What is a key characteristic of manual settings in photography?

In manual settings of photography, the key characteristic is that both shutter speed and aperture must be set by the operator. This level of control allows photographers to craft their images precisely according to their creative vision or the specific lighting conditions they are working with. By manually adjusting the shutter speed, the photographer can control how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light, which affects motion blur and exposure. Adjusting the aperture allows the user to control the depth of field, influencing how much of the scene appears in focus. This manual manipulation ensures that the photographer has complete authority over the resulting image, which is particularly important in artistic photography, where specific effects and details need to be highlighted.

The other choices do not accurately describe manual settings, as automatic settings or limited user control would undermine the essence of manual photography, which is fundamentally about the operator’s ability to make deliberate adjustments.