Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers

25

Understanding Exposure

metic in my head) for comparative exposure equation

calculations so I can understand my options. The com-

p

arative exposure equation is a fundamental tool for

anyone who wants to understand exposures, how they

compare, and when they represent comparable expo

-

s

ure values. This is a tool of practical value for all pho-

t

ographers, even those who largely rely on in-camera

exposure automation (because you’ll know how to dial

in the right amount of exposure compensation to make

up for the failings of an automatic exposure).

Your choice of the exposure values that make up the

exposure equation for a given photo is one of the big-

g

est creative choices you have available as a photogra-

p

her. Probably the only more important creative choice

is where you decide to point your camera. Realizing

the spectrum of exposure values that are available to

you—when they are comparable, and also when they

are not—is an important step in becoming a techni-

c

ally proficient creative photographer.

If you take matters a couple of steps further, by learn-

in

g how exposure modes relate to the exposure equa-

t

ion, the consequences of over and underexposure, and

pre-visualizing the impact of choice of shutter speed,

aperture, and sensitivity, then you will have mastered

the basics of exposure.

The American West is full of long,

empty stretches of road like this

portion of US 6 in Nevada ...