ISO Sensitivity – When Light Becomes Silence
Understanding the balance
Every camera handles high ISO values differently. A full-frame sensor can usually cope with ISO 1600 without much trouble, while smaller sensors such as APS-C or Micro 4/3 may start producing noticeable grain at ISO 800. In Fire Photography, the goal is not to raise ISO sensitivity, but rather to control aperture and shutter speed with precision.
Practical advice
- Stay between ISO 400 and 800 to maintain a clean image.
- Prefer a slightly longer exposure rather than excessive sensitivity.
- Learn the limits of your camera — each sensor reacts differently to bright highlights and deep shadows.
The silence of the sensor
Fire speaks loudly — its light bursts and roars — but the photographer’s role is to listen. The right sensitivity is the one that lets the flame breathe without suffocating it in brightness. Within this delicate balance lies the emotion of the image, where light becomes silence and the Fire tells its own story.