The Wild Photographer

What's the Deal with ISO (and why you should care...a lot)

• Episode 63

Share episode

Send us a text

ISO is one of those photography tools that feels like a superpower… right up until it bites you. In this solo deep dive, Court unpacks why ISO is both a “magical unicorn” and a ruthless double-edged sword: it can rescue your shot in low light, but it can also quietly inject noise and crush editability.

You’ll learn what ISO actually does (and what it doesn’t), how to think about it in terms of light and "stops" and how to use it strategically in the field—especially in the real-world low-light scenarios we all love to shoot. Court also shares his go-to ISO workflow, how to set guardrails so your camera doesn’t go rogue, and why modern de-noise software changes the risk/reward equation—but doesn’t eliminate it.

If ISO has ever felt confusing, intimidating, or like the setting you touch only when you’re desperate… this episode is your new playbook. 

Expect to Learn:

  • What ISO is (in plain English)
  • ISO as part of the Exposure Triangle
  • Stops and ISO math (the simple rule)
  • The tradeoff: noise + reduced editability
  • Manual ISO vs Auto ISO
  • Avoiding Auto ISO “oops”
  • A field-friendly hack: slight underexposure
  • De-noise software: powerful but not magic
  • Two mechanical ways to keep ISO lower

Using these links to purchase gear helps support the show can keeps me making more content. Thank you in advance!

Camera: https://amzn.to/43MJbPQ

Travel tripod: https://amzn.to/44vGAKn

Travel hard drive: https://amzn.to/3KcUFpg

CF card of choice: https://amzn.to/4a7mAkY

SD card of choice: https://amzn.to/4pxENgb

My favorite battery case: https://amzn.to/4ijn2Pe

Magnetic filter set (polarizer, NDs, UV): https://amzn.to/49VtUAj

Go-to Wildlife Lens (zoom telephoto): https://amzn.to/3JWeLnI

Wide angle (landscapes, travel, culture): https://amzn.to/4ptkmAU

Ultra-wide angle (night, northern lights, milky way): https://amzn.to/43MLTVy

Travel camera backpack: https://amzn.to/47YvgJ1

Small video camera: https://amzn.to/4riVw8z

Court's Websites

Sponsors and Promo Codes:


Head Shot

Court Whelan

Host