Photography is the art of capturing light. Capturing a great photograph heavily relies on understanding and controlling exposure settings. Here I will share my experiences for getting photo properly exposed.

Exposure in photography: amount of light reaching the film (sensor), determining the brightness and tonality of the image.

Remember that every camera have a different way to change the exposure settings, and the terms may differ as well. You should see the user’s manual of your camera.

Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening when taking a picture. It is represented by an f-number (e.g., f/2.8, f/8). A lower f-number means a wider aperture, allowing more light to enter the camera. A higher f-number results in a narrower aperture, reducing the amount of light. Aperture also affects the depth of field, with wider apertures creating a shallow depth of field and narrower apertures providing a large depth of field.

Shutter speed determines the duration for which the camera’s image sensor is exposed to light. It is measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 1/500, 1/30). Faster shutter speeds freeze motion but allow less light, while slower shutter speeds create motion blur but capture more light. It is crucial to choose an appropriate shutter speed depending on the subject and desired effect.

ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor to light. Lower ISO values (e.g., ISO 100) are less sensitive and produce cleaner images, while higher ISO values (e.g., ISO 1600) increase sensor sensitivity but may introduce noise or grain to the image. Select the ISO setting based on the available light conditions and the desired image quality.

Common Exposure Mistakes

Underexposure and overexposure are the most common mistakes in photography, but there are more. One of the mistakes I see many beginners make is using high ISO or small aperture when it is not necessary. When shooting, it is best to keep the ISO low, as higher ISO introduces noise. Sometimes I see people turning iso up to 8000 but their aperture is at f/18, or their ISO is 8000 and their shutter speed is 1/4000.

Exposure Modes

Manual (M) Mode:
In manual mode, the photographer has complete control over all exposure settings. It provides maximum flexibility but requires a good understanding of the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
(Some photographer claim that you are not a real photographer when you don’t shoot manual, this is not true, sometimes it is better to let the camera do work for you.)

Aperture Priority (Av/A) Mode:
Aperture priority mode allows the photographer to set the desired aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve proper exposure. It is useful when controlling depth of field is a priority.

Shutter Priority (Tv/S) Mode:
Shutter priority mode empowers the photographer to set the desired shutter speed, and the camera adjusts the aperture for correct exposure. This mode is ideal when capturing motion or freezing action is essential.

Program (P) Mode:
Program mode is a semi-automatic mode where the camera selects both the aperture and shutter speed for proper exposure. However, the photographer can still adjust other settings like ISO and exposure compensation.

Metering

When using a semi-automatic mode (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Program) you need to consider the camera’s metering settings.

Metering in photography refers to the process of measuring the amount of light in a scene to determine the optimal exposure settings. It helps the camera calculate the appropriate combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity to capture a well-exposed image.

The metering system analyzes the light reflected from the subject or scene and provides a recommended exposure value.

Different Metering Modes:

1. Matrix Metering (or sometimes Evaluative Metering):
   Matrix metering is the default metering mode in most cameras. It divides the scene into multiple zones, analyzes the light, and considers various factors such as subject brightness, contrast, and color to calculate the exposure. It provides a balanced exposure for most situations, making it suitable for general shooting conditions.
2. Spot Metering:
   Spot metering measures the light in a very specific spot or a small area of the frame. It is particularly useful when you want to expose for a specific part of the scene, such as a subject’s face in a backlit situation or a high-contrast scene (I use this when shooting a stage performance). Spot metering allows precise control over exposure in a particular area, but it requires careful consideration and adjustment.
3. Center-Weighted Average Metering:
   Center-weighted metering gives priority to the central portion of the frame while considering the overall scene. It measures the light in the center and then averages it with the surrounding areas. This mode is beneficial when the subject is centered and you want to ensure proper exposure for the main subject while still considering the background.
4. Highlight-Weighted Metering:
   Highlight-weighted metering is a relatively newer metering mode found in some advanced cameras. It evaluates the brightness of the entire scene and prioritizes preserving the highlight details. This mode is particularly useful in high-contrast situations where you want to prevent overexposure in bright areas.

Exposure Compensation

Exposure compensation is a camera setting that allows you to manually adjust the exposure from the metered value. It is used to override the camera’s automatic exposure settings, increasing or decreasing the exposure by a specified amount to achieve the desired brightness level for the image.

I hope you now have an basic idea about how the exposure settings work. Now you should practice using manual or semi-automatic exposure, as these can make your photos look way better than full auto exposure.

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Finished the basics? Read this: Exposure tips you should know.