In photography, what does exposure refer to?

Exposure in photography specifically relates to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film during a shot. This process is crucial as it directly affects the brightness or darkness of an image. Proper exposure allows photographers to capture images with the desired levels of light, ensuring that details are visible without being too bright (overexposed) or too dark (underexposed).

Understanding exposure is fundamental for controlling how photographs turn out. It involves a balance between the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings of the camera, all of which work together to determine how much light is allowed in. Mastering exposure is essential for creating photographs that effectively communicate the intended mood and detail of the subject.

The other options focus on different aspects of photography that do not define exposure. Clarity pertains more to sharpness and detail, color correction relates to adjusting the hues in an image, and focus is about the sharpness of the subject in relation to other elements in the frame. These aspects are important but distinct from the fundamental concept of exposure.