FREE Photography Exposure Triangle Mastery Questions and Answers Flashcards

A photographer shooting a waterfall wants a silky smooth water effect. Which exposure triangle setting should they prioritize adjusting?

Answer: Slow shutter speed

A slow shutter speed (e.g., 1/4s or longer) blurs moving water to create the classic silky smooth effect.

When shooting in bright daylight, what is the most likely consequence of using ISO 3200 instead of ISO 100?

Answer: Overexposed image with excessive noise

ISO 3200 in bright daylight dramatically increases sensor sensitivity, causing overexposure and introducing visible digital noise.

Which combination would produce the shallowest depth of field for a portrait?

Answer: f/1.8, close to subject, long focal length

A wide aperture (f/1.8), close subject distance, and long focal length all combine to minimize depth of field for maximum background blur.

A photographer doubles the shutter speed from 1/125s to 1/250s. To maintain the same exposure, what must they do?

Answer: Open the aperture by one stop or double the ISO

Doubling shutter speed halves the light entering the camera, so you must compensate by opening the aperture one stop or doubling the ISO.

What does the term 'reciprocity' mean in the context of the exposure triangle?

Answer: Adjusting one setting can be offset by an equal opposite change in another

Reciprocity means that an increase in one exposure parameter can be compensated by a proportional decrease in another to maintain equivalent exposure.

In a dimly lit concert venue, a photographer needs a fast shutter speed to freeze the performers. Which trade-off is most acceptable?

Answer: Raising ISO to 6400 and accepting some noise

Raising ISO to 6400 allows a fast shutter speed in low light, and modern cameras handle high-ISO noise reasonably well for concert photography.