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Single Picture Explains How Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO Work In Photography

If you’re a beginner photographer, it can be helpful to have a simple guide that helps you understand the different settings that you can toggle on your DSLR camera. While this helpful exposure chart by Daniel Peters at Fotoblog Hamburg won’t explain HOW the optics of photography work, it will show you exactly what happens when you tweak your camera’s settings.

The three settings in this chart are part of what photographers like to call the exposure triangle. ISO is the digital camera sensor’s sensitivity to light. The aperture is a structure in your lens that works much like the iris in our eyes. It opens and close to let more or less light in, and also changes the depth of field, or how many different objects can remain in focus in the shot at the same time. Last is the shutter speed, which controls how much time the camera’s shutter remains open when taking a photo. A longer shutter opening will let in more light but may also cause blurring if any motion occurs while the photo is being taken.

You can download Peters’ chart here.

More info: hamburger-fotospots.de | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: petapixel)

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What do you think ?

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BobGilchrist 8 years ago

Good start but this will confuse the uninitiated. It is also a missed opportunity to show the relationship in exposure between the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. People will assume some vertical correspondence in a chart such as this. Reversing the Aperture row would at least indicate that large apertures are related to fast shutter speeds and high ISO settings.

6points

RonYorgason 8 years ago

Possibly, but the left side is entirely related to less light / less sensitivity, while the right side is all related to more light / more sensitivity. That seems to make pretty good sense to me.

0points

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cest_nayce 9 years ago

that's very useful thanks!

5points

SaraJane 9 years ago

I need to print that off

3points

David Damico 7 years ago

Hi and thank you for this pocket chart. I am a career teacher for 11 and 12th grade high school students. Is there a poster sized version of this pocket card? I think hanging it on a wall would be fantastic.

0points

AbdullahalMamunTusher 8 years ago

Informative post for the beginner stage photographer.

0points

CharlieSawyer 8 years ago

Nice teaching tool but they missed key elements that could/should have been shown: All three of these parameters have other important effects. f32 (smaller hole) lets in less light so resulting exposure is relativly darker than f1.4; Shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second likewise lets in less light so image is relatively darker than 1/2 second; and small ISO (say, 100) needs more light for a good exposure than large ISO number (say, 1000, which allows pix in less available light while increasing graininess). These effects are integral to understanding this.

0points

DavidStotz 8 years ago

I think this page shows an incorrect version of the image. I landed here from a post on facebook and oddly, the thumbnail in the facebook post has the aperture row reversed. It makes much more sense that way and would be much more useful to the beginning photographer, as it demonstrates reciprocity - a fundamental concept in understanding how your camera works.

0points

ShanePinnegar 8 years ago

any chance someone can make one of these for shooting bands in dark venues? I always struggle with the light and am in no way a skilled photographer!

0points

StephGoralnick 8 years ago

It's the same chart, it's just that the limitation of low light leaves you with fewer choices. Cover the first seven squares in each row, this is the chart you're now working with.

0points

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ThomasHoe 8 years ago

Thiss is super useful!! Thanks!!!

0points

GabrielLandry 8 years ago

Extra credit: do you know what the F64 club was and what the 64 was for?

0points

ShoghiShams 8 years ago

Although this is informative, I find the information incomplete. It does not explain the exposure aspect of it.

0points

MarkGottesman 8 years ago

This is a great very Basic Explanation for beginners. I'm writing an article on Photography 101 on this exact topic for my photo blog. I'm linking this over for people to help them in trying to Understand this principle.

0points

CochilețTeodor 8 years ago

firstly but the most important is that all of them are changing the brightness of the photo.. More ISO gives more luminosity while a fast shutter speed and a large aperture make photos darker.

0points

FelCruz 8 years ago

f-stop progression is backwards. f1.4 at half a second shutter speed and 25600 ISO would be severely overexposed.

0points

StephGoralnick 8 years ago

I think this chart is meant to be a bit more simplified that that. Judging from the fact that they're depicting 3 different subjects, it seems that each row is separate. The settings aren't combined vertically.

0points

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TomHawkins 8 years ago

Two things to add: 1. A longer focal length is just as effective as a wide aperture for throwing background/foreground out of focus. If your max. aperture isn't wide enough, then zoom in and take a few steps backward. 2. Apertures smaller than f16 won't do much to improve the focus of the background/foreground, but will soften your images due to diffraction of light passing through a narrow hole. f/11 should be enough for any landscape, unless you're zoomed in of course (when the first point applies).

0points

DarshanKolambkar 8 years ago

I guess you miss on Day light and low light adjustments.

0points

PhilRoberts 8 years ago

It's also true with film. Faster ISO gives you more grain.

0points

LaviShpigelman 8 years ago

What about lighting? You'd think that one could combine a fast shutter with small aperture and iso to get a good picture. Got to trade off ..

0points

SamboyLim 8 years ago

that much noise at iso 800? more like iso 1600 or 3200 lol

0points

jkling 8 years ago

This is great for aperature and speed, but the description of ISO is severely lacking- it looks like higher ISO=worse picture (commenters have already mentioned this). That's NOT EVEN REMOTELY the case. The illustration would be better shoing the far left as all black, by 800 you can see the contrast, 1600 would be a perfect pic, and by 6400 it being washed out and starting to show noise.

0points

GregSkinner 8 years ago

Yes, but the sensitivity part is much more specific to the camera being used, as most of my recent shooting at a fan convention was at or above ISO 6400, and it looks as good or better than an older camera doing ISO 800.

0points

LeandroJorge 8 years ago

Thanks, i like

0points

LouIsms 8 years ago

I took photography back in college in the 90's. Back then you had to know these!

0points

PrashPrasenjit 8 years ago

Nice article :)

0points

celingukansetiyana 9 years ago

aha.. this is very handy and easy to understand... thanks,,,

0points

AndrewDavid 9 years ago

Lower the F/Stop number the more light comes in and the higher the least amount comes in its great explanation and straight forward thanks.

0points

AndrewDavid 9 years ago

Pretty straight forward. Everyone should use (M) Manual Mode, to get to know there cam better. Its easy enough Auto settings mess about load

0points

SusannaVesna 9 years ago

This explains a lot! I always get confused between these! Thanks!

0points

LetíciaTeles 9 years ago

that makes me even more confused about ISO's use, I don't see the advantage

0points

ScottMoore 9 years ago

I leave my ISO on Auto, but simply put; a low ISO =clear pic, requires more light a High ISO = more grainy pic, but requires less light

1point

Load More Replies...

FilipaMarques 9 years ago

...you can shoot low light situations at a high speed, to catch motion.

0points

FilipaMarques 9 years ago

Letícia, Iso is used when you have low light situations. You can increase iso, to have more sensibility to the light, therefore...

0points

KevinMcCreary 9 years ago

A higher ISO makes the image brighter in low light. They don't make it clear in this how the brightness of the image is effected by each.

0points

JosephRodriguez 9 years ago

http://digital-photography-school.com/reasons-why-shoot-high-iso/

0points

ChristineWalsh 9 years ago

can take photos in moe extremes of light and capture sharp movement much easier with high ISO but your tradeoff is noisely pictures,,,

0points

TeresaHetu 9 years ago

A higher ISO will let in more light. so in a darker setting you can use a faster shutter speed or other combinations

0points

KylaCurtis 9 years ago

Thats the issue with this table, it doesn't explain how all three of these affect exposure which is why ISO is important and useful.

0points

BillTuttle 9 years ago

Yeah, that really doesn't help to understand ISO. ISO is the sensitivity to light (essentially). The higher the number, the more sensitive..

0points

BillTuttle 9 years ago

Yeah, it really doesn't do much to help with ISOs. ISO is the sensitivity to light. The higher the number, the less light you need...

0points

MickRadford 9 years ago

needs one for focal length, but otherwise very good simple explanation

0points

MickRadford 9 years ago

missing one for focal length but very helpful

0points

Chika 9 years ago

superb

0points

Chika 9 years ago

very well explained...thanks

0points

RyanMoore 9 years ago

The ISO should have shown that the background became brighter and the people shapes easier to see in low contrast lighting as it increased

0points

RobBahou 9 years ago

It would be useful if it were mentioned that the left end of the spectrum needs a lot more light than the right end of the spectrum.

0points

CarlCalderon 9 years ago

It does now show the effects of each on lighting but it's quite accurate. :D

0points

NguyễnHuy 9 years ago

It makes some misunderstood about iso so many beginner will choose iso 100 except 800 or 1600

0points

RichardWindsor 9 years ago

needs a depth of field component :-)

0points

DianeDesAutels 9 years ago

That shows the clarity vs. blur or grain, but not the brightness.

0points

HenriqueBueno 9 years ago

If the image would be more detaled it would explain more, like being brighter when less speed and more iso.

0points

frank0ys 9 years ago

Thank you for sharing!

0points

POST

BobGilchrist 8 years ago

6points

RonYorgason 8 years ago

Possibly, but the left side is entirely related to less light / less sensitivity, while the right side is all related to more light / more sensitivity. That seems to make pretty good sense to me.

0points

Load More Replies...

cest_nayce 9 years ago

that's very useful thanks!

5points

SaraJane 9 years ago

I need to print that off

3points

David Damico 7 years ago

0points

AbdullahalMamunTusher 8 years ago

Informative post for the beginner stage photographer.

0points

CharlieSawyer 8 years ago

0points

DavidStotz 8 years ago

0points

ShanePinnegar 8 years ago

any chance someone can make one of these for shooting bands in dark venues? I always struggle with the light and am in no way a skilled photographer!

0points

StephGoralnick 8 years ago

It's the same chart, it's just that the limitation of low light leaves you with fewer choices. Cover the first seven squares in each row, this is the chart you're now working with.

0points

Load More Replies...

ThomasHoe 8 years ago

Thiss is super useful!! Thanks!!!

0points

GabrielLandry 8 years ago

Extra credit: do you know what the F64 club was and what the 64 was for?

0points

ShoghiShams 8 years ago

Although this is informative, I find the information incomplete. It does not explain the exposure aspect of it.

0points

MarkGottesman 8 years ago

0points

CochilețTeodor 8 years ago

firstly but the most important is that all of them are changing the brightness of the photo.. More ISO gives more luminosity while a fast shutter speed and a large aperture make photos darker.

0points

FelCruz 8 years ago

f-stop progression is backwards. f1.4 at half a second shutter speed and 25600 ISO would be severely overexposed.

0points

StephGoralnick 8 years ago

0points

Load More Replies...

TomHawkins 8 years ago

0points

DarshanKolambkar 8 years ago

I guess you miss on Day light and low light adjustments.

0points

PhilRoberts 8 years ago

It's also true with film. Faster ISO gives you more grain.

0points

LaviShpigelman 8 years ago

What about lighting? You'd think that one could combine a fast shutter with small aperture and iso to get a good picture. Got to trade off ..

0points

SamboyLim 8 years ago

that much noise at iso 800? more like iso 1600 or 3200 lol

0points

jkling 8 years ago

0points

GregSkinner 8 years ago

0points

LeandroJorge 8 years ago

Thanks, i like

0points

LouIsms 8 years ago

I took photography back in college in the 90's. Back then you had to know these!

0points

PrashPrasenjit 8 years ago

Nice article :)

0points

celingukansetiyana 9 years ago

aha.. this is very handy and easy to understand... thanks,,,

0points

AndrewDavid 9 years ago

Lower the F/Stop number the more light comes in and the higher the least amount comes in its great explanation and straight forward thanks.

0points

AndrewDavid 9 years ago

Pretty straight forward. Everyone should use (M) Manual Mode, to get to know there cam better. Its easy enough Auto settings mess about load

0points

SusannaVesna 9 years ago

This explains a lot! I always get confused between these! Thanks!

0points

LetíciaTeles 9 years ago

that makes me even more confused about ISO's use, I don't see the advantage

0points

ScottMoore 9 years ago

I leave my ISO on Auto, but simply put; a low ISO =clear pic, requires more light a High ISO = more grainy pic, but requires less light

1point

Load More Replies...

FilipaMarques 9 years ago

...you can shoot low light situations at a high speed, to catch motion.

0points

FilipaMarques 9 years ago

Letícia, Iso is used when you have low light situations. You can increase iso, to have more sensibility to the light, therefore...

0points

KevinMcCreary 9 years ago

A higher ISO makes the image brighter in low light. They don't make it clear in this how the brightness of the image is effected by each.

0points

JosephRodriguez 9 years ago

http://digital-photography-school.com/reasons-why-shoot-high-iso/

0points

ChristineWalsh 9 years ago

can take photos in moe extremes of light and capture sharp movement much easier with high ISO but your tradeoff is noisely pictures,,,

0points

TeresaHetu 9 years ago

A higher ISO will let in more light. so in a darker setting you can use a faster shutter speed or other combinations

0points

KylaCurtis 9 years ago

Thats the issue with this table, it doesn't explain how all three of these affect exposure which is why ISO is important and useful.

0points

BillTuttle 9 years ago

Yeah, that really doesn't help to understand ISO. ISO is the sensitivity to light (essentially). The higher the number, the more sensitive..

0points

BillTuttle 9 years ago

Yeah, it really doesn't do much to help with ISOs. ISO is the sensitivity to light. The higher the number, the less light you need...

0points

MickRadford 9 years ago

needs one for focal length, but otherwise very good simple explanation

0points

MickRadford 9 years ago

missing one for focal length but very helpful

0points

Chika 9 years ago

superb

0points

Chika 9 years ago

very well explained...thanks

0points

RyanMoore 9 years ago

The ISO should have shown that the background became brighter and the people shapes easier to see in low contrast lighting as it increased

0points

RobBahou 9 years ago

It would be useful if it were mentioned that the left end of the spectrum needs a lot more light than the right end of the spectrum.

0points

CarlCalderon 9 years ago

It does now show the effects of each on lighting but it's quite accurate. :D

0points

NguyễnHuy 9 years ago

It makes some misunderstood about iso so many beginner will choose iso 100 except 800 or 1600

0points

RichardWindsor 9 years ago

needs a depth of field component :-)

0points

DianeDesAutels 9 years ago

That shows the clarity vs. blur or grain, but not the brightness.

0points

HenriqueBueno 9 years ago

If the image would be more detaled it would explain more, like being brighter when less speed and more iso.

0points

frank0ys 9 years ago

Thank you for sharing!

0points

Single Picture Explains How Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO Work In Photography

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