Part 2 Section 1 - Exposure Triangle

The Exposure Triangle: What is it?

 Understanding exposure is crucial for capturing well-lit and visually appealing photographs. At the heart of mastering exposure lies the Exposure Triangle, which is a concept that brings together three fundamental elements: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Let's break down each component and explore how they interact to create the perfect exposure. As you read, refer to the graphic we created above.

1. Aperture: The Eye of the Lens

  Aperture refers to the opening in the lens through which light enters the camera. It is measured in f-stops, with smaller f-stop numbers indicating larger apertures and vice versa. Aperture revolves around the amount of light you're allowing into the camera at any given time. Allowing more light in will in turn create a brighter image and the opposite if you choose to go with a smaller aperture to darken the images.

 A larger aperture will create a smaller depth of field and only allow a small portion of the image to be in focus. This tends to create a blur of the background and helps your main subject you're focusing on stand out. On the contrary, if you're trying to capture something like landscape photos then you'll likely be shooting with a small aperture in order for the whole scene to be in focus.

Real-life Practice: Grab your camera and set it to aperture priority mode (usually labeled as 'A' or 'Av' on the mode dial). Experiment by adjusting the aperture to see how it affects the depth of field in your photographs. Try capturing a portrait, or a tree leaf with a blurred background (using a larger aperture like f/1.8) and a landscape with everything in focus (using a smaller aperture like f/16).

 Afterwards, reverse the roles and try to capture the same images in the opposite of the correct aperture setting. You'll be able to notice how and why it's so important to work with the correct settings depending on the subject at hand. Screenshot our graphic below and study it as a reminder while you're out in the field.

2. Shutter Speed: Freezing or Blurring Motion

 Shutter speed determines the amount of time the camera's sensor is exposed to light. A faster shutter speed freezes motion, while a slower shutter speed introduces motion blur. Keep in mind for slower shutter speed photography you'll want to equip a ND filter to help with the amount of light entering into the lens. 

 Other gear that may be essential, especially for slow shutter speed captures, is a tripod and a remote clicker. Any camera movement while the shutter is left open will inevitably impact the composition so having it steady and uninterrupted by physically clicking the camera comes in handy. Furthermore, having a swivel on a tripod will help you keep a balanced frame while still being able to keep up with any fast moving objects.

Real-life Practice: Switch to shutter priority mode (usually labeled as 'S' or 'Tv' on the mode dial). Experiment with different shutter speeds to capture moving subjects. Try photographing a flowing stream with a slow shutter speed (e.g., 1/30s) to create a silky smooth water effect or a moving car with a faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/500s) to freeze the action.

 Try it both of these out with and without the extra gear mentioned above. You'll be able to notice how helpful having all of the necessary tools are while you're out taking your photos. Plus, maybe there will be times where you won't have all your gear with you so it's best to practice all scenarios in order to prepare yourself for all types of moments. Check out the graphic below and use it as a cheat sheet while messing with your settings.

3. ISO: Sensitivity to Light

 ISO measures the sensor's sensitivity to light. A lower ISO (e.g., ISO 100) is less sensitive and produces finer grain, while a higher ISO (e.g., ISO 1600 or above) is more sensitive and can introduce noise or graininess to the image.

 Your overall scene is the biggest factor when determining the proper ISO setting on your camera. You'll notice in the graph below the desired settings you can utilize depending on the lighting you have available. 

Real-life Practice: Set your camera to manual mode and adjust the ISO while keeping the aperture and shutter speed constant. Capture images in different lighting conditions, such as a dimly lit room and a bright outdoor scene, to observe the impact of ISO on exposure and image quality.

 It's important to get used to all the different options available when it comes to setting ISO. One thing I enjoyed doing was standing on a hill side and taking the same landscape shot with all the different options available on my Canon Rebel t6. It was a good practice to see what happened to the composition at each level, and as the day went on and the scene became brighter I was able to adjust accordingly just based off of those mental notes I made earlier. 

 Having the knowledge about ISO also helps tremendously if you're bouncing to and from different lighting scene in the outdoors. Sure, you can use automatic settings to adjust everything for you, but once you develop the skillset of understanding ISO settings you'll be able to perfect your own frames on the go which will lead to better, and more unique photos.

Putting It All Together

 Mastering the Exposure Triangle requires practice, experimentation, and a keen eye for detail. By understanding the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, you can confidently adjust your camera settings to achieve the desired exposure for any given scene.

Practical Tip: Consider using exposure compensation in situations where the camera's automatic metering may not produce the desired results. This allows you to manually adjust the exposure to capture the scene as you envision it. 

 I highly recommend taking a full hour or so at a specific location and just using every combination of these settings available on your camera. By taking a photo of the same scene with different adjustments, you'll start to develop the right mental plan when you begin taking photos from new places. I've included a series below of the same scene with different adjustments, (no edits, just RAW files), can you tell which is the most appropriate settings just based off what you see?

 You should have noticed which of the three images is the best out of the ones above. If you haven't, it's #3, and the reason being is because I had set my camera to capture the desired lighting, motion, and depth of field I was after for inside the scene. It was a bright and sunny morning so I needed a smaller ISO, a larger aperture to do a landscape shot, and a standard shutter speed.

 Later on in the series we'll revisit these same images and get to an understanding of why proper aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in the beginning with RAW files is a major factor in post-processing.

 For now, just remember the Exposure Triangle is a fundamental concept in photography that empowers you to take control of your camera and unleash your creativity. By mastering the interplay between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, you can capture stunning images that will truly reflect your vision as a photographer.

 If you enjoyed this blog please leave a comment below and share it with someone you think would enjoy it too. To continue with the blog series head on over to Part 2 Section 2 here.