When you start learning photography, you're bound to come into contact with the word "exposure". If you want to take a nice picture, then you have to control the proper exposure.


Aperture, shutter, and ISO are called the three elements of exposure. First, the aperture is a device used to control the amount of light that through the lens, usually within the lens. The aperture size is expressed with F.

The bigger aperture with lower F-value would capture more light, then the shorter exposure time is required. The smaller aperture allows less light, then the longer exposure time is needed.


Above, you can see that the first picture taken with the F2.8 big aperture creates a clearer subject  and virtual background. If you use a smaller aperture, the subject and background in the photo will be unshape, which is also why we like to use the lens with big aperture when taking portrait to make the virtual background and highlight the subject.


Most SLR cameras have AV mode, that is, the aperture priority mode. You can set the mode and use fixed aperture value for shooting, so that the camera will be based on your choice of aperture to automatically select the right shutter this, which is a very practical way.

Here are some tips about aperture setting:

  • Still Life Photography (f/2.2)
  • Face and Expression (f/2.8)
  • Outdoor Portraits Photography(f/4)
  • Street Photography (f/5.6)
  • Night Scenery Photography(f/8)
  • Natural landscape with depth (f/11)
  • Clear Natural Landscape (f/16)
  • Still Life Photography (f/2.2)

ISO is also one of the settings that cannot be ignored. ISO refers to the lens' sensitivity to the light. In the case of sufficient light, low ISO can guarantee the purity of the picture and high ISO can ensure that the photo quality in low-light environment, but the resulting noise is also you should consider.


In digital photographs, "noise" is the commonly-used term to describe visual distortion. It looks similar to grain found in film photographs, but can also look like splotches of discoloration when it's really bad, and can ruin a photograph. Noise tends to get worse when you're shooting in low light.If you are not sure what kind of ISO is appropriate in the current scene , then you can set ISO to AUTO gear, so that the camera automatically detects the light environment to provide the corresponding ISO shooting, which also a good way to ensure normal exposure.