How to calculate correct exposure for any shot...

[jatin_anand]

Hi there,

I keep on playing with my camera and take shots frequently. But a major problem i am dealing with is the correct exposure calculation. I have seen photographs taken by others looks so lively and carry a freshness. Whereas i see my pics to be dull.

All i can guess is that i am not using the correct exposure for my shots. Could you please tell me any tip or technique to add that life into my pictures.

I am having Sony DSC H50.

Hope to see your replies soon.

Regards,
Jatin

P.S.: Attached thumbnail is a shot i took a couple of days back.

[Judi]

Glad I am not the only one!

[jatin_anand]

So am i... But still the question is unanswered. Anybody listening????????????????????

[wulf]

It looks like a rather overcast day. You might find that the richer colours you desire come from shooting in situations with richer lighting - for example, the light an hour or so after dawn or before sunset on a clear day.

The white balance setting will also have an effect. What setting did you use here?

Thirdly, don't forget that a lot of the photos you see displayed will have been carefully developed. Film photographers will spend hours sloshing chemicals about in the dark room; many digital photographers will use image processing software to emphasise the qualities in the image that bring out the character they saw in the scene.

Wulf

ps. moved... this is a more general technique question, not one specifically of composition.

[Raigoki]

get a graduated neutral density filter. in order for your clouds adn foreground to be properly exposed.

[kencaleno]

Correct exposure is really simple:

First you need to know how your camera differs in either under or over exposure from the norm:

With camera on tripod, exposure compensation at 0-0 and a scene with all tones:

set Exposure compensation (+/-) at +1 take a shot

Now in 1/3 (0.3) increments adjust exposure compensation and take a shot, all the way to -1, giving you seven images.

load these into imaging programme and select the image with best detail in shadows and highlights.

This setting will be your standard, set this on your camera, and you will never need to do this again - your camera will be calibrated for optimum exposure.
This is baseline, so if shot looks too dark or light, in certain conditions, just adjust (+/-) to suit.

(Note: +2 and - 2 Are Extremes, and rarely used so I have not included them)


Just realise that Matrix metering is best for landscapes,use centre-weighted metering for portraits, and spot-metering for high contrast conditions- regards, Ken

[jatin_anand]

Thanks a lot Ken. You explained it so well. I will follow this and try to get the best of it (or maybe close to best ).

[rpcrowe]

You could try in-camera settings, if your camera has the ability to increase contrast, sharpen, etc. Often cameras have a "landscape" setting that you can select which will provide those corrections. You may have to select these parameters individually.

Most digital images need some sort of post processing. There are several free programs out there, including Picasa which is Google's free image editing program. Often cameras come with software which will allow you to edit your images. Another great program is Photoshop Elements which is fairly inexpensive and includes a lot of the capabilities of the Photoshop program.

I have attached your image after some very basic editing including:
1. cropping to remove a bit of the empty sky
2. reducing exposure overall
3. reducing the brightness of the sky
4. increasing overall contrast a bit
5. increasing saturation

The total editing took only two or three minutes (I did it in Photoshop but, any photo editing program could accomplish this).

I think that this image has a bit more snap to it. It is certainly not perfect but, it is improved.

[jona100]

If you have photoshop or Adobe Elements you can "punch up" a pic to help a hazy shot look better by using a simple sharpening trick.

In Photoshop:

• Select filter / sharpen / unsharpen mask
• Move the 'Amount' slider to 20
• Move the 'Radius' slider to 80
• Move the 'Threshold' slider to 0
• Click OK

This will help remove the haze from your picture and give it some 'snap'. If the resulting shot is a bit too much, reduce the opacity slider to pull the effect back a bit.

[Raigoki]

btw...

have you heard about the sunny 16 rule?