AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

I have been reading here about authors who write about the exposure triangle or the renamed photographic triangle by Bryan Peterson, and have seen where some of you Hogs are critical of their avoiding the foundation of exposure. Was particularly reading this thread.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-477424-3.html

I would like someone to define “foundation of exposure”
I am very interested.
Thanks

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

On the thread you included, a number of UHH members debated the value of buying the 4th edition of Peterson’s book since they already owned one or more previous editions. I think if you own a previous edition, you don’t need to go back over essentially the same ground by buying the 4th. On the other hand, if the first copy you buy is the 4th edition, you are choosing an excellent reference with a good grounding on some key basics. As other UHH members point out, Peterson does not attempt to fully define or cover every aspect of the diverse subject of exposure. There is more to it than just the triangle, as serious photographers learn over time. But it is helpful to start with those basics.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Well, for me (foundation) exposure is about controlling the allowed light inside a camera.

The rest is just the side effects of the choices made*.

I do not need a book here.

A photographer who knows a minimal then can exploit the side effects to create a photograph.

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* Effects of the choices made:
- Aperture - DoF and diffusion (Front/Back Bokeh)
- Speed - Blur
- ISO - grain/noise

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

IMO the foundation would be that you learn how each element (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) affects the image - not just light and dark, but depth of field, motion and noise.

You learn that many combinations of those three elements give you exactly the same exposure* and you learn what happens when you only change one of the elements (exposure compensation). You also learn how your camera measures light and dark and why it suggests, or selects, certain settings.

Someone with a foundation of exposure knowledge would not ask "What settings should I used for xxx" unless it is a relatively unusual occasion (eclipse, northern lights, night sports) and would never wonder why their photos were blurry (if the problem was motion, either by the photographer or the subject). There would be no need to ask how to get a background to go out of focus, or the opposite - why the background is not sharp.

*learn what a "stop" is:
https://photographylife.com/what-are-exposure-stops-in-photography

btw, I still find it odd when someone says, "Your shutter speed is too slow to capture a bird in flight; raise your ISO." To me that's like saying, If your home is too hot with the furnace set at 78, open the window

If shutter speed is too slow for a subject, you increase the shutter speed and then work out the rest of the exposure (or let the camera do it if in shutter priority). Maybe 'cause I was raised on film where the was no "changing ISO" (yeah OK, except for push processing)?

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

Thanks Ralph. I ordered the 4th edition. I was just interested in the suggestion in that thread that he left out a whole subject.

BebuLamar

What the book is lacking is to show the reader how to determine the exposure based on subject brightness. The book dwells on how to choose among the combination possible for a given exposure after it has been determined which is the easier part of the two.

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

Thanks for the reply.
I’m sure you are right.

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

Thank you Linda for your very informative response. I will keep your comments in mind.
Oh, and we will be sure not to open the window here if it gets too hot

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Based on your blown highlights, which seems to be your “signature”, you most definitely need a book. Lol

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Let me recommend Ansel Adams “The Negative” as a foundation for understanding exposure.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

Well said!

Bill_de Loc: US

Many people answer questions assuming everyone does things the way they do. If someone feels DoF is a priority they may set the aperture and use Aperture Priority. In that case, raising the ISO would raise the shutter speed. Not a good universal answer,

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I wasn't clear in my example - happens to me a lot

My point was simply that if motion blur is the issue, then you should go directly to the source of the problem and adjust your shutter speed first.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

What I still do not see is what is the FOUNDATION of exposure.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Well, I just now went to the link the OP provided of the previous UHH topic and the only time "foundation" is mentioned is in a response by rmalarz. Perhaps "fundamentals" is a more universally understood term? Or basics? (which is how I formed my response in this thread)

Or maybe someone should just ask Bob Malarz what he meant