Tips For Taking Digital Photos - A Lighting Setting You Cannot Ignore If Photo Quality is Essential

Some of the best tips for taking digital photos deal with the ever-confusing lighting issue. There are three settings to consider - aperture, speed, and ISO. The most overlooked factor - light sensitivity or ISO, affects both aperture and speed.

Why Is ISO Overlooked?

The light sensitivity factor ISO is an afterthought and probably the least understood of the three settings. Yet it plays a critical role in determining photo quality. Consider the following lighting test.

What Happens When You Adjust ISO Upward

The Canon Rebel XTi that allows ISO settings from 100 to 1600. When you put this camera in a semi-automatic setting (Program) and raise the ISO from 100 to 200, the camera holds the aperture setting constant and increases the speed setting in seconds (less light). So, the higher the ISO, the less light is needed to maintain the correct situational lighting.

Tips For Taking Digital Photos - ISO As A Major Lighting Factor

Traditionally, ISO 100 or 200 is used in a well-lit outdoor setting. When it’s cloudy outside, the ISO setting is higher - 400 or 800. The less light, the higher the setting.

But what happens indoors? For example, you are attending a concert and want to take shots, but you cannot use flash. Or you’re using flash and people appear ghost-like in the photos, so you would rather not use flash.

The answer is simple - raise the ISO setting to the highest level that will maintain a quality picture and the proper exposure. In an indoor situation, that could be 1600 or higher.

The Inevitable Trade-off

A trade-off to consider - the higher the ISO setting, the grainier the photo. But that may be exactly the effect you want! Experiment with different ISO settings to determine your camera’s light sensitivity constraints.

More Tips For Taking Digital Photos

Interested in a camera for taking perfect pictures at higher ISO settings (3200, 6400, 12800)? See the features AND reviews for the Canon Rebel T1i. It shoots HD videos!

Shoot many pet photos? Consider these 5 Tips For Taking Digital Photos of Puppies.