The Flash Photography Field Guide

Judging Exposure

Many photographers now use the LCD screen on the back of digital cameras, as a final judge of whether their exposure is correct. Take a photo, check it looks all right on the screen and you’re ready to go. The introduction of LCD screens has meant that sales of handheld light meters, which previously all serious photographers used to own, have plummeted.

However, just using the LCD picture as a guide to whether your exposure is correct is fraught with problems. Firstly, if you look at the same picture on the screen outdoors on a bright sunny day versus indoors in the shade, there’s often a big difference. Also, many photographers have their screens set to auto adjust to the surrounding brightness levels, so it can look different ...