Shutter Speed: Controlling Motion Blur and Freezing Action
Shutter speed refers to the length of time the camera’s sensor is exposed to light. It is measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 1/250, 1/1000):

• Fast Shutter Speeds (e.g., 1/1000): Freeze motion, ideal for sports or wildlife photography where movement needs to be sharp.
• Slow Shutter Speeds (e.g., 1/30, 1/4): Capture motion blur, often used for creative effects like light trails or showing the flow of water.

Aperture: Depth of Field and How Aperture Affects Exposure
Aperture controls how much light enters the camera through the lens and is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/16):

• Wide Aperture (Low f-stop, e.g., f/1.8): Allows more light in, creating a shallow depth of field with a blurred background, ideal for portraits.
• Narrow Aperture (High f-stop, e.g., f/16): Lets in less light, providing a deep depth of field where both the foreground and background are sharp, great for landscapes.

ISO: Sensitivity to Light and Its Impact on Image Quality
ISO measures the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light:

• Low ISO (e.g., ISO 100): Best in bright conditions, results in clear images with minimal noise (grain).
• High ISO (e.g., ISO 3200): Useful in low light, but increases noise, reducing image quality.

How the Exposure Triangle Works: Achieving a Balanced Exposure
The Exposure Triangle is the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Adjusting one affects the others, and finding the right balance is key to properly exposed images:

• Shutter Speed: Impacts motion capture.
• Aperture: Affects depth of field.
• ISO: Controls sensitivity to light.

For example, in low light:

• Use a wider aperture (e.g., f/2.8) to allow more light.
• Slow down the shutter speed (e.g., 1/60) to let in more light, but ensure it’s fast enough to avoid motion blur.
• Increase ISO (e.g., ISO 800) to compensate for the reduced light, but avoid pushing ISO too high to prevent noise.

Understanding how the exposure triangle works helps you make informed decisions to capture well-exposed images in any lighting condition, whether you need to freeze action or create a soft, blurred background.