{"id":952,"date":"2012-01-24T18:50:08","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T00:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/opengecko.com\/?p=952"},"modified":"2012-01-24T18:50:08","modified_gmt":"2012-01-25T00:50:08","slug":"mastering-light-in-photography-1-adjust-your-iso-settings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opengecko.com\/geckoview\/photography\/mastering-light-in-photography-1-adjust-your-iso-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering Light in #Photography 1 – Adjust Your ISO Settings"},"content":{"rendered":"

If photography is \u2018writing with light\u2019, we need to learn how to control the light entering our cameras if we are to take successful shots.<\/font><\/p>\n

There are three ways of controlling light \u2013 adjusting aperture size, shutter speed or ISO settings.<\/font><\/p>\n

ISO settings refer to the sensitivity of the camera\u2019s sensor to light. The sensor is at the back of the camera, inside the body, where the image is captured electronically. In more traditional cameras, this is where the film would be. In film cameras, we need(ed) to choose the speed (or sensitivity) of film for different light conditions.<\/font><\/p>\n

Low ISO film and low ISO settings on a digital camera need lots of light to capture the image, but give the sharpest image and richest colours as a result. Think bright sunny days giving vivid and clear images.<\/font><\/p>\n

High ISO settings work with low light conditions, which is the number one reason to use them, but the quality of the picture can be noticeably degraded compared to those taken with a low ISO number in sufficient light. High ISO images tend to have noticeable \u2018noise\u2019 or a graininess which may not be desirable, but still may be preferable to switching on the flash. That said, some photographers actually make deliberate use of the graininess, which can look very striking for example on black and white portraits.<\/font><\/p>\n

Some modern and more expensive SLR cameras give impressive shots even at very high ISO settings with less noise visible.<\/font><\/p>\n

The key thing is, you should experiment with your ISO settings to adjust the quality of the image but also to allow you to take pictures in dim light to good effect.<\/font><\/p>\n

It is the one of the three settings which is often forgotten about, but setting the right ISO allows you more flexibility with aperture and shutter which is why I\u2019d start experimenting with this first.<\/font><\/p>\n

Resources:<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n

ISO Settings in Digital Photography<\/font><\/a> by Digital Photography School. <\/font><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Use a High ISO to Create Grainy Shots<\/font><\/a> by Digital Photography School.<\/font><\/p>\n

ISO by MichaelTheMentor<\/a><\/p>\n