Nikon® D3000 For Dummies®

Chapter 5. Getting Creative with Exposure and Lighting

In This Chapter

• Understanding the basics of exposure

• Exploring advanced exposure modes: P, S, A, or M?

• Choosing an exposure metering mode

• Tweaking autoexposure with Exposure Compensation

• Taking advantage of Active D-Lighting

• Using flash in the advanced exposure modes

Understanding exposure is one of the most intimidating challenges for the new photographer. Discussions of the topic are loaded with technical terms — aperture, metering, shutter speed, ISO, and the like. Add the fact that your D3000 offers many exposure controls, all sporting equally foreign names, and it's no wonder that most people throw up their hands and decide that their best option is to simply stick with the Auto exposure mode and let the camera take care of all exposure decisions.

You can, of course, turn out super shots in Auto mode. And I fully relate to the exposure confusion you may be feeling — I've been there. But I can also promise that when you take things nice and slow, digesting just a piece of the exposure pie at a time, the topic is not nearly as complicated as it seems on the surface. And I guarantee that the payoff will be well worth your time and brain energy. You'll not only gain the power to resolve just about any exposure problem, but also discover ways to use exposure to put your own creative stamp on a scene.

To that end, this chapter provides ...