Using exposure and flash compensation

Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain condi- tions, exposure compensation can compensate for this. For example, a very bright scene, such as a snowy landscape or a white sandy beach, can appear too dark in the captured image. Before taking the picture, adjusting the exposure by +1 or +2 EV will result in an image with normal tonal values.

In the example on the right, the dark water caused the camera to overexpose the image making it too bright and washed-out. By compensating the exposure, detail is brought out in the leaves, and the stones and water appear richer.

Flash compensation changes the ratio between the ambient and flash exposures. For example, when using the fill-flash to reduce harsh shadows on the subject caused by direct sunlight, flash compensation can change the ratio between the highlights and shadows. The fill-flash will affect the darkness of the shadows without affecting the area illuminated by the sun. By decreasing the flash output with a negative Ev set- ting, the shadows will receive less light and be deeper, but will have detail that would be lost without the flash. Increasing the flash output by using a positive Ev setting will soften or eliminate shadows.

Camera exposure

–1.0Ev

–2.0Ev

Positive compensation No compensation

Negative compensation No flash

74 A SHORT GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHY