Getting correct exposure
If you’re just starting out in photography, one of the most important things to learn is the Exposure Triangle. That might sound a bit technical, but don’t worry, it’s actually pretty easy to understand. The exposure triangle is just a way of explaining how your camera controls light. It’s made up of three basic settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These three work together to determine how bright or dark your photo turns out. Once you understand how they interact, you’ll have much more control over your pictures.
First, aperture is the opening inside your lens that lets light in. You can think of it like the pupil of your eye. A wide aperture (like f/2.8) lets in more light and gives you that blurry background you often see in portraits. A small aperture (like f/11) lets in less light but keeps more of your image sharp and in focus, great for things like landscapes. Next is shutter speed, which controls how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light. A fast shutter speed (like 1/1000 of a second) freezes motion, perfect for sports or fast-moving subjects. A slow shutter speed (like 1/30) allows in more light but can cause blur if there’s movement in the scene or if your hands aren’t steady.
Finally, ISO adds artificial light, like turning up the brightness on your phone. A low ISO number (like 100) means the camera isn’t very sensitive and will produce a cleaner image, but it needs more light. A high ISO (like 1600 or higher) makes the camera more sensitive, which is useful in darker places, but it can also make your photo look grainy or noisy.
The key to getting a good photo is balancing all three settings. If one changes, you usually have to adjust one or both of the others to keep your exposure looking right. For example, if you want a faster shutter speed to freeze motion, you might need to use a wider aperture or a higher ISO to make sure the photo doesn’t turn out too dark. It takes some practice, but once you get the hang of how these three settings work together, you’ll be able to take well-exposed photos in all kinds of lighting situations.
