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Have you ever taken a photo with your smartphone, only to realize later that it’s either too dark or way too bright? It’s frustrating, right?
The secret to getting that perfect balance of light in your photos comes down to exposure. Even though it sounds technical, once you understand how it works, you’ll be able to take control of your smartphone’s camera and improve your shots instantly.
What Is Exposure, and Why Does It Matter?
Exposure refers to how much light your camera lets in when you take a photo. Too much light (overexposure), and your picture will look washed out and overly bright. Too little light (underexposure), and your photo will turn out dark and lacking in detail. Getting the right exposure means capturing just the right amount of light, so your images look natural and balanced.
Smartphones usually have automatic exposure settings which do a decent job most of the time. But if you want to step up your photography game, learning how to adjust exposure manually can make a huge difference. And that’s where understanding the exposure triangle comes into play.
Understanding the Exposure Triangle
The exposure triangle is a simple way to understand how three key settings—ISO, shutter speed, and aperture—work together to control the light in your photos. Think of it as a balancing act between these three elements. When you change one, you might need to adjust the others to keep your photo well-exposed.
Here’s how each part of the exposure triangle affects your photo…
ISO refers to how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to light. A low ISO setting means your camera is less sensitive to light, which is great for bright conditions, like when you’re outside on a sunny day. A high ISO makes your camera more sensitive to light, which is useful in low-light situations, like during an evening event or in a dimly lit room.
However, there’s a trade-off: as you increase your ISO, you might notice more “noise” or grain in your photos. This can make them look less sharp or clear. So, while bumping up the ISO can help youcapture photos in low light, it’s best to keep it as low as possible for clearer, crisper shots.
Below is a comparison of photos taken in the same place with different ISO levels:
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed controls how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light. A faster shutter speed means the sensor is exposed for a shorter amount of time, which is great for freezing fast-moving subjects, like when you’re photographing a sporting event or your pet running around.
A slower shutter speed allows the sensor to take in light for a longer time, which can help capture more detail in low-light situations or create cool motion blur effects.
In simple terms: fast shutter speeds freeze motion, while slow shutter speeds capture movement over time. Take a look at the below example—on the left, you’re able to see a photo taken with a fast shutter speed that freezes the action, while on the right, the slower shutter speed captures motion blur.
If you’re trying to take a photo of something moving quickly—like a car or a bird—you’ll want to use a faster shutter speed to avoid blur. On the other hand, if you’re photographing something stationary in low light, a slower shutter speed can help brighten the photo.
Aperture refers to how wide the lens opens when you take a photo, which controls how much light comes into the camera. Think of it like the pupil in your eye—when it’s wide open, more light gets in, and when it narrows, less light enters.
In photography, aperture is measured in “f-stops.” A lower f-stop number (like f/1.8) means a wider aperture, which lets in more light and creates a shallow depth of field. This shallow depth of field is what gives you thatbeautiful blurry background effect (bokeh), where your subject is sharp, but the background is soft.
A higher f-stop number (like f/11) means a narrower aperture, which lets in less light but keeps more of the scene in focus, making it ideal for landscape shots.
Most smartphones don’t allow you to adjust the aperture manually like traditional cameras do. However, modern smartphones often have “fixed aperture” lenses, which work to simulate aperture effects. Portrait modes, for example, use software to mimic the shallow depth of field effect you’d get with a wide aperture on a traditional camera.
Below is an illustration of how aperture affects your images (note the background blur in the first image):
How to Adjust Exposure on Your Smartphone
Once you understand the exposure triangle, you may start taking control of your smartphone photography. Here are three effective ways to adjust exposure, listed in order of ease of use:
Use the Exposure Slider
Most smartphone camera apps include an exposure slider, usually represented by a sun icon. After framing your shot, tap on the screen where you want to focus, and you’ll often see a slider appear. Slide it up to brighten your photo or down to darken it.
This method is the simplest way to adjust exposure on the fly, perfect for quick fixes without diving into complex settings.
Shoot in Pro Mode
If your smartphone has a “Pro” (or “Manual”) mode, this gives you more control over your camera settings. In this mode, you can manually adjust ISO, shutter speed, and exposure balance. While this requires a bit more understanding of how these elements interact, it allows for precise adjustments based on your shooting conditions.
Unfortunately, iPhones don’t have a Manual mode, but here’s how it looks on a Samsung Galaxy:
Use a Third-Party Camera App
If you want even more flexibility than what’s offered in your phone’s default camera app, consider downloading athird-party camera applike Focos or ReLens. These apps typically provide advanced features, including separate controls for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. While there’s a slight learning curve, they offer powerful tools that can help you fine-tune your photos to your liking.
Mastering exposure is key to taking stunning smartphone photos that truly capture the moment. By understanding the exposure triangle—ISO, shutter speed, and aperture—you gain the tools needed to adjust how light affects your images. Whether you’re shooting in bright sunlight or dimly lit settings, getting your exposure right can elevate your photography from ordinary to extraordinary.
