need your expertise

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and hopefully I have found some help!! I have a canon rebel digital. it takes great photos, when i have it on the auto button. my question is.........the shutter speeds!! I lost my manual when i first got my camera (must have gotten thrown away? ) and so I've been winging it since. on auto (the little square icon) the pictures turn out great) but when i turn it to the motion icon the shutter speed is so slow! and of course everything is blurred. it happens on most of the other icons too. and without the manual, i'm completely in the dark.........and being a beginner doesn't help!
I've taken pictures of barrell racers and some turn out great and some blurred, but it's always a guess with me. I'd like to be consistant! I know this camera is capable of doing so much more. Is this a complex thing or can someone explain it in a posting like this? I would sure appreciate any help!!
tnx!

Don't use the mode buttons, and stay away from the green box. Go to the Luminous Landscape website and read some of the articles about exposure there. Then start experimenting with the AV setting so you will come to understand depth of field. For action, you might try using the TV setting with higher ISO's to freeze action. The book, Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson will also explain a lot.

green box? whats the green box? ok, i'll go to the website you recommended. higher iso? is it the higher the number the lighter the picture? or reversed? or am i way out in left field? I know i sound like an idiot, but i'm desperate enough not to care if it gets me some knowledge.
tnx for the reply

Read the book and the website articles.

ISO=Sensitivity to light
Aperture=Amount of light
Shutter=Duration of light

Once you understand how these three things impact one another, all will become clear.

You can get a pdf version of the manual by going to the www.canonusa.com site:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …egoryid=139&mod​elid=11154

On the product page, select "Support" on the right hand side, then "Support and Service". This takes you to a new page where you can pick download "Product/Software Manuals".

Note that the pdf version is sometimes much nicer than using the paper version since you can search the document by keyword.

cinderella wrote in post #2322514
green box? whats the green box? ok, i'll go to the website you recommended. higher iso? is it the higher the number the lighter the picture? or reversed? or am i way out in left field? I know i sound like an idiot, but i'm desperate enough not to care if it gets me some knowledge.
tnx for the reply

This is such a wonderful attitude! Way to go!

"Green Box" is the green square on the camera's Mode dial, It's one of the "Basic Zone" settings (the ones with pictures on the dial; the letters are part of the "creative Zone", where you have more control). If you're in the "Basic Zone", you can't set the ISO (light sensitivity). In the Creative Zone, the higher the ISO setting the less light the camera needs to get your picture. So if it's dark, or if you're trying to stop fast action (not that barrel racing's fast, or anything!), you can set a higher ISO setting to let you use a shorter (faster) shutter speed.

Thank you all for the information!! I have a cup of coffee and a full day to read and learn!! I sure appreciate this!!

Thank so so much for the website info!! At last i have the manual!! I had no idea this site was there. I have a whole day off to learn and shoot!