Controlling Exposure:
In order for an image to be captured on film, it must be exposed to light. The camera has two settings that control light, and they work very similar to the human eye.
The Shutter:
The shutter blocks all light from exposing the film until you press the button. Then it quickly opens and closes, giving the film a brief flash of light.
You can control the length of time the shutter remains open by setting the shutter speed.
Longer shutter speeds = more light
shorter shutter speeds = less light
The Aperture:
Before light reaches film, it must pass through an opening called an "Aperture". The aperture is like a pupil. You can control the aperture by setting the "Aperture Opening", also known as an F-Stop.
Smaller F-stops numbers = larger openings
larger openings = more light
brightness is reduced as light passes through an aperture.
Shutter Speed: This determes the amount of light is use in each photo.
Like the pupil in a human eye, the aperture on a camera controls light.
It does so by closing up to restrict light, and opening up to let it through.
Balancing Shutter and Aperture:
Exposure is about different combinations of shutter and f-stop settings. These combinations can drastically affect the finished picture. For example, the following three pictures have been given an equal amount of light, but the f-stop and shutter combinations make each one unique.
