[Home] [Up] [Stops: Unit of Exposure]

 

The moment of exposure:
Most of the time, the inside of the camera is totally dark. When a photograph is taken, the camera opens and light from outside floods in through the lens. Light is projected onto film to make the exposure.

Whether you use traditional or digital film, the concepts the same..

Under Exposed 2 Stops

Under Exposed 1 Stop

 

Correct Exposure

 

Over Exposed 1 Stop

Over Exposed 2 Stop

 

Exposure is the measuring and balancing of light

Too much light and the picture will be washed out. Not enough light and the picture will be too dark. A good photograph depends on calculating the exposure settings that will give the film the "right" amount of exposure.

The photographer can control how much natural light reaches film
by adjusting the camera's shutter, aperture, or film speed.

Measuring light (technical exposure)
A good technical exposure will produce a final image that accurately represents the original scene.. Film is light sensitive, and if the exposure is too dark or too bright, the result will not look like "real life".

Balancing light (artistic exposure)
Just to make things interesting, in any situation there are several camera setting that give exactly the brightness but with very different outcomes. Which to choose is up to you, the photographer.