Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

By adjusting exposure settings, what can a photographer control?

1. The focus sharpness

2. The lightness or darkness of an area

3. The resolution of the image

4. The color saturation

The correct answer is: The lightness or darkness of an area

Adjusting exposure settings primarily influences the lightness or darkness of an image, making it the correct choice. Exposure settings encompass the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, which collectively determine the amount of light that reaches the sensor. By altering these settings, a photographer can effectively brighten or darken the image, impacting the overall visibility and mood of the photograph. Focus sharpness is not directly influenced by exposure settings, as it relies more on the lens characteristics, aperture setting, and the distance from the subject. While changing the aperture can affect depth of field (which affects how sharp or blurry areas of the image look), it does not directly control exposure in terms of brightness or darkness. Resolution pertains to the detail level in an image, dictated by camera settings and the sensor's pixel count, rather than exposure. Therefore, exposure adjustments won't impact resolution. Color saturation refers to the intensity of colors in an image. While exposure affects overall brightness, it does not inherently change color saturation. Color saturation is influenced more by post-processing or specific camera settings related to color profiles.