Photography: Understanding

Exposure
Exposure the quantity of light
allowed by a cameras sensor.
Metering- is a method used by the
camera to assess and measure the
amount of light in a scene. The
camera uses this information to
adjust the exposure elements in
order to correctly expose the photo.

Photography: Understanding
Exposure
Elements of Exposure
Control: Exposure Tripod /
Triangle
Shutter
Speed

Aperture

ISO
Settings

Photography: Shutter Speed

Shutter part of the camera which
controls the amount of time during
which light is allowed to reach the
cameras sensor.
- Represented by a fraction.
Ex: 1/xxx

1 / 4000 seconds

1/ 125

Photography: Shutter Speed

Fast Shutter Speed:
-Less Light will be allowed to enter the camera.
-Image will be darker.
- Action is freezed and arrested.
-With a higher denominator
-Ex: 1/4000, 1/500, 1 /1000

Slow Shutter Speed:

-More Light will be allowed to enter the camera.
-Image will be brighter.
-Motion is blurred.
-With a lower denominator
-Ex: 1/125, 1/30, 30 seconds (Bulb)

Photography: Aperture
Aperture the opening in the lens
that allows light to enter the camera.
- Expressed and measured in f-stops,
the ratio between the diameter of the
opening and focal length. Ex: f/xx

f / 2.8

f/

Photography: Aperture
Large Aperture:
-More Light will be allowed to enter the camera.
-Image will be brighter.
-The lower aperture value, the bigger the opening
is
-Ex: f/1.8, f/2.8

Small Aperture:

-Less Light will be allowed to enter the camera.

-Image will be darker.
-The higher the aperture value, the smaller the
opening is
-Ex: f/16, f/32,

Photography: Power of Two

Combining
Apertures

Shutter

Speeds

SHUTTER
Fast / Shorter
SPEED Slow / Longer

Lar
ge

Sm
all

&

Photography: ISO Settings

ISO Settings- refers to the sensitivity of the

image sensor of a camera to light. Film Speed in
photographic film days.
Higher ISO means:
-More Sensitive to light
-less light is needed to normally expose photo.
-Effects: Brightens image but creates Grainy /
Noisy image
-Used in low light situations
-Examples: ISO 800, ISO 1600
Lower ISO means:
-Less Sensitive to light
-more light is needed to normally expose photo.
-Effects: Darkens images but gives smooth image

Photography: Adjustment
Effects
Adjustments
/
Changes
in
Camera settings will affect:
1. Image Quality (ISO Settings)
2. Appearance of Subject while
moving (Shutter Speed)
3. Exposure (All Three)
4. Clarity / Sharpness of Photo
Elements (Aperture & Shutter Speed)

Photography: Camera
Application

Shutter Priority Mode : (S

Tv)

or

-photographer has full control on the shutter

speed & ISO Settings.
-Camera sets the aperture automatically at a
given ISO number.
-Used to stop motion of a fast moving object /
subject
-Used to create motion blur

Photography: Interplay of Aperture,

Shutter Speed & ISO
( S or Tv Mode)
Assumption: Good & Balanced Lighting. All
scenarios will give normally exposed images.
Lo
w
Slo
w

SHUTTE
R SPEED

Fast

ISO
Hig
Settings
h

Photography: Examples for

Shutter Priority Mode
Manual Adjustments / Changes
in Shutter Speed & ISO Settings:
1. Shutter Speed: 1/5 , Low ISO: 100,
Ap: f /1.8
2. Shutter Speed: 1/5, High ISO: 800,
Ap: f /11
3. Shutter Speed: 1/250, Low
ISO:100,
Ap: f /1.8

Photography: Camera
Application
Aperture Priority Mode : (A
Av)

or

-photographer has full control on the aperture or

lens opening & ISO Settings.
-Camera sets the shutter speed automatically at a
given ISO number.
-Used to create shallow and / or deep depth of
field

Photography: Interplay of Aperture,

Shutter Speed & ISO
( A or Av Mode)
Assumption: Good & Balanced Lighting. All
scenarios will give normally exposed images.
Lo
w
Lar
ge

Sm
all

ISO

Hig
h

Photography: Examples for

Aperture Priority Mode
Manual Adjustments / Changes
in Lens Opening & ISO Settings:
1. Large Ap: f/1.8 , Low ISO: 100, SS:
1/40
2. Large Ap: f/1.8 , High ISO: 800, SS:
1/100
3. Small Ap: f/11 , Low ISO: 100, SS:
1/40
4. Small Ap: f/11 , High ISO: 800, SS:
1/100

Photography: Depth Of Field

(DOF)
- It is the distance between the nearest & farthest
object in a photo that appear to be acceptably
sharp.
Plane of
focus

Out of
focus

Depth
Field
In

Of

Out of
focus

focus
Neares
Farthe
t
st
Object
Object
Bokeh- It is used to describe the quality of the
out-of-focus blur in photographs. Japanese word
which means: blur, fuzziness or haze.

Photography: Depth Of Field

(DOF)
Large Lens Opening / Small f-stop number
Shallow Depth of Field
Plane of
focus
Depth Of
Field
Out of
Out of
In
focus
focus
focus
Neares
Farthe
t
st
Object
Object

Photography: Depth Of Field

(DOF)
Small Lens Opening / Big f-stop number
Deep Depth of Field
Plane of
focus

Out of
focus
Neares
t
Object

Depth
Field
In
focus

Of
Out of
focus
Farthe
st
Object

Photography: Depth Of Field

(DOF)
DOF and Aperture / Lens Opening
-Larger Opening / Aperture Shallow DOF
-Smaller Opening / Aperture- Narrow or Deep DOF

f/6.3

f/2.8

f/4.5

f/1.8

Photography: Camera
Application
Manual Exposure Mode : ( M)
-photographer has full control over the shutter
speed, aperture & ISO Settings.
-Use the cameras light meter for optimum
exposure
-Used when light is constant or fixed. Ex. Studio
lights