Indoor portrait by a window
A man lit only by a window in an otherwise dark room.
Camera
Not specified
Lens
Not specified
Focal length
85 mm
Aperture
f/2
Shutter speed
1/200 s
ISO
400
Focus
Eye AF
White balance
Auto
Flash
Not used
Tripod
Not used
Why does this photo look like this?
One window is often the best light you can get indoors. A wide aperture keeps the shutter fast enough for a handheld portrait, and a longer lens flatters the face.
Look at this
The light falls off quickly from the face into the dark room. That fall-off is what gives the picture depth.
What would change with different settings
Move the person closer to the window for softer, brighter light; further away and you will need ISO 1600.
What happens if you change the settings?
1/200 s · f/2 · ISO 400
Always check your exposure and adjust settings according to the actual lighting and movement.
These are starting settings, not universal rules.
Always check your exposure and adjust settings according to the actual lighting and movement.
More examples like this
Demo imagePortrait at f/1.8 — strong background blur
1/4000 s · f/1.8 · ISO 100
Demo imagePortrait at f/2.8 — moderate background blur
1/2000 s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
Demo imagePortrait at f/5.6 — background detail returns
1/500 s · f/5.6 · ISO 100