Canon® EOS Rebel T1i/500D Digital Field Guide

Chapter 9. The Elements of Exposure and Composition

In This Chapter

• The four elements of exposure

• Equivalent exposures

• Putting it all together

• Approaches to composition

If you're new to photography or if you're returning after some time away from shooting, the information in this chapter serves as a refresher on the elements of exposure and a short guide to traditional photographic composition guidelines. This chapter can also help you build a foundation from which you can expand your skills and creative options in using the Rebel T1i/500D.

The Four Elements of Exposure

The goal of making a picture is to capture the scene or subject as you envision it. Making a picture begins with your creative eye and your personal expression. Your creative tool, the camera, is governed by technical factors collectively referred to as the elements of exposure. While the technical aspects may not seem as exciting as the creative aspects of picture making, the more you understand what goes into making a photographic exposure, the more creative control you'll have over the Rebel. And once you have that understanding, you're better able to find creative ways to work around the technical limitations of the camera when you encounter scenes that require both creative vision and creative use of the Rebel.

Exposure is a precise combination of four elements, all of which are related to light. The four elements of exposure are:

• Light. The starting point of exposure is the amount of light that's available in the scene ...