The Exposure Triangle
Photography exposure is controlled by three interdependent settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. When you change one, you must adjust at least one other to maintain the same exposure level.
Understanding Each Setting
| Setting |
Controls |
Trade-off |
| Aperture |
Depth of field |
Wide (f/1.4) = blurry background |
| Shutter Speed |
Motion blur |
Fast (1/1000) = freeze action |
| ISO |
Sensor sensitivity |
High = more noise/grain |
Full Stop Aperture Scale
| f-stop |
Light |
Depth of Field |
| f/1.4 |
Most light |
Very shallow |
| f/2.8 |
2 stops less |
Shallow |
| f/5.6 |
4 stops less |
Moderate |
| f/11 |
6 stops less |
Deep |
| f/22 |
8 stops less |
Very deep |
Recommended Settings by Subject
| Subject |
Aperture |
Shutter |
| Portrait |
f/1.8-f/4 |
1/125+ |
| Landscape |
f/8-f/16 |
Any (tripod) |
| Sports |
f/2.8-f/5.6 |
1/500+ |
| Street |
f/5.6-f/8 |
1/250+ |
| Night |
f/1.4-f/2.8 |
1/30-30sec |
Exposure Tips
- Sunny 16 Rule: On a sunny day, set f/16 and shutter speed = 1/ISO
- Minimum handheld: Shutter speed should be at least 1/focal length
- Sweet spot: Most lenses are sharpest at f/5.6-f/8
- Low light: Open aperture first, then raise ISO
- High ISO: Modern cameras handle ISO 1600-3200 well
- Bracketing: Take multiple exposures for challenging light
EV (Exposure Value) Reference
- EV -2: Night sky
- EV 4: Indoor, artificial light
- EV 8: Overcast day
- EV 12: Cloudy bright
- EV 15: Sunny day
- EV 16: Bright sun on sand/snow
Helpful products for this plan
General picks that support planning, focus, and follow-through.