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Exposure Triangle

Visualise how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together. Adjust one setting and see equivalent combinations that produce the same exposure.

Set your exposure

Select aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

Controls depth of field and light

Controls motion blur and light

Controls sensitivity and grain

Exposure Value (EV)

EV 9.9

Indoor, window light

Exposure contribution

How each setting affects overall brightness

Equivalent exposures

Same brightness, different trade-offs

f/21/1000sISO 400
Wider aperture, shallower focus
f/2.81/500sISO 400
Wider aperture, shallower focus
f/41/250sISO 400
Wider aperture, shallower focus
f/5.61/30sISO 100
Lower ISO, finer grain
f/5.61/60sISO 200
Lower ISO, finer grain

Aperture

Wide apertures (f/1.4–2.8) let in more light and create shallow depth of field. Narrow apertures (f/11–22) let in less light but keep more in focus.

Shutter Speed

Fast speeds (1/500+) freeze motion. Slow speeds (1/30 and below) can cause motion blur or camera shake without a tripod.

ISO

Low ISO (100–200) gives the finest grain. Higher ISO (800+) allows shooting in lower light but increases visible grain.

Understanding the exposure triangle

The exposure triangle represents the three settings that control how much light reaches your film or sensor. Each setting affects exposure by one stop when doubled or halved.

One stop = doubling or halving the light. Going from f/4 to f/5.6 is one stop less light. Going from 1/125s to 1/60s is one stop more light. Going from ISO 200 to ISO 400 is one stop more sensitivity.

When you change one setting, you can compensate with another to maintain the same exposure. This lets you make creative choices: shallow depth of field, frozen motion, or minimal grain — pick your priority.

Track your exposure settings with Silverlog

Coming soon

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