Photography Masterclass
Mastering the Exposure Triangle: Aperture, Shutter & ISO
Every photographic image is created through the delicate interaction of three fundamental pillars: Aperture (light gathering & depth of field), Shutter Speed (motion blur & duration), and ISO (sensor amplification & noise). Changing any one variable directly impacts the other two.
| Lighting Condition | Exposure Value (EV 100) | Typical Aperture | Typical Shutter Speed | Typical ISO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Sunny Day (Sunny 16 Rule) | EV 15 | f/16 (or f/2.8 with 1/2000s) | 1/125s | ISO 100 |
| Open Shade / Overcast Sky | EV 12 | f/4.0 – f/5.6 | 1/250s | ISO 200 – 400 |
| Sunset / Golden Hour | EV 10 | f/2.8 – f/4.0 | 1/125s | ISO 200 – 800 |
| Indoor Artificial Room Light | EV 6 – 7 | f/1.8 – f/2.8 | 1/60s – 1/125s | ISO 1600 – 3200 |
| Milky Way Night Sky | EV -2 to -4 | f/1.4 – f/2.8 | 15s – 25s | ISO 3200 – 6400 |
What is the "Sunny 16" Rule in photography?
The Sunny 16 rule is a classic photographic principle stating that on a clear, sunny day, setting your aperture to f/16 will yield correct exposure when your shutter speed is the reciprocal of your ISO value (e.g. at ISO 100, shutter speed should be 1/100s or 1/125s).
How does an ND filter affect my camera settings?
A Neutral Density (ND) filter acts like sunglasses for your camera lens, reducing the incoming light without changing the scene's colors. A 10-stop filter (ND1000) cuts light transmission by 1,000x, allowing an ordinary 1/125s daylight exposure to stretch into an 8-second long exposure, turning choppy ocean waves into smooth, misty glass!
What is the 500 Rule for photographing stars?
Because the Earth rotates on its axis at 15 degrees per hour, star points will turn into blurry streaks (star trails) if your exposure is too long. The 500 rule divides 500 by the 35mm equivalent focal length of your lens to find the maximum shutter speed in seconds before star trailing becomes visible.