Be Smarter Than Your Camera

We often assume that the camera records our subject as it appears to our eyes, but this is not always the case. When our subject is very dark or very light, the camera gets fooled and makes an inaccurate exposure. Using exposure compensation to override the camera's choices can give us a better picture of dark and light subjects.

In the two photos here, the black urn tricked the camera into making the wrong exposure. By setting exposure compensationto -1, I got an image that better reveals what the urn looks like.

Camera's Exposure
No Exposure Compensation

Adjusted Exposure
-1 Exposure Compensation



Learn how and when to use the exposure compensation control in my Getting to Know Your Digital SLR Camera class starting October 24 at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. Click here to register.