When reading my copy of Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition), you can read the review, Bryan Peterson mentioned something in the very first chapter that really stuck with me throughout the book and it’s something I still think about daily.

IMG_6063

During the chapter “Defining Exposure” Peterson talked about the many ways that exposure is looked at by photographers and he said that someone asked him the question “Hey Bryan, what should my exposure be?” His answer is just about as perfect as it gets.

“Your exposure should be correct!”

Exposure is one of the most important technical aspects of photography. It’s that in camera decision making capability and know how that really separates the men from the boys (I know we have many women readers so no emails, I’m just using an old saying here). We look at our f-stops, shutter speeds, and ISOs as tools to help us fine tune how our end goal will come out.

There is no perfect exposure.

There is only the best one to use in a given situation which is all dependent on how you’re trying to create or capture your subject.

The reason that this blog and just about any other photography blog harps on getting newer photographers out of the habit of using the camera’s auto functions is to help you get to the point of being able to take charge of the situation when it comes to exposure.

Whether that means adding light, using a tripod or slower shutter speed, diffusing light, or whatever the point is that you have such a vast array of possibilities within every single given situation as to how that image will turn out and it’s all based on exposure.

So as you think about your next photograph think about trying different exposure combinations as an experiment to see the various outcomes that happen with all of the variables.

Experimenting with different exposure combinations in a given lighting situation will help you add an arsenal of tools to tackle whatever life throws in front of your lens.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to have some fun experimenting with exposure. You don’t have to “know what you’re doing” but take comfort in knowing that you’ll learn from your mistakes.

Go get that exposure correct!

Photograph IMG_6063 by radko

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Related posts:

1. Finding the Right Creative Exposure
2. The Exposure Equation
3. Understanding Exposure [Book Review]
4. Light & Exposure [Book Review]
5. When to Use Auto Exposure Mode