You’ve read all the usual stuff—shutter speed, aperture, ISO, the exposure triangle. But once you’ve got the basics down, it starts to feel a bit stale, right? Here are some tips you actually need to know.

Expose for Highlights…

You’ve probably heard the golden rule: “Don’t blow out your highlights.” It’s drilled into our heads because, once your highlights are gone, they’re gone. No amount of editing wizardry is gonna bring back detail in a patch of pure white.

But sometimes, especially when you’re shooting something moody, say, a shadowy alleyway or a dusky concert scene, you might actually want to prioritize your shadows and let some highlights clip. The key question is: What’s the most important part of this shot?

Try this. Head out at noon (harsh light), shoot high-contrast scenes, and experiment with deliberately letting some highlights clip. It’s super eye-opening to realize how much you can still get a killer shot even when parts of it are “technically wrong.”

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Your Camera’s Light Meter? It Lies.

Your camera’s meter is just guessing. Its entire purpose is to make whatever it’s seeing turn out “middle gray”—about 18% gray to be exact. Which works until you’re photographing snow, or a black cat, or basically anything that’s not middle gray.

An easy way to fix this. Find something you know is around middle gray, could be an actual gray card, or tiles, or even your palm if it’s light enough. Meter off that in the same light as your subject, lock exposure, and done, that is way more accurate exposure. If you’re feeling fancy, switch to spot metering and meter off a key midtone area instead of letting your camera average out the whole scene.

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ETTR: The Edit-Or-Forget-It Rule

You might’ve heard of this thing called ETTR—Expose To The Right. Sounds fancy, but it’s actually simple: it means pushing your exposure as bright as possible (without clipping highlights) so you capture the most data. More data = cleaner image, especially in shadows.

But here’s the catch: ETTR is useless if you’re not planning to edit. If you’re just shooting JPEGs and uploading straight from camera, don’t bother. ETTR images often look too bright and flat until you bring them into post and edit them. So if you’re a RAW shooter who loves editing? Absolutely give ETTR a shot. If not? Just don’t care.

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TL;DR: The basics matter, but real magic happens when you start making intentional choices. Expose for what matters most in your scene. Don’t trust your camera meter blindly. And also don’t stress too hard about “getting it right”—sometimes “wrong” is exactly what makes your shot stand out.

Photography is the art of capturing light. Capturing a great photograph heavily relies on understanding and controlling exposure settings. Here I will share my experiences for getting photo properly exposed.

Exposure in photography: amount of light reaching the film (sensor), determining the brightness and tonality of the image.

Remember that every camera have a different way to change the exposure settings, and the terms may differ as well. You should see the user’s manual of your camera.

Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening when taking a picture. It is represented by an f-number (e.g., f/2.8, f/8). A lower f-number means a wider aperture, allowing more light to enter the camera. A higher f-number results in a narrower aperture, reducing the amount of light. Aperture also affects the depth of field, with wider apertures creating a shallow depth of field and narrower apertures providing a large depth of field.

Shutter speed determines the duration for which the camera’s image sensor is exposed to light. It is measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 1/500, 1/30). Faster shutter speeds freeze motion but allow less light, while slower shutter speeds create motion blur but capture more light. It is crucial to choose an appropriate shutter speed depending on the subject and desired effect.

ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor to light. Lower ISO values (e.g., ISO 100) are less sensitive and produce cleaner images, while higher ISO values (e.g., ISO 1600) increase sensor sensitivity but may introduce noise or grain to the image. Select the ISO setting based on the available light conditions and the desired image quality.

Common Exposure Mistakes

Underexposure and overexposure are the most common mistakes in photography, but there are more. One of the mistakes I see many beginners make is using high ISO or small aperture when it is not necessary. When shooting, it is best to keep the ISO low, as higher ISO introduces noise. Sometimes I see people turning iso up to 8000 but their aperture is at f/18, or their ISO is 8000 and their shutter speed is 1/4000.

Exposure Modes

Manual (M) Mode:
In manual mode, the photographer has complete control over all exposure settings. It provides maximum flexibility but requires a good understanding of the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
(Some photographer claim that you are not a real photographer when you don’t shoot manual, this is not true, sometimes it is better to let the camera do work for you.)

Aperture Priority (Av/A) Mode:
Aperture priority mode allows the photographer to set the desired aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve proper exposure. It is useful when controlling depth of field is a priority.

Shutter Priority (Tv/S) Mode:
Shutter priority mode empowers the photographer to set the desired shutter speed, and the camera adjusts the aperture for correct exposure. This mode is ideal when capturing motion or freezing action is essential.

Program (P) Mode:
Program mode is a semi-automatic mode where the camera selects both the aperture and shutter speed for proper exposure. However, the photographer can still adjust other settings like ISO and exposure compensation.

Metering

When using a semi-automatic mode (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Program) you need to consider the camera’s metering settings.

Metering in photography refers to the process of measuring the amount of light in a scene to determine the optimal exposure settings. It helps the camera calculate the appropriate combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity to capture a well-exposed image.

The metering system analyzes the light reflected from the subject or scene and provides a recommended exposure value.

Different Metering Modes:

1. Matrix Metering (or sometimes Evaluative Metering):
   Matrix metering is the default metering mode in most cameras. It divides the scene into multiple zones, analyzes the light, and considers various factors such as subject brightness, contrast, and color to calculate the exposure. It provides a balanced exposure for most situations, making it suitable for general shooting conditions.
2. Spot Metering:
   Spot metering measures the light in a very specific spot or a small area of the frame. It is particularly useful when you want to expose for a specific part of the scene, such as a subject’s face in a backlit situation or a high-contrast scene (I use this when shooting a stage performance). Spot metering allows precise control over exposure in a particular area, but it requires careful consideration and adjustment.
3. Center-Weighted Average Metering:
   Center-weighted metering gives priority to the central portion of the frame while considering the overall scene. It measures the light in the center and then averages it with the surrounding areas. This mode is beneficial when the subject is centered and you want to ensure proper exposure for the main subject while still considering the background.
4. Highlight-Weighted Metering:
   Highlight-weighted metering is a relatively newer metering mode found in some advanced cameras. It evaluates the brightness of the entire scene and prioritizes preserving the highlight details. This mode is particularly useful in high-contrast situations where you want to prevent overexposure in bright areas.

Exposure Compensation

Exposure compensation is a camera setting that allows you to manually adjust the exposure from the metered value. It is used to override the camera’s automatic exposure settings, increasing or decreasing the exposure by a specified amount to achieve the desired brightness level for the image.

I hope you now have an basic idea about how the exposure settings work. Now you should practice using manual or semi-automatic exposure, as these can make your photos look way better than full auto exposure.

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Finished the basics? Read this: Exposure tips you should know.

Photography is magical, the shutter is clicked, and time is stopped, just for the blink of an eye. (One Hour Photo)

Light

Photography is all about capturing light. Pay attention to the lighting in your photos, it can make a huge difference. Soft, gentle light, like during sunrise or sunset, can create warm, inviting landscapes. Try to avoid harsh midday sunlight that can cast unflattering shadows. Experimenting with different lighting conditions will help you discover the magic of capturing the perfect light.

Sharpness

Sharpness is not the only aspect that matters, but controlling sharpness can add that extra “quality” to your photos. Try to use a smaller aperture when lighting conditions allow. This was a mistake I made when I first started photography; I thought that I paid for the fast lens, so I need to use the largest aperture I have. Having a smaller aperture also means greater depth of field, which is useful when capturing fast-moving things.

Composition

Less is more in photography. Trim away unnecessary elements that don’t contribute to your story. Simplify your composition by focusing on the key subject and removing distractions. Let your viewers connect effortlessly with your photo’s essence. A trick to do this is by having a shallow depth of field, play with a wide aperture to blur unwanted elements in the background, this also gives your photo a professional touch.

Follow the lines. Leading lines are like friendly guides for your viewers’ eyes. They add depth and visual interest. Look for natural lines like roads, fences, or anything that lead to your subject. Experiment with angles to make those lines pop.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Shoot from low angles for a heroic effect or from high viewpoints for a fresh perspective (but a lower angle is typically easier to achieve). Changing your viewpoint can turn an ordinary scene into something great!

Tell a Story

A captivating photo tells a story or stirs emotions. Think about the story you want to convey and ensure every element supports it. Seek interesting moments or expressions that add depth and intrigue. Your camera has the superpower to capture visual stories!

Don’t Miss the Details

Sometimes, it’s the tiny details that make a big impact. Watch out for stray hairs, distracting objects, or unwanted reflections. Take a quick scan before clicking that shutter button. Attention to detail elevates the overall quality of your photos.

Experiment with Different Lenses

Another mistake I made when I first started photography. I used to use wide-angle lenses only, because I didn’t like the photos produced by a telephoto lens. But now I absolutely love tele lenses.
Expand your horizons by trying out different lenses. Each lens offers a unique perspective and capabilities.

Post Editing

Advanced programs like Adobe Lightroom can help you correct the mistakes you made when shooting. You can even use AI to add objects or expand your photo. But relying too much on post-editing can sometimes become a crutch that hinders your growth as a photographer. By focusing on understanding and mastering your camera settings, composition techniques, and lighting, you can strive to capture stunning images straight out of the camera. This approach challenges you to improve your skills and develop a more intuitive understanding of photography.

Learn and Practice

Photography is an exciting journey of learning and practice. Study the work of other photographers and shoot when you can! The more you practice, the better you become at evaluating your own photos and creating mind-blowing shots.

With these tips, you’re on your way to mastering photography and capturing great images. Keep experimenting with composition, lighting, focus, and storytelling. And most importantly, keep learning and practicing.