Photo How To

This tutorial takes a deep dive into the practical aspects of ISO, one pillar of the familiar Exposure Triangle (the other two being aperture and shutter speed). In less than 11 minutes you'll gain a firm understanding of this essential setting and learn how to apply it when shooting different types of images under various lighting conditions.

The video begins with this claim by a successful Australian pro: "Understanding ISO and knowing when and how to adjust it can make the difference between getting the shot and ending up with a complete dud." This is especially true when shooting in the field under challenging light,

Instructor Ben Fewtrell says he's passionate about landscape photography and helping other shooters increate their odds of success. In this episode he demonstrates why the ISO setting you choose not only affects exposure but plays an important role in image quality as well. You'll also learn techniques for reducing noise and achieving sharp photos in low light.

Methods for balancing ISO with aperture and shutter speed are also part of the discussion. You can download a free and very useful Camera-Settings Checklist by visiting Fewtrell's website at the address he provides.

Fewtrell has enjoyed a long and fruitful career, and he places ISO in historical context dating back to the heyday of film photography when we simply set ISO (or ASA) to match the specific film in use. "So if I was shooting sports I'd grab an ISO 400 film, but If I was shooting other images in bright sun ISO 200 would often be my choice." On the other hand, when his goal was "being "artsy, 800-speed b&w film was often his go-to option.

Of course things have changed dramatically in our era of digital photography, and that's the emphasis of this particular video. Fewtrell provides several practical examples, along with important shooting techniques for manipulating ISO settings on your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Experimentation is often the key to mastering a new approach to shooting, and Fewtrell suggests a few ways to practice the benefits of setting ISO in different ways that will greatly expand your understanding and help you capture more compelling photographs. So how about making this approach your weekend assignment?

If landscape photography is one of your prime interests we strongly recommend that you check out the how-to videos on Fewtrell's popular YouTube channel.

And don't miss the recent tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who explains how to capture dramatic b&w photographs on the street with an attention-grabbing minimalist look.