Camera basics & settings

Exposure, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus, metering and the settings that matter most when you start shooting manual.

The exposure triangle explained in plain language

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together to set how bright a photo is. Here is how to balance them and what each one changes creatively.

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What aperture is and how to use f-stops

Aperture controls how much light enters the lens and how much of the photo is in focus. Learn the f-stop scale and when to open up or stop down.

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Shutter speed: how to freeze motion or show it

Shutter speed decides whether movement looks frozen or blurred. Learn which speeds to use for people, sports, water, night scenes and handheld shooting.

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ISO explained: when to raise it and how much noise is acceptable

ISO brightens your image when aperture and shutter speed are maxed out. Learn how high you can safely go and how to keep noise under control.

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How to shoot in manual mode without getting lost

A step-by-step way to use manual mode on your camera, plus when semi-automatic modes are the smarter choice.

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Aperture priority: the mode most professionals actually use

Aperture priority lets you control depth of field while the camera handles shutter speed. Here is how to use it well with Auto ISO and exposure compensation.

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How to read a histogram and stop guessing exposure

The camera screen lies, especially in bright sun. The histogram does not. Learn to read it and avoid blown highlights and blocked shadows.

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Metering modes: multi, center-weighted and spot

Metering decides how your camera measures light. Learn what each mode does and when to switch, especially for backlit portraits and high-contrast scenes.

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Autofocus modes: single, continuous and when to use each

AF-S locks focus once; AF-C keeps tracking. Learn which to choose for portraits, moving subjects, video and low light.

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Eye autofocus and focus areas: getting sharp eyes every time

Eye AF and subject detection have changed portrait and wildlife photography. Here is how to set them up and avoid the common mistakes.

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White balance: get natural colors under any light

White balance removes color casts from tungsten bulbs, shade and mixed light. Learn the presets, Kelvin values and when to fix it later.

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RAW vs. JPEG: which format should you shoot?

RAW files keep far more detail for editing; JPEGs are smaller and ready to share. Here is when each makes sense and why most professionals shoot RAW.

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Exposure compensation: the dial that fixes bright and dark scenes

Your camera tries to make everything middle gray. Exposure compensation tells it when a scene should be brighter or darker than average.

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Why your photos are blurry and how to fix it

Blurry photos come from camera shake, subject motion, missed focus or a dirty lens. Diagnose which one it is and apply the right fix.

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Depth of field: how to control what is sharp and what is blurred

Depth of field depends on aperture, focal length and distance. Learn how to get creamy backgrounds or front-to-back sharpness on purpose.

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What a stop of light is and why photographers talk about it

A stop is a doubling or halving of light. Understanding stops makes every other camera setting easier to balance.

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Back-button focus: why many pros separate focusing from the shutter

Back-button focus moves autofocus to a rear button so the shutter only takes the picture. Here is how to set it up and whether it suits you.

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Dynamic range: photographing bright skies and dark shadows together

When a scene is too contrasty for one exposure, you lose either the sky or the shadows. Learn how to protect highlights, use HDR and fill light.

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Drive modes: single shot, burst and self-timer

Burst mode captures the peak moment of action; the self-timer prevents shake on a tripod. Learn which drive mode to use and when.

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A beginner’s cheat sheet of camera settings for common situations

Starting settings for portraits, landscapes, events, indoor shots, sunsets and moving subjects that you can adjust from there.

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