Exposure Triangle
Exposure Triangle
What is the exposure triangle and how can I use it to be a better photographer? Excellent question.
Let's dive in!
The exposure triangle is a fundamental concept in photography that refers to the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These three elements work together to control the amount of light that enters the camera and reaches the sensor, which in turn determines the overall exposure of an image. Here is an overview of the exposure triangle and how each element works:
The aperture is the opening in the lens that allows light to enter the camera. It's measured in f-stops and is expressed as f/(x) (e.g. f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, f/8, etc.). A larger aperture (smaller f-stop number) allows more light to enter the camera and creates a shallow depth of field, while a smaller aperture (larger f-stop number) allows less light to enter the camera and creates a deeper depth of field.
The shutter speed controls the amount of time that the camera's sensor is exposed to light. It's measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g. 1/125, 1/30, 1/60, etc.). A faster shutter speed (smaller fraction) allows less light to reach the sensor and can be used to freeze action or reduce motion blur, while a slower shutter speed (larger fraction) allows more light to reach the sensor and can be used to create motion blur or to photograph in low light.
ISO:
ISO is the measurement of a camera's sensitivity to light. A lower ISO (e.g. 100, 200, 400) means that the camera is less sensitive to light and requires more light to properly expose an image, while a higher ISO (e.g. 25600, 51200) means that the camera is more sensitive to light and requires less light to properly expose an image. However, using a higher ISO can also increase the amount of noise and grain.
By adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, you can control the exposure of a photograph to get the desired balance of light and dark areas. For example, if you want to freeze action in a photograph, you may use a fast shutter speed and a smaller aperture to reduce the amount of light that enters the camera. On the other hand, if you want to capture a photo in low light conditions, you may use a slower shutter speed and a larger aperture to allow more light to enter the camera, and increase the ISO to increase the camera's sensitivity to light.
Remember, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together to properly expose an image by controlling the amount of light that enters the camera and the camera's sensitivity to light. By adjusting these factors, you can get the desired balance of light and dark areas in your photographs.
Thank you for taking the time to read! I hope this information on the exposure triangle helps you improve your photography. Remember to experiment and have fun and see what works best for you and your style. Let me know if you have any questions.
Get out there are take some pictures!
-Thomas Martinez