There are few things more fundamental and important to becoming a technically competent photographer than mastering the exposure triangle. If you are new to photography, this fantastic video tutorial will show you how the exposure triangle works and how to use it to take better control of your photos.
Coming to you from John Branch IV Photography, this excellent video tutorial will show you how to use the exposure triangle to take full control of your images. The exposure triangle, which consists of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, is the key not only to making an image with a proper exposure, but for taking creative control over your photos as well. Auto modes have become quite advanced and can certainly get the exposure nearly right the majority of the time, but any number of combinations of the three parameters can make a decent exposure in most situations, and the camera does not know which combination would be best for whatever creative vision you have in mind, which is why it is so important to take manual control a lot of the time. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
And if you would like to learn more about how the exposure triangle works, check out this article.
While I appreciate the simplicity of the exposure triangle explanation it is an outdated concept leftover from the days of film and lacking in several key areas. Image sensors have a native gain and it would be better and more accurate to describe how to achieve the best signal to noise ratio rather than try to map electronic sensor technology concepts to film emulsion chemistry. The exposure triangle also neglects the basics of adding more light to a scene using a strobe or constant light source or subtracting light hitting the sensor using neural density. Perhaps a more modern version of exposure triangle would be light hitting the sensor, shutter speed and sensor gain.
"The exposure triangle is outdated"
Okay, then what do we replace it with?
:: waves hands wildly ::
The exposure triangle is fine. The simplicity is the point. The exposure triangle has ALWAYS neglected the basics of adding more light. Signal to noise can work hand in hand with the triangle, but understanding the latter certainly helps with the former.
Thanks Mark - I think maybe you're making my point for me.
To produce helpful content while maintaining the triangle metaphor - we need to expand the sides to be luminance (how much light reaches the sensor, exposure duration (shutter speed/shutter angle) and importantly the native gain/signal-to-noise/dynamic range.
Photographers and videographers will struggle to consistently achieve great images without a fundamental understanding how to maximize dynamic range while staying out of the noise floor and what tools they have at their disposal to achieve that.
I don't think I helped with your point at all. Photographers and videographers are not struggling to consistently achieve great images now. And you don't need a fundamental understanding how to maximize dynamic range while staying out of the noise floor to be able to take a picture that many would consider "great" and that many in the industry would consider commercial. The basic rules of thumb work well enough for most photographers.
The reason why the exposure triangle isn't "outdated" is because its simple to understand and it works. If you want to replace the "sides" of the triangle you really need to be articulate a way to explain that in a way a beginner would understand. You haven't been able to do that here: hence the :: waves hands wildly ::
Ok, we'll just agree to disagree then. For anyone interested in WHY I feel that the exposure triangle is actually a hinderance to the practice application of digital photography and film making, check out this great video "6 Reasons Why We Should Ditch the Exposure Triangle" by Filmmaker IQ. He says it way better than I can. https://youtu.be/R7edYQk_4ao
I've seen that video before. Its a rant. And completely misses the point. I have great respect for John and he makes great content. But he misses the mark here big time.