|
|
 |
|
The Automatic Exposure (AE) function on cameras enables you
to take a photo with the correct exposure in most cases. However, AE does not understand your exact intention.
You can compensate for the exposure set by the camera's AE function to suit your preferences and needs.
Compensation to increase the amount of light entering the film or sensor is called positive compensation. To do this,
you need to open the aperture (increase the f-stop) or make the shutter speed slower. On the other hand, compensation to
decrease the amount of light is called negative compensation. You need to close the aperture (increase the f-stop) or make
the shutter speed faster.
In the case of the photo below, the automatic exposure function on the camera cannot determine which one of men is
the main subject. The result is an unsatisfactory photo in which the man in the front is too dark, and the man outside is
too bright. |
|
The camera cannot identify the main subject. |
|
The photographer decided to take a photo in which the man in
the sun is the main character, and applied negative compensation. As shown in the photo at the lower left,
the man in front is dark, but the man on his back in the sun is photographed at the correct exposure.
The photographer then decided to take a photo in which the man in the front is the main character, and applied positive
compensation. As shown in the photo at the lower right, the man outside is too bright, but the man at front is photographed
properly. |
|
Applies negative compensation to obtain the correct exposure for the
man outside
(Place the area of focus on the outside as well.) |
Applies positive compensation to obtain the proper exposure for the
man at the front. |
|
When you take a photo of the surface of snow or a brightly colored
building, such as a white building, the camera cannot determine whether it is snow or whether the color
is white. The camera determines the exposure based on the reference color of 18% gray. If you take a photo
with the settings unchanged, the photo of white snow will become dark, as shown in the photo at the lower
left. Applying positive compensation makes the white color look white in the photo, as shown in the photo
at the lower right. |
|
The photo was taken by keeping the settings unchanged, and the result
is too dark. |
 |
Positive compensation applied, with the white color looking white. |
|
When you take a photo of a black subject as shown in the photo
at the lower left, the camera cannot determine that it is black, and sets the exposure to the gray of the
reference color. In this case, apply negative compensation. The black subject comes out black, as shown
in the photo at the lower right. |
|
The photo was taken by keeping the settings unchanged, and the black
subject became bright. |
|
Negative compensation applied and the black color looks black. |
|
| The
explanation provided above is simply a rough summary. In reality, the evaluative metering function
of cameras, that is, the function for metering light to determine the exposure, determines the correct
exposure based on a range of factors. |
|
|
Photo Shooting
