Shooting tips

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 pic- ture, adjusting the exposure by +1 or +2 EV will result in an image with normal tonal values.

In this example, the dark scene appears bright and washed-out on the LCD monitor. By decreasing the exposure by –1.5 EV, the richness of the sunset is preserved.

What is an EV? What is a stop?

EV stands for exposure value. Stop refers to click stops in mechanical cameras. 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

53