Beginner When to use which mode (M/A/S)?

[Bondservant]

So while I'm learning the exposure triangle (I understand the basics, but it hasn't become "fluent" in my mind yet), I've been trying to stay in manual mode on my Nikon D5300. When would it be best to use aperture priority or shutter priority modes?

 

[ancient_mariner]

Use shutter priority when it is important to control exposure time (i.e. you need to freeze something or want to blur something).
Use aperture priority when you need to fix depth of field or must to stop the lens down for another good technical reason like quality.
Use manual when the scene in front of you might confuse the camera metering, or it needs to be over-ridden for another reason like using flash.

That's it really. You can use exposure compensation to help overall, or if your camera has it, spot metering to manage the exposure automatically but with less general metering.

 

[Bondservant]

That's it really.

Your explanation makes perfect sense. Thank you.

 

[Plain Nev]

That is basically it. As a general rule of thumb, whenever I approach a composition I ask myself what is important here? If there is movement in the scene then the shutter speed should be uppermost in your mind. If it's static then aperture will yield the best results. The only proviso being that if you are concentrating on one you should reflect on the effect it has on the other. I think that is where a lot of people come unstuck. It may be that you can get away with a slower shutter speed to enable a smaller aperture, or vice versa. Only experience will tell you that. And that's where manual comes in really.

 

[Phil V]

It’s ever so possible that I’m an idiot here.

But my advice to newbies is take some pictures. Newbies tend to concentrate on the easy stuff to the point of making it seem difficult. Meanwhile ignoring the important part cos it seems obvious.

Your camera does the maths brilliantly, but will never ‘see’ a picture for you

 

[LeeRatters]

Use shutter priority when it is important to control exposure time (i.e. you need to freeze something or want to blur something).
Use aperture priority when you need to fix depth of field or must to stop the lens down for another good technical reason like quality.
Use manual when the scene in front of you might confuse the camera metering, or it needs to be over-ridden for another reason like using flash.

That's it really. You can use exposure compensation to help overall, or if your camera has it, spot metering to manage the exposure automatically but with less general metering.

It’s ever so possible that I’m an idiot here.

But my advice to newbies is take some pictures. Newbies tend to concentrate on the easy stuff to the point of making it seem difficult. Meanwhile ignoring the important part cos it seems obvious.

Your camera does the maths brilliantly, but will never ‘see’ a picture for you

I don't think I've got anything to add especially after these two replies here.

Keep at it It appears you are heading in the right direction.

 

[stevewestern]

It’s ever so possible that I’m an idiot here.

But my advice to newbies is take some pictures. Newbies tend to concentrate on the easy stuff to the point of making it seem difficult. Meanwhile ignoring the important part cos it seems obvious.

Your camera does the maths brilliantly, but will never ‘see’ a picture for you

Makes two of us then.
I remember so clearly stressing over the basic techniques to the extent that I ended up taking some correctly exposed and everso boring pictures - By the way @Bondservant , I'm not implying that you are taking boring pictures....
Go and enjoy taking pictures of whatever you like and see what you think of them. Be critical, work out what you do and don't like and then you can see what suits you.
I tend to use auto ISO, setting shutter speed and aperture to suit the subject with exposure compensation as needed.
I still take boring pictures but I enjoy what I do which ultimately is what matters to me!