Exposure Triangle Mastery Flashcards

What does 'stopping down' a lens mean?

Answer: Using a smaller aperture opening (higher f-number)

Stopping down means closing the aperture to a smaller opening (e.g., f/2.8 to f/8), reducing the light entering the lens.

Why might a photographer choose ISO 800 over ISO 100 even in adequate light?

Answer: To allow a faster shutter speed for freezing action

Raising ISO allows a faster shutter speed to be used for the same aperture, which is valuable when freezing motion is the priority.

You're shooting a dark indoor event and can't add flash. You've already opened to f/1.8 and raised ISO to 3200. What is your ONLY remaining option to brighten the image?

Answer: Decrease shutter speed

With aperture maxed out and ISO at its practical limit, only slowing the shutter speed admits more light — though it risks motion blur.

The 'sunny 16 rule' states that in direct sunlight, a correct exposure is achieved at f/16 with which shutter speed?

Answer: 1/ISO (e.g., 1/100s at ISO 100)

The sunny 16 rule: at f/16 in direct sunlight, set shutter speed to 1/ISO (so 1/200s at ISO 200) for correct exposure.

Which statement about aperture and diffraction is correct?

Answer: Very small apertures (f/16–f/22) can cause diffraction softening

At very small apertures, light diffracts around the aperture blades, causing a slight loss of sharpness known as diffraction softening.

A histogram shows data bunched hard against the right edge. What does this indicate?

Answer: The image has blown highlights (overexposed)

Data clipped against the right edge of the histogram indicates overexposure with blown-out highlight detail that cannot be recovered.

Why is 'expose to the right' (ETTR) a technique used by photographers shooting RAW?

Answer: Brighter exposures capture more data in highlights

Exposing to the right (just short of clipping) maximizes captured data and signal-to-noise ratio, reducing noise when shadows are lifted in post.