On these low-light, late afternoon shoots, the light levels are constantly changing – ideal for Aperture Priority or Program. Here, I’ve got the lens wide open to get that shallow depth of field and to keep shutter speeds as high as they will go with the ISO level I’ve set – in this case, 400. Nikon D7100 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/500 sec at f5,6. ISO 400

There was a lot happening with these rhino and having set the camera to Program mode meant I didn’t have to worry about exposure, concentrating instead on what the animals were doing and on getting the composition right. Nikon D7100 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/320 sec at f5,6. ISO 400.

This young female leopard was bouncing around this tree, having a fine time – one moment in full sun, the next in shadow. This is not the time for manual – I would prefer Aperture Priority or Program. Nikon D7100 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/400 sec at f9. ISO 400.

This is a case for manual everything. When shooting panoramas, one has to keep things constant from frame to frame – that means white balance, focus and exposure – and the best way to ensure this is to switch to manual completely. Nikon D800 and 16 - 35mm lens. 1/40 sec at f13. ISO 200

Here’s a situation where Manual Mode can work. Constant lighting conditions mean that you can set up an exposure and hold it, but I still prefer to work in the auto modes that I’m used to. Nikon D800 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/5000 at f7,1. ISO 400.

For me, Canons work well in Aperture Priority and here I set an aperture of f/10 on the 16-35mm lens, which gave me a really nice depth of field. So easy and quick to select, the shutter speed floating as the light faded... Canon 1DsR and 16 - 35mm lens. 0,5 sec at f10. ISO 400

I have this wonderful little (it’s tiny) Samyang 7.5mm fisheye lens that I use for some of my mountain- biking photographs and the like. It’s fantastic – sharp, light and gives fantastic results. Panasonic GH5 and 7.5mm Samyang fisheye.