The Basics of Photography: The Exposure Triangle and How Do You Use It?

Photography is an ever-evolving form of art and there are so many different techniques that photographers can use to take their images from good to great. In this blog post we are going to be looking at the basics of photography: what the exposure triangle is, how it works and why it’s important.

What is the Exposure Triangle?

The exposure triangle is the basic foundation of photography that refers to the three main elements that control the exposure of an image: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. By understanding how these three elements work together, you can take better control of your images and create the results you want.

Aperture

Aperture is a setting on your camera that controls how much light you let in when you take a picture. It also controls the depth of field, or how much of the photo is in focus. A lower number (like f/2.8) means a wider aperture and more light coming in. This also means a shallow depth of field, so only part of the photo will be in focus. A higher number (like f/22) means a smaller aperture and less light coming in. This also means a deep depth of field, so most of the photo will be in focus.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is the length of time that the camera’s shutter is open while taking a photograph. A fast shutter speed will result in a short exposure time, which means that less light will reach the camera sensor and the image will be darker. A slow shutter speed will result in a long exposure time, which means that more light will reach the camera sensor and the image will be brighter.

You can use shutter speed to control the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, and thus the brightness of your image. If you want to take a very bright photo, you would use a faster shutter speed so that less light reaches the sensor. Conversely, if you want to take a very dark photo, you would use a slower shutter speed so that more light reaches the sensor.

Shutter speed can also be used to freeze or blur action. A fast shutter speed will freeze motion, while a slow shutter speed will allow motion to blur. This can be used for creative effect, or simply to compensate for low light levels or moving subjects.

ISO

In photography, the exposure triangle is the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera, shutter speed controls the amount of time that the shutter is open, and ISO controls the camera’s sensitivity to light.

Changing one element of the exposure triangle will affect the other two elements.

The exposure triangle is a helpful tool for understanding how these three elements work together to create an exposure. By changing one element, you can change the overall exposure of your photo.

Finally, keep in mind that your aperture and ISO settings will also affect the overall brightness of your image. The Exposure Triangle describes how these three elements work together to create an exposed image.

Changing your exposure triangle for different effects

In photography, the exposure triangle is the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These three elements determine how light or dark your photo will be.

You can use the exposure triangle to create different effects in your photos. For example, if you want to capture a fast-moving object, you would use a faster shutter speed. If you want to capture a wide range of tones in your photo, you would use a lower ISO. And if you want to create a shallow depth of field, you would use a wider aperture.

By understanding how the exposure triangle works, you can start to experiment with different settings to create the type of photos that you want.