Photography 101 Quick Reference | Casey Addason Photo + Video

The Exposure Triangle

◉ Aperture (f-stop)

Controls depth of field. Lower f-number = more light + blurrier background.

◉ Shutter Speed

Controls motion blur. Faster = freeze action. Slower = creative motion blur.

◉ ISO

Sensor sensitivity. Higher = brighter but introduces grain/noise.

These three balance each other. Adjusting one means compensating with the others to keep a correct exposure.

Composition

Rule of Thirds

Place subjects at the intersection points of a 3x3 grid for natural balance.

Leading Lines

Use roads, fences, or architecture to draw the eye into the scene.

Framing

Use doorways, arches, or windows as a natural frame around your subject.

Negative Space

Give your subject room to breathe. Simplicity creates impact.

Focal Length

14-35mm

Wide — Landscapes, architecture, environmental portraits

35-85mm

Standard — Everyday shooting, portraits, street

85-200mm+

Telephoto — Compression, isolating subjects, wildlife

Longer focal lengths compress distance, making backgrounds appear closer to your subject.

Depth of Field

Shallow f/1.4 - f/2.8
Blurry background
Subject pops

Deep f/8 - f/16
Everything sharp
Great for landscapes

What affects depth of field:

Aperture setting · Distance to subject · Focal length

Light and Golden Hour

Blue Hour

Golden

Midday

Golden

Blue Hour

☼ Golden Hour

First and last hour of sunlight. Warm tones, soft shadows.

☾ Blue Hour

Just before sunrise or after sunset. Cool, ethereal tones.

◑ Midday

Find open shade, use fill flash, or embrace bold shadows.

→ Direction

Front (even), side (drama), back (rim light and silhouettes).

Technical Basics

Megapixels

More is not always better, but affects print size and crop flexibility.

RAW vs JPEG

RAW = maximum editing flexibility. JPEG = smaller files, processed in-camera.

Dynamic Range

Your camera's ability to hold detail in both shadows and highlights.

White Balance

Adjusts for warm or cool light. Auto works most of the time.