# What is the exposure triangle?

> The exposure triangle describes the three settings that control image brightness: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

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## The exposure triangle describes the three settings that control image brightness: **aperture, shutter speed, and ISO**. These three are interconnected — changing one requires adjusting at least one of the others to maintain the same exposure.

## **The three sides of the triangle**

**Aperture (f-stop):** Controls how much light the lens lets in. Wider (f/1.8) = more light + shallower depth of field. Narrower (f/8) = less light + deeper focus.

**Shutter speed:** Controls how long the sensor is exposed. Faster (1/1000s) = less light + freezes motion. Slower (1/30s) = more light + motion blur.

**ISO:** Controls sensitivity. Low (100) = clean image + needs more light. High (6400) = noisy image + works in darkness.

## **How they work together**

Imagine shooting indoors and the image is too dark at f/4, 1/60s, ISO 400. You have three options:

**Open the aperture** to f/2.8 — 2x more light but shallower depth of field.

**Slow the shutter** to 1/30s — 2x more light but risks motion blur.

**Raise the ISO** to 800 — brighter image but adds noise.

Understanding the tradeoffs lets you make the right choice for each situation.

## **Cameras for learning at Camera Shop Egypt**

## **Which setting to prioritize**

For **portraits:** Set aperture first for desired depth of field, adjust the rest.

For **sports:** Set shutter speed first (fast enough to freeze motion), adjust the rest.

For **video:** Set shutter speed to double your frame rate (180-degree rule), adjust the rest.

For **landscapes:** Set aperture first (f/8-f/11), use a tripod for slow shutters, keep ISO low.

## 

Start in aperture priority mode (A or Av). Set the aperture you want, let the camera choose shutter speed and ISO. This is how most professionals shoot 80% of the time.

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