What are the different camera modes and when to use them?

Many cameras offer a mode dial for easy access to different modes. Many aspiring photographers are led to believe that manual mode is the gold standard and the only setting that "real" photographers use. However, manual mode is just one tool a camera provides, and excluding the others can slow you down or lead to missed opportunities. Modern cameras offer advanced automatic modes and multiple semi-automatic ones like aperture and shutter priority, providing more flexible options without ...