| Getting the right exposure is essential to any quality | | | | several spots. Different branded cameras will differ in |
| nature photo. | | | | results. |
| Exposure is the amount of light that is let into the | | | | Then there is 'Spot metering'. With this method only a |
| camera which contributes to the photograph that is | | | | small area of the viewfinder is measured, typically a |
| recorded. A good exposure has the correct amount | | | | 'spot'. For the best results, you should move the spot |
| of light to produce a balanced shot. | | | | to a mid toned area so you get an even amount of |
| Light is the key word here. Allowing the correct | | | | light. |
| amount of light in can be tricky, but luckily our cameras | | | | The advantage of spot metering is that it is very |
| have automatic features that measure it. Some | | | | accurate and you can control it tightly. It is good for |
| cameras allow a manual feature which means we can | | | | difficult scenarios, for example, when we have a bright |
| manipulate the amount of light that reaches the | | | | beam of light, then very dark areas. Too greater |
| camera. If we allow too much, the photograph | | | | contrast between dark and light confuses the camera. |
| becomes overexposed, meaning the image is too light | | | | Average metering would presume that the whole |
| and washed out. Details become hard to see in an | | | | scene was bright and meter incorrectly. With spot |
| overexposed picture. | | | | metering, we can choose a grey area so that the |
| To the same effect if we let too little light in, the | | | | camera will not overestimate the light and compensate |
| photograph is underexposed. This means that the | | | | accordingly. |
| picture is darker than it should be. This makes the | | | | A good way to become familiar with spot metering is |
| photograph look shadowy and gloomy, but | | | | by choosing the function and pointing it at different |
| underexposing is still better than overexposing. Why? | | | | areas of the same scene and taking the photographs. |
| Because the picture can be lightened later and the | | | | Then compare how choosing the different areas |
| detail will still be there, whereas in an overexposed | | | | affects the finished picture. |
| picture, details cannot be rescued as they were never | | | | Most professionals will choose spot metering for |
| captured in the first place. | | | | landscape photography as it gives greater control. |
| Your camera will have a function to adjust the | | | | Where speed is important, Matrix metering is useful as |
| brightness. This is symbolized by the + or - symbol, | | | | there is less guess work involved. |
| normally allowing you to adjust the light by 3 stops | | | | Flash |
| either way. You need to do this before you take the | | | | Flash is commonly used with point and shoot cameras |
| image. So for example, you could take a photograph | | | | but is used with caution in landscape and wildlife |
| of a tree, and decide it is far too bright because of the | | | | photography. |
| sun. So you need to change the exposure to -1, then | | | | Flash is normally attached to the camera body. When |
| take the shot again and see if it has helped. If it is still | | | | the camera detects low light, the flash pops up |
| too bright you could reduce it to -2 and see if the shot | | | | automatically, although you can manually adjust the |
| is satisfactory. | | | | settings so that it will remain down. |
| This is sometimes called bracketing. When you take | | | | If you require more power, you can buy a separate |
| the same shot but at different exposures from -2 to -1 | | | | flash head. This is common in press and fashion |
| to 1 to +1 to +2, this is bracketing. It gives you the | | | | photography, where they spend a lot of time working |
| option to choose the best photograph of the bunch. | | | | at night or indoors and they need to be able to capture |
| Metering | | | | evenly lit images when there is plenty of action going |
| Metering is the way that your camera decides on the | | | | on without any risk of blurring or poor lighting. |
| correct exposure. The meter in your camera | | | | Flash is useful in a night time situation. If there is no |
| measures the amount of light in the area where you | | | | other light source then you will have to use flash |
| are taking the photograph. Ideally, the camera will pick | | | | although you can use creative techniques like delayed |
| up on a mid toned area that is neither too dark nor too | | | | flash to capture some movement and trails of light. |
| light, so that the light is balanced. When you buy a SLR | | | | Overall though, the effect with flash can be harsh. It is |
| camera you will be given a few options on how to | | | | also unsuitable for reflective surfaces like mirrors, as it |
| meter your images. | | | | will shine the bright light back into the camera. For |
| There is 'centre weighted' or 'average metering'. This | | | | landscape photography you need to know how to turn |
| means that the camera will take an average of the | | | | the flash off, especially if you are using a slow shutter |
| light in the scene. Most cameras focus on the centre | | | | speed for the specific blurring as the camera will |
| of the photograph, whereas some take into | | | | automatically want to use flash. |
| consideration the edges. Since the focus of a picture is | | | | Flash is useful in extremely dark situations as a fill-in |
| generally in the centre of a frame, this produces a | | | | light. This is called flash fill, and is used when you have |
| good overall result. | | | | a bright sun behind the subject and all that is left is the |
| Multi Zone metering is also known as 'Matrix metering'. | | | | silhouette of the object. Using flash will put the detail |
| This method calculates various zones in the scene to | | | | back into the image. |
| come up with the best exposure normally from | | | | |