Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

When adjusting settings based on an incident meter reading, which camera settings should be focused on?

1. ISO and focal length

2. Aperture and shutter speed

3. White balance and focal length

4. ISO and aperture priority

The correct answer is: Aperture and shutter speed

Focusing on aperture and shutter speed when adjusting settings based on an incident meter reading is essential because these two settings directly control exposure in photography. An incident meter measures the light falling onto the subject rather than the light reflecting off it. This reading typically gives an accurate exposure value that should be applied to both aperture and shutter speed to achieve the desired exposure. Aperture, measured in f-stops, determines how much light is allowed to enter the camera. A wider aperture (lower f-stop number) lets in more light, while a narrower aperture (higher f-stop number) allows in less light. The shutter speed determines how long the camera's sensor is exposed to light. A faster shutter speed means a shorter exposure time, while a slower speed allows more light in for a longer duration. In balancing these two factors, photographers can achieve the intended artistic effect—whether they wish to freeze motion or create motion blur, and whether they want a shallow depth of field or a wider focusing range. Other combinations may reference different settings, but they do not directly address the relationship between light measurement and exposure as effectively as aperture and shutter speed. For instance, ISO is another important exposure setting but is typically adjusted later to fine-tune exposure rather than being