elegant blur.
Your mission: Put your camera in Shutter Priority mode ("S" or "Tv"). Find something that moves: a waterfall, cars on a street, a child running in the park. First, dial in a fast shutter speed—try 1/1000s or faster. Take a photo of the moving subject. You’ll capture it frozen in time, with every drop of water or spoke on a wheel perfectly sharp. Next, find a stable place to rest your camera (a tripod is best, but a wall or bench will work). Dial your shutter speed way down to 1/15s or even a full second. Take the shot again. Now, the moving elements will be transformed into smooth, silky blurs, conveying a powerful sense of motion and energy. You've just learned how to control time itself!
3. The ISO Challenge: Light vs. Dark
ISO is the third corner of the "exposure triangle," and it controls your camera's sensitivity to light. A low ISO (100, 200) is best for bright, sunny days, producing clean, high-quality images. A high ISO (1600, 3200, 6400) makes your camera more sensitive, allowing you to shoot in dark conditions without a flash. The trade-off? Higher ISO settings can introduce digital "noise" or grain into your photos.
Your mission: Find a dimly lit indoor scene. Set your camera to Manual ("M") or Aperture Priority ("A"/"Av") mode. Start with your camera's base ISO, usually 100 or 200. Set your aperture and shutter speed to get a proper exposure (or as close as you can). Now, keep the aperture and shutter speed exactly the same, but double your ISO to 400 and take another shot. Then double it again to 800, 1600, and 3200, taking a picture at each step. When you review the photos, you'll see each one get progressively brighter. You'll also notice the grain becoming more apparent at the highest settings. This teaches you how ISO can save a shot in the dark, and what its creative cost is.
4. The One-Lens, One-Hour Walk
We often think more gear equals better photos, but sometimes, limitations are the key to creativity. This challenge forces you to work with what you have and think more carefully about your surroundings. It's a philosophy I, Goh Ling Yong, have always found incredibly valuable for creative growth.
Your mission: Choose one prime lens (a lens that doesn't zoom, like a 50mm or 35mm). If you only have a zoom lens, no problem! Just use a piece of tape to fix it at a single focal length, like 50mm. Now, go for a walk for one hour with a single goal: take photos. Without the ability to zoom in and out, you'll be forced to "zoom with your feet"—moving closer to or further from your subject. You’ll start seeing the world differently, paying more attention to angles, perspective, and composition to make your shots interesting.
5. The Golden Hour Hunt
Photography is all about light, and there is no light more magical than the "golden hour." This is the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, casting a warm, soft, golden glow over everything. The long, soft shadows created during this time add depth and dimension to any scene.
Your mission: Check your local sunrise or sunset times. Plan to be out with your camera for that magical hour. It doesn't matter what you shoot—landscapes, portraits, city streets, or even just objects in your backyard. Your goal is simply to observe and capture this beautiful light. Notice how it wraps around subjects, how it makes colors pop, and how the long shadows define textures. This challenge isn't about technical settings; it's about learning to see and appreciate the quality of light.
6. The Blue Hour Mood
Often overlooked, the "blue hour" is the period just before sunrise and just after sunset, when the sun is below the horizon but its light is still scattered in the atmosphere. This creates a serene, cool, and beautifully even blue light that is perfect for moody and atmospheric shots.
Your mission: Stick around after the sun has set or get up before it rises. As the world falls into twilight, notice the deep blue color that fills the sky. This is a fantastic time for cityscapes, as the cool ambient light balances perfectly with the warm artificial lights of buildings and streetlamps. You'll likely need a tripod for this one, as the low light will require slower shutter speeds. The goal is to capture the quiet, contemplative mood that only exists in these fleeting moments.
7. The Shadow Play Project
Beginners are often taught to photograph their subject, but what if the shadow was the subject? Shadows define shape, create drama, and add a layer of mystery and graphic interest to an image. Learning to see and use shadows is a hallmark of a more advanced photographer.
Your mission: Spend a day actively looking for interesting shadows. This works best when the sun is out, either harsh and high in the sky for strong, graphic shadows, or low in the sky for long, dramatic ones. Look for the shadow of a person, the pattern of a fence cast across a sidewalk, or the silhouette of a tree. Your challenge is to make the shadow the primary point of interest in your photograph. You can even try self-portraits where only your shadow is visible.
8. The Color Theory Quest
Our world is a vibrant canvas of color. This challenge trains your eye to see beyond the subject and start noticing how colors interact within a frame to create harmony, contrast, and emotion.
Your mission: Pick one single color for the day—red, for example. Your task is to go out and photograph only things that are red or feature red as a dominant element. A red car, a red stop sign, a red flower, a person's red coat. By limiting yourself to one color, you'll be amazed at how much you start to notice it everywhere. This exercise sharpens your observation skills and teaches you to build compositions around color as a central theme.
9. The Framing a Frame Challenge
A powerful compositional technique, "framing" involves using elements within the scene to create a natural frame around your main subject. This adds a sense of depth, provides context, and helps lead the viewer's eye directly to what you want them to see.
Your mission: Go on a hunt for natural frames. Look for doorways, windows, archways, overhanging tree branches, or even the gap between two people's shoulders. Once you find a potential frame, your challenge is to position yourself so that your main subject is visible inside it. This forces you to think about layers and depth in your composition, instantly making your photos more sophisticated and thoughtfully constructed.
10. The Leading Lines Mission
Leading lines are one of the most effective compositional tools in a photographer's arsenal. They are lines within the image—like roads, paths, fences, rivers, or architectural elements—that guide the viewer's eye through the frame, usually towards a key subject.
Your mission: Actively search for leading lines in your environment. When you find one, think about how you can use it to create a dynamic and engaging photo. Don't just stand and shoot; get low to the ground to exaggerate the line's perspective. Position your subject at the end of the line to give the viewer's eye a destination. This challenge will fundamentally change how you see and compose scenes, helping you create images with a clear visual path.
11. The Abstract/Texture Treasure Hunt
Not every photograph needs to tell a grand story or show a wide scene. Sometimes, the most compelling images are found in the small details. This challenge is about getting up close and personal and filling your frame with interesting textures and patterns.
Your mission: Set your lens to its closest focusing distance or use a macro mode if your camera has one. Go on a treasure hunt for textures. Look for the intricate patterns in tree bark, the peeling paint on an old wall, the weave of a piece of fabric, the bubbles in a drink, or the ripples on water. Your goal is to fill the entire frame with the texture, removing all other context. This exercise trains your eye for detail and can produce surprisingly beautiful and abstract results.
12. The Full Manual "Exposure Triangle" Test
You've practiced aperture, shutter speed, and ISO individually. Now it's time to put it all together. This is the final boss, the challenge that proves you understand how the three elements of the exposure triangle work in harmony.
Your mission: Find a static subject (something that isn't moving) in a location with consistent light. Switch your camera to full Manual mode ("M"). Your goal is to take three different, but all correctly exposed, photographs of the same scene. For each photo, you must use a different combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. For example:
- Shot 1 (Blurry Background): f/2.8, 1/500s, ISO 100
- Shot 2 (More in Focus): f/8, 1/60s, ISO 100
- Shot 3 (Using ISO): f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 400
This exercise proves that there is no single "correct" setting. Instead, there are multiple ways to achieve a good exposure, and your choice of settings is a purely creative decision that affects the final look and feel of your image. You are now in complete control.
Your Creative Journey Starts Now
Breaking free from Auto mode is a journey, not a race. It’s about building a conversation with your camera, where you are the one making the creative decisions. These twelve challenges are your conversation starters. Don't worry about getting every shot perfect; the goal here is to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them.
The most important thing is to pick one challenge, grab your camera, and go have fun with it. You'll be amazed at how quickly your confidence and your skills will grow. Before you know it, that "Auto" setting will feel like a distant memory, and the full creative potential of your camera will be right at your fingertips.
So, which challenge are you going to try first? I'd love to see what you create! Share your results on social media and tag us, or leave a comment below to tell us about your "auto-mode-busting" journey
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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