The ability to control the amount of light reaching the image sensor is what defines how a photograph turns out!
Knowing what settings to use for Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO will enable you to set the correct exposure and create photos that don’t come out too dark or too bright.
Aperture
Aperture is the opening between the lens (similar to the pupil of our eye) that lets the light into the image sensor. Wider the aperture opening, more light enters the sensor resulting in a brighter image and vice versa.
The aperture is measured using f stop scale (f-number): f1.4, f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16, f22 and so on. A smaller f-number means wider aperture/opening while a larger f-number means smaller aperture/opening.
So, f1.4 is the smallest f-number meaning wider opening, so more light will enter, making the photograph brighter. f22 is the largest f-number meaning smaller opening so less light will enter, making the photograph darker.
Aperture also affects Depth of Field. When the aperture is set at a smaller f-number say f5.6, the subject stands out but the background will appear blur, this is known as Shallow Depth of Field. And when the aperture is set at a larger f-number say f22, the background will be visible beyond the subject, this is known as Deep Depth of Field.
Shutter Speed
Shutter lies behind the aperture and ahead of the image sensor. When the aperture opens, light enters the camera. When you click a picture, the shutter opens for a particular period of time to allow light into the image sensor.
Shutter Speed is the time period for which the shutter is open to photograph a scene (the time for which light will pass through to the sensor). It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second.
Bigger the denominator – faster the shutter speed. 1/4000 sec is the fastest shutter speed while 30 sec denoted as 30″ is the slowest shutter speed.
For instance, 1/1000 sec is faster shutter speed so lesser light will enter the image sensor, darker and sharper will be the image.
30″ is slower shutter speed so more light will enter the image sensor, brighter and blurred will be the image.
Shutter Speed allows you to freeze or blur the motion in your photo.
ISO
ISO is the sensitivity of the image sensor to light which helps to darken or brighten an image. The image sensor needs less light at a high ISO and more light at a low ISO.
ISO 100: Low ISO (low sensitivity to light) = higher quality image; ideal under clear skies and bright day.
ISO 3200/ ISO 6400: High ISO (high sensitivity to light) = lower quality image (grainy/noisy image); ideal for night photography.
Ready to dive into the Manual Mode to have more control and take better photos with your DSLR?
Scroll down to uncover DSLR Manual Mode Settings for different types of photography:
Bokeh photography
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f4 or wider, ISO: 100/400, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec or faster.
Pro tip: To create Bokeh effect, there should be a source of light like fairy lights/lamps/sunlight/city light in the background; there should be a good distance between the subject and the background.
Disco photography
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f2.8 or wider, ISO: 640 or higher, Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec or faster.
Pro tip: To take photos from a distance, use a zoom lens with a wide aperture.
Food photography
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f4 or wider, ISO: 100/400, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec or faster.
Pro tip: Use cooking utensils, tableware, ingredients, sauces & other related props in the foreground or background to add depth, try to use natural light but not direct sunlight.
Freeze motion photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f11/ f16, ISO: 100/400, Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec.
Pro tip: Set the focus as the subject(s) come into the frame and then take the snap.
Golden hour photography
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f11/ f16 to capture landscapes during golden hour or f2.8 to create bokeh effect, Shutter Speed: 30 secs or slower, ISO: 100/ 400.
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings to freeze action during golden hour – Aperture: f5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec, ISO: 100.
Pro tip: Use a tripod when using slow shutter speed, set white balance to cloudy to warm up the colour temperature in the images.
Landscape photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f11/ f16, ISO: 100, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec or faster.
Pro tip: Use wide-angle lens (In 18–55mm lens, 18mm is the wide-angle lens) to capture a broader view of the landscape.
Light painting photography settings
Photo by Kev Jay – Light Painting Photographer. For more such amazing images, do check his Instagram profile here instagram.com/kevjayphotos/
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f8 – f22, ISO: 100, Shutter Speed: 10- 30 secs.
Pro tip: Keep your light source (a flashlight/light painting tube/light painting stick/light wand) constantly moving, use manual focus, use a tripod and remote shutter release/self-timer mode to avoid camera shake.
Light trail photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f5.6 – f11, ISO: 100 or least ISO (Lo 1), Shutter Speed: 10-15 secs.
Pro tip: Use a tripod and remote shutter release/self-timer mode to avoid camera shake.
Macro photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f5.6 – f11, ISO: 400/800, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec or faster.
Pro tip: Use manual focus; use macro lens since it offers a magnification ratio of 1:1 aka life size magnification (minimum focus distance for 100mm macro lens is 30cms).
Milky Way photography settings
Photo by Daniel Damschen, Product Designer and a Photographer. For more such amazing images, do check his Instagram profile here instagram.com/damschend/
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: widest aperture available in your DSLR, ISO: 800/6400, Shutter Speed: 30 secs or slower.
Pro tip: Place your DSLR on a tripod to avoid camera shake and use Manual Focus.
Panning photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f8 – f16, ISO: 100/200, Shutter Speed: slower than 1/60 sec.
Pro tip: Move along with your subject while keeping adequate distance between you & your subject.
Portrait photography settings
Portrait with a blurred background/ Shallow depth of field photography examples
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: widest aperture available in your DSLR, ISO: 100/400, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec or faster.
Pro tip: To create a blurred background (shallow depth of field), use wide aperture and keep a good distance between the subject and the background.
Portrait photography with Deep depth of field (and stream in the background)/ Deep depth of field photography examples
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f22, Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec or slower to blur the motion of the waterfall and make the water look smooth, ISO: 100.
Pro tip: The model should remain still since the slightest movement by her will cause a blur image since slower shutter speed is used here.
Sun photography settings
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f11/ f16, ISO: 100/400, Shutter Speed: depending on the lighting conditions present in the scene.
Pro tip: Use a tripod to create sharp images, set white balance to cloudy for sunset photography if you want to warm up the colour temperature in the images.
Waterfall photography settings
Waterfall long exposure settings (slow shutter speed)
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings – Aperture: f22, ISO: 100, Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec or slower.
Pro tip: Slow shutter speed (long exposure) will blur the motion of the waterfall and make the water look smooth. Place your DSLR on a tripod or a nearby rock to avoid camera shake. If the day is bright, you can also use a neutral density filter to set slower shutter speed.
Waterfall photography using fast shutter speed
Recommended DSLR Camera Settings –Aperture: f4, Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec, ISO: 100/400.
Pro tip: Fast shutter speed will freeze the motion of the waterfall.
When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.
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