Proper exposure questions.

[Jesse Coffman]

When I'm shooting photos in apeture priority, I'm finding myself moving the dial over to manual so that I can underexpose some photos, while slightly overexposing other photos because to "my eye" they just look better that way.

Is there a rule of thumb I should be following?

Some photo examples.


untitled-22 by JesseCoffman, on Flickr

In this photo, I wanted to allow more sun to highlight the eagle, and after waiting for at least 15 minutes, taking multiple shots of him moving around, I finally caught this. Is there too much light, or did I pull off the effect I wanted?

I'm also wondering if I should meter on the spot to underexpose, or overexpose, or if it would be better to metter correctly, and change this in lightroom.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Its all depend where you point your camera meter and what kind of metering system you know. If you need to underexpose or overexpose with aperture priority, then just do exposure compensation. If you are using spot metering you really need to know where to meter because the spot metering is very sensitive.

 

[480sparky67 66]

Super!

You've learning one of the principal lessons in photography........... when your camera's meter is lying to you!

 

[Jesse Coffman]

Super!

You've learning one of the principal lessons in photography........... when your camera's meter is lying to you!

So I shouldn't fight my urge to under expose in regards to red colors, or flowers, or slighly overexpose for wildlife in the sun?

 

[altitude604]

That's what your meter is for. To guide you... it's up to you to get the desired effect. In the end, you are the one in control so go for it! That's the only way you'll get what you want.

 

[Jesse Coffman]

That's what your meter is for. To guide you... it's up to you to get the desired effect. In the end, you are the one in control so go for it! That's the only way you'll get what you want.

I just have to get over the fear that what I want, might be wrong.

 

[480sparky67 66]

So I shouldn't fight my urge to under expose in regards to red colors, or flowers, or slighly overexpose for wildlife in the sun?

Not if it provides you with the results you're looking for.

 

[Jesse Coffman]

Awesome. That's news to my ears, I mean eyes.

 

[clanthar]

In your photo of the eagle the highlights are blown -- overexposed. The highlights on the eagle's head and the highlights on the rocks are blown out. You may have intended this, but most people would consider it an error. The overexposure is due to backlighting on your subject. No correct exposure in this case was possible. Had you reduced the exposure enough to hold the highlights then your subject would be badly underexposed. This lighting condition gives you four choices:
1. Correct exposed subject but overexposed highlights.
2. Correct exposed highlights but underexposed subject.
3. Stab in the middle and get both ends wrong.
4. Change the lighting to achieve correct exposure.

Joe

 

[Jesse Coffman]

In your photo of the eagle the highlights are blown -- overexposed. The highlights on the eagle's head and the highlights on the rocks are blown out. You may have intended this, but most people would consider it an error. The overexposure is due to backlighting on your subject. No correct exposure in this case was possible. Had you reduced the exposure enough to hold the highlights then your subject would be badly underexposed. This lighting condition gives you four choices:
1. Correct exposed subject but overexposed highlights.
2. Correct exposed highlights but underexposed subject.
3. Stab in the middle and get both ends wrong.
4. Change the lighting to achieve correct exposure.

Joe

It was in direct sunlight, and I was kind of hoping for an angel effect with the wings.

 

[rehab]

next time ask the eagle to hold a gray card for you and just measure, not that hard...

 

[Jesse Coffman]

next time ask the eagle to hold a gray card for you and just measure, not that hard...

lol... I'll try that.

 

[KmH]

A gray card has nothing to do with a correct exposure, and is about a custom white balance.

You could have used strobed light to avoid the over exposure and still expose the shaded side of the eagle properly.

 

[Jesse Coffman]

A gray card has nothing to do with a correct exposure, and is about a custom white balance.

You could have used strobed light to avoid the over exposure and still expose the shaded side of the eagle properly.

Wouldn't that startle wildlife, in any situation?

 

[c.cloudwalker]

A gray card has nothing to do with a correct exposure, and is about a custom white balance.

Very interesting since gray cards existed long before digital cameras. And film cameras didn't need any white balance...