Dynamic range is a term often used when describing scenes, reviewing cameras, and exorcising a variety of photographic demons. But there’s nothing supernatural about it. By understanding how it works and learning to work with it as you shoot, you can prevent overexposed and underexposed scenes.

I’m sure you’ve heard the word exposure. But you might not be sure that you know what it means. And if you’re unsure, this article is for you. A photo’s success depends on many different things—such as light conditions during the shot. But it also depends on correct camera settings, and especially the three exposure settings: time, aperture, and ISO. You, the photographer, need to choose values that both give you correct exposure (how dark or light the photo is) and help you express what you want to express. These settings affect your expression because they influence how time and space are recorded in the photo.