A free, self-paced textbook in 8 chapters. Read a chapter, then drill it with the 154 companion flashcards using spaced repetition.
The foundation of photographic exposure rests on three interconnected variables: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens, measured by f-nu...
Modern cameras offer several metering strategies to interpret the brightness of a scene. Evaluative or matrix metering averages the whole frame and works well for balanced lighting...
Strong composition directs the viewer's eye and gives an image a sense of intention. The rule of thirds divides the frame into a three-by-three grid and suggests placing subjects o...
Depth of field is governed by four factors: aperture, focal length, subject distance, and sensor size. A wider aperture, a longer focal length, a closer subject, and a larger senso...
Light is the photographer's primary medium, and the time of day shapes its character. The golden hour—the first hour after sunrise and the last before sunset—delivers warm color, s...
Through-the-lens, or TTL, flash fires a preflash, meters the reflected light, and calculates the main flash's power automatically. It is fast and convenient but not always perfectl...
Filters solve problems that lenses and exposure settings cannot. A circular polarizing filter cuts reflections from glass and water, deepens sky blue, and reduces atmospheric haze,...
A consistent RAW editing workflow begins with white balance, then exposure, highlights, and shadows, followed by the white and black points, a tone curve, HSL and color grading adj...
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