Commercial Photography
ISO: The Photographic Golden Triangle Part 3
Arts, AV and Technology Communication
Lesson Plan
Performance Objective
• Upon completion of this lesson, the student will develop an understanding of the role that ISO plays in
getting the correct exposure in a photograph.
Specific Objective
• Students will be able to define ISO.
• Students will understand the role of ISO when adjusting camera settings.
• Students will be able to adjust the ISO on a camera to achieve specific results.
Terms
ISO
Exposure
Noise
Sensor
Sensitivity
Time
When taught as written, this lesson should take approximately 60 - 120 minutes to teach.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the activities may result
in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
130.91. (c) Knowledge and Skills
(1) The student applies academic knowledge and skills in commercial photography. The student is expected
to:
(A) apply English language arts knowledge and skills by demonstrating use of content, technical
concepts, and vocabulary; using correct grammar, punctuation, and terminology to write and edit
documents; and composing and editing copy for a variety of written documents such as brochures; and
(B) apply mathematics knowledge and skills by identifying whole numbers, decimals and fractions
applied to measurement, percentages, depth of field, aperture, resolution, and scale; demonstrating
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knowledge of arithmetic operations; using conversion methods such as fractions to decimals and
inches to points; and applying measurement to solve a problem.
(3) The student understands and examines problem-solving methods. The student is expected to employ
critical-thinking and interpersonal skills independently and in teams to solve problems.
(10) The student applies technical skills for efficiency. The student is expected to employ planning and timemanagement skills to complete work tasks.
(11) The student develops an increasing understanding of commercial photography. The student is expected
to:
(L) produce a variety of photographs using current, industry-standard production processes; and
(M) evaluate photographs using principles of art, commercial photography standards, and criticalthinking skills.
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
English-English I
• 110.31(b)(1). Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it
when reading and writing.
• 110.3(b)(11). Reading/Comprehension of informational text/procedural texts. Students understand
how to glean and use information in procedural texts and documents.
• 110.53(b)(2)(B) employ precise language and technical vocabulary to communicate ideas clearly and
concisely
Occupational Correlation (O*Net – www.onetonline.org/):
Job Title: Photographer
O*Net Number: 27-4021.00
Reported Job Titles: Photographer, Advertising Photographer, Studio Photographer
Tasks: Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field
depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting
to achieve desired effects.
Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and
formulas.
Soft Skills: Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension
Accommodations for Learning Differences
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It is important that lessons accommodate the needs of every learner. These lessons may be modified to
accommodate your students with learning differences by referring to the files found on the Special
Populations page of this website.
Preparation
• Review and familiarize yourself with the terminology, website links, and proper camera handling
techniques.
• Download or take example photographs that exemplify photos taken with both high and low ISOs.
Make sure to have plenty of photos with lots of noise.
• Have materials and websites ready to go prior to the start of the lesson.
References
Jacobson, R. E. (2000). The manual of photography: photographic and digital imaging. (9th ed.). Woburn, MA:
Focal Press.
Instructional Aids
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Textbook or Computer Program Diagrams/Charts
Lesson: ISO: Photographic Golden Triangle Part 3
ISO Slide Presentation
Instructor Computer/Projection Unit
Online Websites
Multiple DSLR cameras outfitted with memory cards.
Tripods
ISO Assessment
ISO Answer Key
High ISOs Grading Rubric
Introduction
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Give students a situation such as the following: You are a photographer shooting an indoor basketball
game. You have your aperture opened up all of the way to f2.8 and are shooting at 1/200th for your
shutter speed. If you shoot any slower, you are getting motion blur. Currently, your photos are coming
out underexposed. You are not allowed to use a flash. What can you do with your camera settings to
get a correctly exposed image?
Explain to students that ISO is the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light and would solve the problem in
the situation above.
If you take a photo with your phone in a dark room, why does it have a grainy look to it?
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•
Remind students that there are three parts to the photographic golden triangle. Review shutter speed
and aperture with students. All three parts of the Photographic Golden Triangle relate to one another.
After discussing ISO, students should be able to fully shoot in Manual mode on their cameras.
Outline
MI
Instructor Notes
Outline
Introduce lesson by doing the following:
Show students a variety of different photos
that exemplify noise and grain.
Ask questions about the photos and how
the effects were achieved. Explain that ISO
is one of the three parts of the
photographic triangle and is used to
determine how sensitive a camera sensor is
to light.
Note: Many students will have
Go through the Slide Presentation with
students. Discuss the following:
I: General Overview
a. What is ISO?
b. Measuring ISO
II: ISO and Noise
a. Higher ISOs create images with
noise.
b. Sometimes noise can be purposeful.
c. Photographers can get rid of noise
in an image editing program.
III: ISO and Low Light
a. High ISOs enable photographers to
shoot in low light.
IV: Exposure Compensation
a. Adjustments to ISO affect your
image exposure.
b. A photographer must know how to
change shutter speed and aperture
in addition to ISO and how they all
relate to one another and the
exposure.
V: Review
student has a camera different
their own cameras and the
methods for adjusting the ISOs
on their cameras may be
different. Make sure that if a
than the one shown in class,
they are aware of how to change
the ISO on their own camera.
Remind students that when
shooting images with higher
ISOs, they are more than likely
to get grain in their images.
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Multiple Intelligences Guide
Existenti
alist
Interpers
onal
Intrapers
onal
Kinesthe
tic/
Bodily
Logical/
Mathema
tical
Musical/Rhyt
hmic
Natura
list
Verbal/Ling
uistic
Visual/Sp
atial
Application
Guided Practice
The teacher will go through the Slide Presentation and explain the general way to adjust ISO on a DSLR.
Model for students the proper camera handling techniques.
The instructor will demonstrate how to change the ISO on the DSLR.
Give small groups a DSLR to work with and have students adjust the ISO on their cameras.
Show students examples of the resulting changes in light and noise in their photos after adjusting their ISO.
Observe students while working. Reteach or assist as needed.
Independent Practice
After going over the Slide Presentation, do the following:
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Divide students into groups of three or four.
Give each team a camera and memory card.
Tell students that their assignment will be to take a correctly exposed portrait in a dark room.
(Students will have to utilize high ISOs in order to get this image.)
Remind students to use their knowledge of the principles of design as they create their photo.
(Review the principles of design if needed.)
Tell students to set their DSLR to either manual mode (“M”) and to shoot with a shutter speed faster
than 1/60th and an aperture opening of F/5.6 or higher.
Students should be given approximately 45 minutes to complete the task
Students should upload their completed photos to a shared folder where the instructor can view all of
the photographs.
Hold a debriefing and ask students to explain the process they used to complete the assignment.
Ask students to share any issues or problems they ran into while completing the assignment.
Make sure to take a look at the metadata of each photo and take note of the specific camera settings
used to create the photographs.
Make note of how the camera settings relate to one another.
Critique the photos as a class.
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Summary
Conduct a Q & A session with students about ISO-related questions.
Review talking points and key terms from Slide Presentation.
Ask students which camera setting they would adjust on their cameras in various possible situations.
Ask students what ISO actually changes on a digital camera.
Ask students what happens to a photo when images are shot with higher ISOs.
Have students assess and critique their own work and the class photos as a whole.
Evaluation
Informal Assessment
Any and all of the following may be used as informal assessments :
• Instructor Observation
• Q & A session with class
• Instructor will discuss and reteach where needed.
Formal Assessment
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Student photos taken in dark rooms will be assessed using the attached rubric.
Students may also be formally assessed through the ISO Quiz and ISO Quiz Answer Key.
Enrichment
Extension
Teach students about the various types of camera imaging sensors and how they relate to ISOs.
Encourage students to take their own light painting or stair trail images using high ISOs and tripods.
This assignment may also be extended by having students reduce noise using an image-editing program.
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High ISOs Grading Rubric
Criteria
Completeness
(10 pts)
Basic
(30 points)
Understanding
(20 pts)
Creativity
(30 points)
Design (10
pts)
Exceptional
Above Average
Below Average
Unacceptable
9-10 points
5-8 points
1-4 points
0 points
Work is complete
and presents a
unified whole.
Work is
complete, but
lacks unity.
Work is
incomplete.
No attempt was
made to produce
the document.
27-30 points
15-26 points
1-14 points
0 points
Knowledge of
ISO is present
Photographs
have a focal
point and it is in
focus.
Photographs
have a focal
point and are in
focus. Some
knowledge of
ISO is evident.
Slight issues
with focus or
subject. ISO
lesson needs
review
Photo does not
show evidence
that student is
aware of how to
manipulate the
ISO to take a
portrait on a
DSLR.
17-20 points
The student used
ISO to correctly
expose a wellposed portrait in
a dark room.
Student has
reduced noise.
27-30 points
9 -16 points
The student used
ISO to correctly
expose a wellposed portrait in
a dark room.
Portraits are
original in
thought and
executed well.
1-8 points
Portrait is not
correctly
exposed or not
posed well
through
principles of
design.
1-14 points
Photo does not
exhibit
knowledge of ISO
manipulation.
Portraits are
somewhat
original and
creative.
Limited
evidence of
creativity and
originality in
thought.
No evidence of
creativity or
originality in
thought or
execution of
project.
9-10 points
5-8 points
1-4 points
0 points
Portraits use
principles of
design, are
exposed well
and have had
noise reduced.
Portraits utilize
the principles of
design and are
exposed well.
Portraits have
some exposure
issues.
Photos were
incorrectly
exposed or not
turned in.
15-26 points
0 points
0 points
TOTAL
POINTS:
Comments:
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Points
ISO Assessment: Photographic Triangle Part 3
1. Which of the following photographs would be the darkest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
2. Which of the following photographs would be the brightest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
3. Which of the following photographs would be the noisiest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
4. Which of the three parts of the photographic triangle should you change LAST?
a. Aperture
b. ISO
c. Shutter Speed
d. It doesn’t matter
5. Which of the following ISOs would be acceptable for shooting in broad daylight?
a. 100-200
b. 400-800
c. 800-1600
d. 1600-3200
6. Which of the following is an auto-exposure mode that will have your camera automatically select the ISO?
a. TV
b. AV or A
c. M
d. There is no specific auto-exposure method for ISO, but auto ISO selection is available in any mode.
7. What does ISO stand for?
a. It doesn’t stand for anything
b. International Organization of Standards
c. Inline Speedlite Organization
d. International Shutter Format
8. Is it possible to fix/get rid of noise after taking a picture?
9. Why is it best to try to shoot at low ISOs as often as possible?
10. What are three things you should try to see if you can change to get more light BEFORE adjusting your ISO?
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Photographic Triangle Part III: ISO Assessment Key
1. Which of the following photographs would be the darkest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
2. Which of the following photographs would be the brightest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
3. Which of the following photographs would be the noisiest based on the ISO?
a. A photo with an ISO of 100
b. A photo with an ISO of 1600
c. A photo with an ISO of 1/400
d. A photo with an ISO of f/2.8
4. Which of the three parts of the photographic triangle should you change LAST?
a. Aperture
b. ISO
c. Shutter Speed
d. It doesn’t matter
5. Which of the following ISOs would be acceptable for shooting in broad daylight?
a. 100-200
b. 400-800
c. 800-1600
d. 1600-3200
6. Which of the following is an auto-exposure mode that will have your camera automatically select the
ISO?
a. TV
b. AV or A
c. M
d. There is no specific auto-exposure method for ISO, but auto ISO selection is available in any
mode.
7. What does ISO stand for?
a. It doesn’t stand for anything
b. International Organization of Standards
c. Inline Speedlite Organization
d. International Shutter Format
8. Is it possible to fix/get rid of noise after taking a picture?
Yes.
9. Why is it best to try to shoot at low ISOs as often as possible?
To reduce noise.
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10. What are three things you should try to see if you can change to get more light BEFORE adjusting your
ISO?
Possible answers: flash, tripod, shutter speed, aperture, adjust available light in room.
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