## TL;DR
Photography combines technical control of light with artistic composition. Mastery of exposure, focus, and framing enables photographers to capture images that communicate beyond what the eye naturally sees.

## The Exposure Triangle

### Aperture (f-stop)
Controls the lens opening diameter. Wide aperture (f/1.4-f/2.8): shallow depth of field, blurred backgrounds ideal for portraits. Narrow aperture (f/8-f/16): everything in focus, needed for landscapes. Each f-stop doubles or halves light.

### Shutter Speed
Controls how long the sensor is exposed. Fast (1/1000+): freezes motion for sports/wildlife. Slow (1/30 or slower): motion blur for waterfalls, light trails. Handheld minimum rule: 1/focal_length seconds.

### ISO
Sensor sensitivity to light. Low ISO (100-400): clean, noise-free images in bright conditions. High ISO (1600+): usable in low light but introduces digital noise. Modern cameras handle ISO 6400+ acceptably.

## Composition Principles
- **Rule of thirds**: Place subjects at grid intersections
- **Leading lines**: Roads, rivers, fences guiding the eye through the image
- **Framing**: Natural frames (doorways, arches, foliage) focusing attention
- **Symmetry and patterns**: Pleasing repetition or perfect reflection
- **Negative space**: Empty areas emphasizing the subject through contrast

## Light Quality
- **Golden hour**: Warm, directional light just after sunrise/before sunset
- **Blue hour**: Soft, cool light during twilight for cityscapes
- **Overcast**: Diffuse, shadowless light ideal for portraits and macro
- **Hard light**: Strong directional shadows for dramatic contrast