The Camera Isn't Always Right

Frost on Trees
Erskine Fishing Access Site
Frenchtown, Montana


Advertising emphasizes the great pictures the latest camera models can make. But frequently those great photos require help from the human running the controls! This image is a good example. I wanted to highlight the frost covering the trees. This effect was most noticeable with the light coming from behind the trees. But the combination of back lighting and lots of white frost is guaranteed to confuse the camera's meter into making the exposure too dark and thus losing the effect. To get this look I applied +2 Exposure Compensation so the shining effect of the frost would appear correctly in the picture.

Learn more about when to override the camera's standard settings in Getting to Know Your Digital Camera, an online course for beginning photographers that starts March 4, 2021. Click here to register.