photography:

What Is ISO in Photography?

ISO refers to your camera’s sensitivity to light. It’s one of the three key elements of the Exposure Triangle (alongside shutter speed and aperture) that determines how bright or dark your photo appears.

🔢 ISO Numbers: What They Mean

Low ISO (e.g., 100 or 200):
- Less sensitive to light
- Produces clean, crisp images with minimal grain or “noise”
- Best used in bright conditions (like daylight)
High ISO (e.g., 800, 1600, 3200+):
- More sensitive to light
- Useful in darker settings without flash
- Can introduce grain or digital noise, especially in older or smaller cameras

🎯 When to Change ISO

Bright outdoors? Stick to ISO 100–200
Indoor or low-light settings? Raise to ISO 800+
Night photography or concerts? Try ISO 1600 or more, but watch for noise

Pro Tip: Always try to use the lowest ISO possible for the best image quality—and only increase it when needed to maintain proper exposure.

Would you like this explained with example photos or camera settings for different scenarios?