I can't decide which is the 'right' exposure..

[gs.davies]

Hi all,

I've been working quite hard on metering lately and working in manual mode to really try to control exposure. I've got these two shots but I can't decide if the one where I metered for the sky and let the foreground darken is the better shot. I think I prefer the more muted colours and the way the edges darken (this isn't an added effect), but there's something nice about the vibrance of the brighter shot.

I'd be grateful for comments.

Thanks,
Gary

Bright shot

Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/16.0
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 100



and the darker one...

Exposure 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture f/16.0
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 100

[Elvie]

I'm no expert & I'm struggling with metering too, at the moment. I personally prefer the lighter one as I find the foreground in particular too dark in the second, although it's a bit more atmospheric. I suppose it depends on whether you're aiming for a bright & sunny picture or a dark gloomy one

[pentahedron]

I like the darker one better. If you the background is where you want your viewer to look then I would go with that since the higher exposure on the first one is distracting in the foreground, plus the darker one acts as a frame.

[Pitrih]

i prefer the second one, because i feel that the first one is over saturated and too bright.

[ororockcrawler]

I would say the lighter of the 2 more details in the picture,

since the picture has no one subject matter I like to see detail in the image instead of being underexposed

[gs.davies]

Thanks for your feedback guys.
I guess this is one that's down to personal tastes. I've grown to prefer the darker exposure, there's something more inviting to it and the colours look warmer to me. I'll get a print made and see if I like it then.
Thanks again,
Gary

[wulf]

Did the sun pop behind a cloud? I'm trying to figure out why the one with a faster shutter speed seems to be brighter? I think I would pick that one because the sky is less blown out and the intensity of foreground frame and mid-ground colours seem to match better.

In natural conditions, where the lighting isn't under your control, exposure is about when you take the shot as well as the settings on the camera - with a metering lens, you will probably see the exposure meter jumping up and down even when the scene seems static.

Wulf

[Athas_orm]

I think the better is the second one. However I'd be tempted to lighten it a tad.

The shadows are more atmospheric.