An Aspiring Photographer's Guide To The Three Pillars Of Photography | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Aspiring Photographer's Guide To The Three Pillars Of Photography

ISO, shutter speed, and aperture...how difficult can they be?

1848
An Aspiring Photographer's Guide To The Three Pillars Of Photography
Pexels

Everyone has a passion, and if you’ve read any of my previous articles, you probably know that photography is a big one of mine. Over the past two years as I've furthered my skills, one thing I haven’t taken the time to do is familiarize myself with the three pillars of photography: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. After a rather disastrous photoshoot the other day (it was ridiculously sunny which in turn made most all of the photos bright and blurry beyond editing), I decided that I needed to learn how to control the camera in its entirety for myself. Rather than rely on automatic mode, I figured it was time to start using manual mode. I took to learning these three pillars and found that while simple in concept, they can still be a little bit confusing to some in terms of how and where to apply them. Without further ado, here is an aspiring photographer’s guide to the three pillars of photography.

1) ISO

ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. When you have a lower ISO, there is less of a sensitivity, and vice versa with a high ISO. What allows for the varying levels of ISO is a very expensive part of the camera simply called an image sensor. By increasing the ISO, the sensor is able to get a quality photograph in low lighting without using the flash. Increase at your own risk, though, because it will add a slight textured graininess to the final product.

Each time you increase the ISO, you essentially lessen the time that your camera needs to be exposed to that shot. Increasing it helps with capturing live-action photos. It’s best, however, to keep the ISO low in a low-level setting if the camera is mounted on a tripod or some sort of flat, steady surface.

2) Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is the length of time a camera shutter remains open to allow light into the camera sensor. With a fast shutter speed, action can be stopped and captured in that exact instant. By slowing down the shutter speed, it allows more of a blurred motion effect. Shutter speed is measured in fractions- the smaller the fraction, the shorter the exposure time.

Setting a slower shutter speed is often used when taking time-lapse photos, such as a picture of the night sky or a waterfall. A quicker speed is best for stop-motion photography, such as when shooting a sporting event or quick-moving animal.

3) Aperture

Aperture is how widely the lens is opened, or dilated. It is used to focus on the main subject of the photograph and blur out the excess background, giving the photo a more concentrated effect. F-stops are how they are described, which essentially means that we are stopping the lens from dilating all the way or increasing to what effect it does dilate.

The smaller the number, the larger the aperture (confusing, I know). F/9 is much smaller than F/2.3. When the number is smaller, it means that it will be focusing on a smaller amount of that photo, in turn blurring the majority of the background, and vice versa with a larger number. Essentially, the less you want in focus, the smaller the number.

Hopefully by exposing you to the world of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, I shined a little more light (pun totally intended) on the three pillars of photography for you. I have a feeling that with a little bit of practice, you'll be photographing in manual mode like a pro shortly!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

182813
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

9526
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454059
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24231
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments