EXPOSURE BASICS
This is how bright or dark a photograph is.
What is exposure?
This is the opening in a lens that lets light reach the camera sensor.
What is aperture?
This control determines how long the shutter stays open.
What is shutter speed?
This setting controls how sensitive the camera sensor is to light.
What is ISO?
Sunny day, one person, blurry background: choose a low or high f-stop?
What is a low f-stop?
These are the three parts of the exposure triangle.
What are aperture, shutter speed, and ISO?
A low f-stop usually gives this focus effect.
What is a shallow depth of field / only part of the scene in focus?
This kind of shutter speed helps freeze sports action.
What is a fast shutter speed?
On a bright sunny day, this is a sensible ISO starting point.
What is ISO 100?
Soccer game, sharp action: choose a fast or slow shutter?
What is a fast shutter speed?
A photograph that is too dark has this problem.
What is underexposure?
A high f-stop is a good choice for this type of image when you want most of the scene in focus.
What is a group portrait or landscape?
This kind of shutter speed creates motion blur.
What is a slow shutter speed?
In a dark indoor scene, you may start around this ISO range and adjust as needed.
What is ISO 800 or higher?
Candlelit dinner: should ISO usually be low or high to start?
What is high ISO, adjusted as needed?
A photograph that is too bright has this problem.
What is overexposure?
To make a background blurrier, choose a lower or higher f-stop?
What is a lower f-stop?
For an action shot, a useful starting point is about this speed or faster.
What is 1/300 second or faster?
This ISO choice lets the sensor pick up more light, but it may make the image grainier.
What is a high ISO?
Bright landscape, most of the scene in focus: give a reasonable aperture and ISO.
What are a higher f-stop such as f/8–f/12 and low ISO around 100?
These three controls work together, so changing one may require adjusting another to keep the image properly exposed.
What are aperture, shutter speed, and ISO / the exposure triangle?
If your group photo has some people sharp and others blurry, try changing to this kind of f-stop.
What is a higher f-stop?
The class notes use this as a useful baseline; speeds lower than it may begin to show blur.
What is 1/160 second?
If an outdoor photo is blown out because the ISO is too high, make this adjustment first.
What is lower the ISO, often toward ISO 100?
A pep rally is dark and students are moving. Name two changes that can help keep the students sharp while keeping the image bright.
What are using a fast shutter and raising ISO and/or opening the aperture?