PhotoStart

See the settings. See the result.

Learn photography by comparing real photographs and the settings behind them.

These are starting settings, not universal rules.

18 examples

Portrait at f/1.8 — strong background blurDemo image

Portrait at f/1.8 — strong background blur

Portrait — Blurred background

1/4000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Portrait at f/2.8 — moderate background blurDemo image

Portrait at f/2.8 — moderate background blur

Portrait — Blurred background

1/2000 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Portrait at f/5.6 — background detail returnsDemo image

Portrait at f/5.6 — background detail returns

Portrait — Blurred background

1/500 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Portrait at f/8 — almost everything sharpDemo image

Portrait at f/8 — almost everything sharp

Portrait — Everything sharp

1/250 s · f/8 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Running child at 1/30 s — motion blurDemo image

Running child at 1/30 s — motion blur

Children — Motion blur

1/30 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Running child at 1/125 s — less motion blurDemo image

Running child at 1/125 s — less motion blur

Children — Freeze movement

1/125 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Running child at 1/500 s — movement mostly frozenDemo image

Running child at 1/500 s — movement mostly frozen

Children — Freeze movement

1/500 s · f/5.6 · ISO 200

beginner
View example →
Running child at 1/1000 s — fast movement frozenDemo image

Running child at 1/1000 s — fast movement frozen

Children — Freeze movement

1/1000 s · f/5.6 · ISO 400

beginner
View example →
Dim interior at ISO 100 — clean but darkDemo image

Dim interior at ISO 100 — clean but dark

Food — Bright indoor photo

1/60 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100

beginner
View example →
Dim interior at ISO 800 — bright with a little grainDemo image

Dim interior at ISO 800 — bright with a little grain

Food — Bright indoor photo

1/60 s · f/2.8 · ISO 800

beginner
View example →
Dim interior at ISO 3200 — bright with visible noiseDemo image

Dim interior at ISO 3200 — bright with visible noise

Food — Bright indoor photo

1/60 s · f/2.8 · ISO 3200

beginner
View example →
Wedding reception — first dance in low lightDemo image

Wedding reception — first dance in low light

Wedding — People in low light

1/125 s · f/2 · ISO 1600

intermediate
View example →
Nightclub — direct flash on the dance floorDemo image

Nightclub — direct flash on the dance floor

Nightclub — People in low light

1/60 s · f/4 · ISO 1600

intermediate
View example →
Sport — frozen action in daylightDemo image

Sport — frozen action in daylight

Sport — Freeze movement

1/1000 s · f/2.8 · ISO 400

intermediate
View example →
Real estate — bright, straight interiorDemo image

Real estate — bright, straight interior

Real Estate — Everything sharp

1/15 s · f/8 · ISO 100

intermediate
View example →
Street at night — neon and reflectionsDemo image

Street at night — neon and reflections

Street — Sharp night photo

1/125 s · f/1.8 · ISO 3200

intermediate
View example →
Landscape — long exposure at blue hourDemo image

Landscape — long exposure at blue hour

Landscape — Sharp landscape

30 s · f/11 · ISO 100

advanced
View example →
Indoor portrait by a windowDemo image

Indoor portrait by a window

Portrait — Isolate subject

1/200 s · f/2 · ISO 400

beginner
View example →