Understanding the exposure triangle is like discovering a secret code in photography. It helps you see how three key things—ISO, shutter speed, and aperture—work together to create your final picture. Let’s make it easier to understand.

ISO

ISO is about how sensitive your camera is to light.

• Low numbers, like ISO 100, mean less sensitivity. This is great for bright places, like sunny days.
• Higher numbers, like ISO 1600, mean more sensitivity. It lets in more light, but it can make your photos look noisy or grainy, which are those random dots that can mess up a good shot.

How it affects the others:

• Increase ISO: You can use a faster shutter speed or a smaller aperture. This is useful for action shots or when you want clear pictures in dim light.
• Decrease ISO: You might have to use a slower shutter speed or a wider aperture to get enough light. This could cause motion blur, or make some parts of the picture out of focus.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed tells you how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light.

• A fast shutter speed (like 1/1000 of a second) is great for freezing motion, like catching a basketball in mid-air.
• A slow shutter speed (like 1 second) can create beautiful effects, like making waterfalls look smooth or showing movement in a busy street.

How it affects the others:

• Faster shutter speed: You will need to increase the ISO or open up the aperture to let in more light. This is awesome for sports photos, but watch out! Higher ISO can make your image more grainy.
• Slower shutter speed: You might have to lower the ISO or close the aperture to avoid making the picture too bright. This is good for long exposure shots, but using a tripod is smart to prevent shake.

Aperture

Aperture controls how wide the lens opens and lets light in, affecting how sharp or blurry parts of your photo look.

• A wide aperture (like f/1.8) creates a blurry background, which is perfect for portraits.
• A small aperture (like f/16) keeps more of the image sharp, which is great for landscapes where you want everything in focus.

How it affects the others:

• Wider aperture: More light comes in, so you can use a faster shutter speed or lower ISO. This is good for low-light situations or when you want a pretty blurry background in portraits.
• Narrower aperture: Less light gets through, so you might need to slow down the shutter speed or increase the ISO. This is helpful for landscape photography, but if the shutter speed is too slow, it could make your photo blurry.

Conclusion

So, when you change one part of the exposure triangle, you also affect the other two. Each choice you make changes how your photo looks—whether it’s bright, dark, clear, or soft. It’s all about finding the right mix for what you want to show in your photography. The best way to learn is to get outside, try different settings, and see how these parts work together. Happy shooting!