Exposure Triangle for Beginners

This free Exposure Triangle for Beginners course will give you an understanding of the basic exposure principles that make up the foundations of photography. This is the first step in understanding how to make beautifully-exposed photos.

"This course makes you think and teaches you about the exposure triangle fundamentally."

Leslie Hankey

Kevin Lamport

Great explanations regarding the exposure triangle and the mental math required to make it work.

Tyler Liggett

It was great. Laid out well and quizzes did a good job of reinforcing the lessons. I look forward to continuing through the rest of the classes.

Grant Furley

Useful explanation of how it all fits together and how to think about your camera settings.
10 Video Lessons

Short videos take you through every aspect of the exposure triangle in a clear, concise manner, accompanied by text and photos.

5 Quizzes

Four quizzes throughout the course are correctable to 100%. Then a final exam tests what you've learned!

4 Exercises

You'll have four exercises throughout the Exposure Triangle course to reinforce learning.

What you'll learn by the end of this course:

  • What aperture, shutter, and ISO do
  • What a "stop" is and how to use it to balance the Exposure Triangle
  • How to use shutter speed for creative photography
  • How changing aperture affects light and focus
  • When and how to use Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes

Exposure Triangle Course Curriculum

    1. Introduction to Exposure

    2. Student Survey

    3. Exposure Triangle Study Guide

    1. History of Camera Exposures

    2. The Sensor

    3. The Shutter

    4. The Aperture

    5. Quiz: The Basic Camera

    1. Defining a Stop

    2. Stopping with ISO, Shutter, and Aperture

    3. Quiz: Stopping Light

    1. Aperture and Shutter Relationship

    2. Making it a Triangle by Adding ISO

    3. Quiz: The Exposure Triangle

    1. Introduction to Priority Modes

    2. ISO and Exposure Compensation

    3. Quiz: Your Exposure Triangle Calculator

    1. Final Exercise: Get Out of AUTO

    2. Final Test

    3. Course Review & Feedback

About this course

  • Free
  • 20 lessons
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Study Guide included

It's time to get out of AUTO

Start taking those creative photos you've always wanted to!

Take that dial out of AUTO and start making long-exposure photos, blurred backgrounds, and proper exposures.
This basic photography exposure tutorial will walk you through everything you need to understand and reinforce your learning with quizzes and exercises throughout the course.

Start Now - Free

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MEET YOUR TEACHER

John Peltier

I have a unique background in education that started in the U.S. Air Force where I was an F-15E flight instructor for ten years and wrote F-15E training curricula. I continued to teach helicopter lessons after transitioning to civilian life.

However, I soon discovered my passion was telling stories through photography. I've completed documentary projects throughout the world and have also taught photography on three continents. I've been a professional photographer for over ten years, having been published in places like New York Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Tahoe Quarterly, and the U.S. National Park Service.

I've been teaching in-person photography lessons since 2017 and have brought a proven method to these online courses. Photography is a joy that everyone should have access to, and I'd like to pass it on to you, too!
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