Workshop 2 “The Exposure Triangle Made Simple: Learn with a Glass of Water”

The Photographer’s Magic Trio: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO… or How to Fill a Glass of Water Without Spilling It

In photography, you’ll often hear about the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. At first, it sounds a bit intimidating—like some secret code reserved for engineers or darkroom alchemists. But don’t worry: you don’t need to be a scientist or a wizard to understand it. All you need… is a glass of water.

Yes, really. A simple glass of water explains it all. Imagine that taking a photo is like filling this glass exactly to the brim. Too little water, and the glass stays half empty: your photo is underexposed, too dark. Too much water, and it overflows: your photo is overexposed, too bright.

Your job as a photographer is to fill the glass just right. And to do that, you have three levers—three magical controls: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Let’s walk through them, step by step, without drowning.

1. Aperture: the size of the faucet

First, let’s look at the faucet. Aperture is simply the size of the opening that lets water through. A wide faucet lets water gush out quickly. A tiny faucet trickles slowly. In photography, aperture controls how much light passes through your lens.

But aperture also has a side effect: it affects depth of field. In plain English, that means how much of your image is sharp in front and behind your subject. A wide aperture (like f/2.8) doesn’t just let in more light, it also blurs the background beautifully. Perfect for portraits, where you want your subject sharp and the background soft. A narrow aperture (like f/16) does the opposite: it keeps the whole scene sharp, from the flower in the foreground to the mountains in the distance. Ideal for landscapes.

So aperture isn’t just about brightness—it’s also about style.

2. Shutter speed: how long you leave the faucet open

Now let’s move to shutter speed. If aperture is the faucet’s size, shutter speed is how long you leave it open. Keep it open for a long time, and the glass fills up. Open it for just a split second, and only a trickle gets through.

In photography, a fast shutter speed (like 1/1000 of a second) freezes action: a bird in mid-flight, a runner mid-jump, or even a water droplet mid-splash. A slow shutter speed (one second, two seconds, or more) shows motion: clouds streak across the sky, waterfalls turn silky, city lights paint glowing trails.

Shutter speed is where photography turns into art. You decide whether to freeze the world or let it flow into something dreamlike. Just one warning: the slower the speed, the steadier you need to be. Unless “shaky blur” is the look you’re after, a tripod becomes your best friend.

3. ISO: the size of the glass

Finally, let’s talk about ISO. Here, the analogy is simple: it’s the size of the glass. A small espresso cup fills with just a few drops (high ISO). A giant beer mug needs a lot more water (low ISO).

In photography, a high ISO (like 3200) means the sensor is very sensitive: it “fills up” quickly, useful in low light. But there’s a catch: higher ISO introduces digital noise—those speckles and grain that reduce image quality. A low ISO (like 100) keeps your image clean and crisp, but demands more light.

The golden rule: keep ISO as low as possible, and only raise it when you really need to.

4. Balancing the three: your recipe for exposure

Here’s where the magic happens. To fill the glass perfectly, you can use different combinations:

• Big faucet + short time = glass fills quickly.

• Small faucet + long time = glass still fills, just slower.

• Tiny glass = only a few drops needed, no matter the faucet.

Photography works the same way: there isn’t one “correct” setting. There are many possible combinations that give you the same exposure. The real question is: what creative effect do you want?

• Wide aperture = blurry background for portraits.

• Fast shutter = sharp action shots.

• High ISO = survival in low light.

Exposure isn’t just about light—it’s about storytelling.

5. Beginner pitfalls

Now, let’s talk about the common mistakes (because we’ve all made them):

• Cranking ISO too high: Yes, it makes the picture brighter, but at the cost of grainy skies that look like pixel soup.

• Forgetting shutter speed controls motion: Cue sports photos where athletes look like ghosts, or waterfalls that look frozen instead of flowing.

• Thinking aperture is only about brightness: It also shapes the mood of your image through depth of field.

• Searching for a magic formula: Sorry, there isn’t one. Each scene needs its own mix.

But here’s the good news: mistakes are part of the learning process. And unlike a real glass of water, in photography you can “spill” as much as you like—without needing to mop the floor.

Conclusion: become a plumber of light

In the end, photography is nothing more than light plumbing. Adjust the size of the faucet (aperture), the time you leave it open (shutter speed), and the size of the glass (ISO) to get just the right exposure. Not too much, not too little—just enough.

Instead of being intimidated by technical jargon, treat it like play. Experiment. Try wide apertures for portraits, slow shutters for dreamy landscapes, and see how ISO saves you in dim light.

The best part? Unlike real plumbing, there are no leaks or messy cleanups. Just the joy of filling your glass of light, one photo at a time.

Workshop 1 “Hold Your Camera Right”

Before diving into complicated settings, let’s start with the basics: holding your camera properly! 📸 A steady posture is the secret to avoiding blurry shots and enjoying the fun of photography. Elbows tucked in, hands in the right place, feet grounded—you’ll be amazed at the difference. Simple, effective… and it builds confidence from the very first click!

Let’s be honest: cameras are expensive, heavy, and strangely slippery. If you want sharp photos (and fewer trips to the repair shop), here are three foolproof techniques to hold your camera like a legend.

1. The T-Rex Stance

Keep your elbows tucked in tight, like a T-Rex trying to text on a smartphone. Sure, you’ll look ridiculous, but your camera will be steady as a rock. Bonus: it builds triceps.

2. The Sandwich Grip

Your left hand goes under the lens like you’re about to serve the fanciest photographic baguette in town. Your right hand holds the body, finger on the shutter. Voilà, you’re a master chef of stability.

3. The Zen Tripod

Spread your feet a little, breathe deeply, and pretend you’re a human tripod. Exhale slowly as you press the shutter. If people stare, just nod wisely—they’ll assume you’re a photography guru.

There you go: three simple techniques to keep your photos sharp and your dignity only slightly damaged. Remember: a steady camera means fewer blurry shots… and more likes on Instagram.