Camera Exposure Compensation
Want to master camera exposure compensation? Learn how to brighten or darken the exposure set by your camera when your camera’s metering system gets it wrong.
Digital Camera Exposure Compensation
Modern digital cameras have such advanced metering and exposure systems that you expect them to be foolproof. Unfortunately even the best cameras get it wrong. The result is a photo that is either too bright or too dark. The reason for this is that no matter how sophisticated the systems that measure the brightness of the scene and decide on the exposure, the camera can not know what you are taking a picture of, and therefore it has to make some assumptions.
The camera also gets it wrong when a scene is too ‘non-standard’. For example, a large expanse of sky in a scene can cause underexposure of the foreground. Increasing the exposure by +0.6 or +1.0 EV (Exposure Values) can make all the difference to reveal the necessary detail.
Other examples of a non-standard scene is when you’re taking a photo of a small subject that is much brighter or darker than its surroundings. If a scene contains a lot of shadows, the camera may overexpose it. On the other hand, if a scene has little in the way of shadows or dark tones (for example snow), there is a danger that the metering system will underexpose, producing a muddy result. Using EV correction will help to ensure that the photograph is much closer to how the scene looked in real life.
So what exactly is exposure compensation? AE-C is a standard feature on most cameras and it allows you to brighten (increase) or darken (decrease) the exposure set by the camera on a shot by shot basis. It’s usually indicated by a small ‘+/-‘ logo and typically has its own button on the back of the camera. In some cases it is offered as an option in the record menu.
The amount by which you can change the exposure is variable, usually in steps of 0.3 EV (Exposure Values), where +EV is double the exposure and –EV is half the exposure.
Exposure Compensation Tips
• It’s not necessary for you to remember everything about Exposure Values. All you need to know is that a plus (+) AE-C makes the picture brighter, and a minus (-) AE-C makes the picture darker. Roughly speaking, a +1.0 EV setting will make the image twice as bright, a +2.0 EV four times as bright (and vice versa for minus EV settngs).
• Always check for problems with exposure as you’re shooting. If your picture looks too dark on-screen or too bright, you can use the AE-C to correct the exposure and try again. As you get more experienced, you can start anticipating problems and use exposure compensation even before you take the shot. To minimize the risk of getting it wrong, use your camera’s auto-bracketing feature, which takes three shots in rapid succession, one at the metered exposure, and one either side (brighter and darker). Most mid- to high-end digital cameras have this feature.
• Generally, underexposure (too dark) is better than overexposure (too bright). You cannot fix overexposure in post-production, whereas you can usually go some way towards rescuing shots that are too dark.
• Use your camera’s spot-metering option to measure the brightness of only the main subject, not the rest of the frame. It takes a bit of practice, but helps to eliminate problems caused by backlighting or small subjects.
• Some problems can be avoided by the use of AE lock. Check your manual for more information, but it is usually activated at the same time as focus lock (by half-pressing the shutter).
• Use fill-flash to overcome the problem of backlighting.
If you found inspiration on our exposure compensation page, feel free to browse the following pages too:
Related Pages
* Exposure Compensation... and When to Use it
* How to get Sharper Images
* What is Exposure?
* What is ISO?
Hope you enjoyed our tips on exposure compensation!
(From Camera Exposure Compensation back to Beginners Photography)
(From Camera Exposure Compensation back to Basic Photography Tips Home Page)
Read, reflect and be inspired. If you find something of value on our camera exposure compensation page, enjoy its gifts and please pass it on to your friends.
|
