Exposure triangle and camera composition are key to capturing photos, say BYUH student photographers
Whether it be capturing a motion blur, a wide view of the horizon, or a portrait in a low-light setting, BYUH Media Productions Video Specialist Jenard Cian Perez and Ke Alaka’i Lead Photographer Moevai Tefan said the best photos are made with the right use of camera settings.
When taking photos, one doesn’t start well right away, said Perez, a junior from the Philippines majoring in business management with a marketing emphasis. “It is important to be humble while learning and to practice multiple times. Learning the exposure triangle is a good start,” he said.
He shared the exposure triangle refers to the shutter speed, aperture and International Organization of Standardization, simply known as ISO. “When you know how to manage those, you’ll get crisp images, and then if you add a little post-production edit, you’ll get really sharp images,” he said.
Tefan, a senior from Tahiti majoring in visual arts, also said familiarizing different camera compositions within a frame is important because it creates interesting photos. “I like to incorporate depth and layering when taking photos. It adds a more storytelling aspect to the photo, and I love how the foreground and background dynamics make it more interesting,” Tefan shared.
As someone who became interested in photography after learning video editing, Perez said, “This may sound cliche, but the best camera is the one you already have.” For beginner photographers, Perez said knowing rule of thirds and leading lines helps establish shots.
Perez said rule of thirds is the most commonly used framing tool for photographers, whether for portraits, landscapes and videos. He also said the leading lines show focus and emphasis. “It is great to start in wide shots and then work towards getting tight shots and the details afterward,” he said.
Tefan shared learning camera settings can be confusing but is worth it to learn. Nowadays, cameras have settings on automatic mode but “learning how to capture photos manually makes it personal and will give you control on how you tell the stories of your photos,” she shared.
According to a blog written on the Adobe website by Sapna Reddy, an international landscape photographer based in Northern California, the word “photography” literally means “drawing with light.” It derives from the Greek “photo,” meaning “light” and “graph,” meaning “to draw,” she says.
The three components of the exposure triangle are shutter speed, aperture and ISO. According to the Photography Life website, these work together to produce a photo that is properly exposed. “If one variable changes, at least one of the others must also change to maintain the correct exposure,” it says.
Aperture
According to Photography Life, it is also known as F-stop. It refers to the size of the circular hole in the lens that lets in light, the website says. “A large aperture results in a large amount of both foreground and background blur,” it says.
ISO
“ISO is simply a camera setting that will brighten or darken a photo,” according to Photography Life. It says as someone increases their ISO number, their photos will also grow progressively brighter.
Shutter speed
It refers to the length of time light is allowed to hit the sensor. It is measured in seconds. The faster the shutter speed, the less light enters the lens, according to Photography Life.
Photographic compositions
Rule of thirds
According to the Adobe website, it is a way of dividing frames, creating a three-by-three grid to achieve optimal composition. “This tends to allow for more interesting images than simply centering a subject,” it says.
Leading lines
These lines pull the viewer’s eye toward a subject or focal point, which then gives flat surfaces the appearance of depth, dimension and shape, according to the Adobe website.
Focus and depth of field
Being aware of what is in a shot and how to focus on it preserves a feeling of space and adds to the illusion of a third dimension within the photo, says the Adobe website.
Framing
According to the Adorama website, this composition involves using or adding frame elements to add interest to the image and to lead and emphasize the viewer’s eye to the subject.
The golden ratio
“It refers to the spiral, similar in shape to a nautilus shell, overlaid on an image,” says the Adorama website. Based on the mathematical concept called The Fibonacci Sequence, the website says this composition technique provides greater visual impact.
Negative space
According to Romanas Naryskin, photographer and writer from Photography Life website, this composition technique “makes the subject stand out and attract the viewer’s attention.” It can drastically change the mood and story of an image, whether it be to strengthen positive emotions or add a sense of loneliness and despair, he says.