Exposure compensation plays a big role in photography. to. it is designed to measure the correct exposure. To get a great and beautiful picture, we need a sufficient amount of light, which we can control through aperture and shutter speed. But it is here that the giant may face the question: how can we measure the right amount of light, no more and no less, but definitely the necessary amount to get a normal picture? Exposure compensation will help us with this.
How to use exposure compensation in photography
Exposure compensation is a scale with an arrow moving from zero to the left, where there are minus values and to the right, where there are plus values. The exposure meter works in such a way that special sensors are built into the camera itself, which determine the necessary light flux that penetrates through the lens. The most interesting thing is that these same sensors measure the light and determine the correct exposure, assuming that all objects and objects are gray in brightness.
How to use exposure compensation in photography
The slider, located at zero, that is, in the middle of the scale, notifies us of the correct exposure. By rotating this slider, we can change the exposure compensation. Changing the value to the left will make our image darker, and moving the slider to the right will make the image lighter. But why change the correct exposure, you ask. The fact is that in classical situations this system works, smoothly, and perfectly determines the right amount of light, but there are cases that are completely non-standard, which we will now consider.
In the case where the subject being shot differs from the medium gray. This is because exposure meters, when measuring light, assume that any object reflects approximately 18% of the light and is medium gray. You need to change the exposure compensation in cases where most of the picture is occupied by either too light or too dark objects. Or in a situation where something white is on a white background, for example, a white rabbit on white snow. In this case, the camera perceives the image as too bright and tries to darken it. That is, the frame will turn out with a grayish tint, which we do not need at all. Therefore, to get a normal shot, we need to add one or two steps of exposure compensation and get a bright frame.
How to use exposure compensation in photography
Another example would be shooting something black on a black background. For example, a black cat on a dark background. In this case, the camera tends to highlight the object on the contrary and make the black color gray, which we also do not need. To do this, we need to, on the contrary, take the exposure compensation to a minus value.
You will also have to change the exposure compensation when there is a large spread in brightness in your frame. Because the photograph has a limited range of brightness, you will have to shift the exposure towards the situation that is most important to you. For example, if you have a rather dark grove, a bright sky and clouds, then it is unlikely that you will be able to work out the details in the same way, you need to choose what will be more important for you.
You will have to change the exposure compensation parameters if the frame contains opposite tones, for example, a black silhouette on a white background or vice versa.
How to use exposure compensation in photography
Summing up, we can conclude that changing the exposure compensation towards a positive plus value is necessary in the predominance of white and light pastel colors, and also when you shoot against the light. You need to change the exposure compensation towards a negative minus value with rather dark and dark green tones, as well as with the predominance of shadows in the frame.
As you can see, it is not so difficult to deal with exposure, you will need only a little perseverance, patience and time, but knowledge will help you create beautiful and unique pictures.
