The three absolute basics of photography.

ISO, aperture and shutter speed. http://hb10s.com

Thats it! Combining these three in various ways will be the absolute basics of your photos. Let's break it down.

ISO is a measurement which applies to film and represents the films sensitivity to light. It can go as low as 50, and keeps doubling up (next is 100, then 200, continuing to 400 etc) and reaches very high numbers. Low ISO is less sensitive to light. High ISO is more sensitive to light.

In dark areas such as indoors with dim lighting a high ISO number is needed because high ISO is more sensitive to light.

In bright areas such as outdoor in sunlight, a low ISO will be sufficient. Low ISO is less sensitive to light.

Aperture is the opening in your cameralens through which you let in light. So if you are in an area with strong light, you can let in less light through the lens. If it's dark, you can have a high aperture to let in more light. The numbers goes the other way here! A high number means you are letting in less light, and a low number is to let in more light. Aperture usually ranges from small opening with the number 22 (I know it doesn't make sense!) and all the way down to a big opening with the number 1.2.

In dark areas you can have a high aperture (low number). Meaning you are letting in as much light as possible.

In bright areas you can have a low aperture (high number). Meaning you are letting in less light.

Shutter speed is the length of time your camera lets in light. This measures in seconds, or parts of a second, usually from 1/4000 of a second all the way up to 30 seconds. Some cameras will let you click and hold the camerabutton leaving the length of time up to you. This setting is called bulb.

Conclusion: If you are in a dark area you need more light, therefore you have to set the camera to a slow shutter speed. In bright areas, you can have a faster shutter speed.

Final conclusion: By playing around with these three basic settings in your camera, you will be able to make bright areas look dark and dark areas look bright and everything in between.

For example: A low ISO, with high number of aperture (meaning letting in little light) and fast shutter speed will give you a dark photographic result even in bright areas.

ISO 100 + Aperture of 22 + shutter speed set to 1/4000 = dark result

On the other hand using a high ISO, with low numbers of aperture (meaning letting in much light) and slow shutter speed will give you a bright photographic result even in dark areas.

ISO 1600 + Aperture of 1.2 + shutter speed set to 10 seconds = bright result

Tip: Equipment with very high or low ISO, low number of aperture and very fast/slow shutter speed is more expensive.

For more tips, tricks and hopefully non-complicated explanations, visit: http://hb10s.com