Sometimes the camera’s exposure meter is deceived by certain conditions. Exposure compensation can be used in these situations. 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.

Calculated camera

–1.0Ev

–2.0Ev

exposure

 

 

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

What is an Ev? What is a stop?

Ev stands for exposure value. The term stop comes from the name of aperture plates used in early lenses. A change of one Ev or one stop will adjust the exposure calculated by the camera by a factor of two.

Change in Ev

Change in stops

Adjustment to exposure

+2.0 Ev

+2 stops

4X as much light

+1.0 Ev

+1 stop

2X as much light

0.0 Ev

 

Calculated exposure

–1.0 Ev

–1 stop

1/2 as much light

–2.0 Ev

–2 stops

1/4 as much light

29