Camera Basics Tutorial

Photography in its most basic form has three main technical pillars: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Also known as the exposure triangle, it’s vital for beginner photographers to understand the concepts surrounding it. Before you jump into other advanced topics like composition and post-processing, be sure to get familiar with these three parameters. Photographer Taylor Jackson takes you through this interesting guide to your camera and basics of photography:

Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together to determine the duration for which the light enters the camera, how much of the scene is in focus, and how sensitive the sensor is towards light, respectively. By adjusting each of these settings, you can have full creative control and create images that you’ve visualized in your mind.

Remember, photography isn’t only about capturing what you can see. It’s also a creative process. Playing around with shutter speed and aperture control can let you create images that we can’t see naturally. Think of silky waterfalls, beautiful light trails, and blown out backgrounds. And if the camera is really having some difficulty with low light conditions, you have ISO to boost the sensitivity of the camera. It’s really handy when working in dimly lit situations.

If you’re just starting out, make an active effort to understand these key elements thoroughly. You’ll be using the exposure triangle for as long as you’ll be taking photos. It’s that important. And remember, while working in “auto” mode is handy, it doesn’t let you control these elements. So don’t be afraid to set your camera to manual, and see how changing these variables affect the image. It’s sure to be a really effective exercise.

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