Exposure

[B192734]

So anyone out there have a thread or website or anything that gives a good technical explanation of exposure, and how to recognize the necessary settings for proper exposure? I'm sure that there have been many on here, but at the moment I am not seeing any. Trying to expand basic knowledge to create better photographs. Thanks, and everybody have a great rest of their day.

 

[Big Mike]

Look up the terms; Shutter speed, aperture, ISO (as it pertains to photography).

I don't know of any sites, off the top of my head...but I'm sure there are many.
Many people recommend the book 'Understanding Exposure' by Peterson.

 

[jcolman]

The simplest way I know of to get a proper exposure with modern digital cameras (assuming that you don't have a light meter) is to use a white towel and the histogram on your camera.

Place the white towel in your frame. Take a picture. Adjust your exposure up or down until the spike from the white towel just begins to touch the right side of your histogram.

In a nutshell, your camera can only record about 5 or 6 full f/stop tonal ranges. If you use the white towel to find the upper limits of your camera's range, the rest of the exposure will fall into place.

 

[Garbz]

What do you mean you don't know of any sites Big Mike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_(photography)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed

 

[tirediron]

Also read about and understand the daylight exposure rule.

 

[christopher walrath]

Go to my website in my signature. Go to the tutorials section.

 

[reg]

Place the white towel in your frame. Take a picture. Adjust your exposure up or down until the spike from the white towel just begins to touch the right side of your histogram.

That sounds like a really good way to cause data loss in the shadow details (YMMV based on metering-type).

 

[Helen B]

That sounds like a really good way to cause data loss in the shadow details (YMMV based on metering-type).

Don't you mean highlight details - a towel (I'm assuming it is a paper towel) may not be bright enough to use as a highlight limit.

Best,
Helen

 

[reg]

Actually, Helen, I meant the shadows. If he's metering based on putting a white (something) in the scene, then adjusts to compensate for THAT, it seems like a really good way to underexpose the scene.

 

[Helen B]

Actually, Helen, I meant the shadows. If he's metering based on putting a white (something) in the scene, then adjusts to compensate for THAT, it seems like a really good way to underexpose the scene.

He's suggesting that the white towel be placed at the right hand side of the histogram ("Adjust your exposure up or down until the spike from the white towel just begins to touch the right side of your histogram.") - ie close to saturation. That's exposing for the highlights, which is usually considered to be the correct way to expose digital, if you use a bright enough highlight.

Best,
Helen

 

[Mike_E]

Try this..
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm