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Exposure Help Needed


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like the one I gave in response to your criticism.

It wasn't meant as a criticism. Just an expansion on your advice to dodge or burn. I apologise if it seemed that way.

And neither was it meant as a means of self-aggrandisement, or belittling of your post. That sub-text has been added by yourself and a certain other wooden-spoon bearer.

 

Can we not pass on our hard-learned knowledge without it being seen as an ego trip by other members?

 

So now the OP has been offered details of at least two different ways to achieve the lightening of shadows or darkening of highlights. Isn't that what a beginners forum should be about? Advice and instruction - complex or otherwise. Since avoiding complexity could easily be seen as being patronising.

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I would like to thank you all for contributing to this post. As a newbie on the platform it can be quite daunting to show your inexperience in matters of photography. This post, was not that. I found you all to be helpful as it affirmed my belief that with flash being permitted, I gave more credence in terms of exposure - to the background and its logo for the sponsors - and not exposed for the speakers. Thanks to your sound advice this won't happen again. What I love about photography is the continous learning it requires. Thanks again all for sharing your expertise - Arlington
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  • 2 weeks later...

In the days of film, and especially averaging (over the whole scene) light meters,

we were good at watching for backlit subjects.

 

Spot metering (on the actual subject) and matrix metering are better.

 

Looking at the picture, though, the bright background attracts

my eye much more than the subject. That is true, even if there

is enough dynamic range for the whole scene.

 

So, yes, maybe some dodging would help.

-- glen

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  • 4 weeks later...
The back lighting will fool the exposure meter and the face will be darker. One trick is get the meter to split the difference, in other wards if on a digital camera use the tightest spot you have and get your exposure so there is some detail in the face, yet the background isn't totally blown out. You will then have to work it out in post by bringing up the tones in the face and body, and lowering the brightness/exposure in the background. Kind of a do-it-yourself HDR. But unless you are allowed to use flash, it's kind of what you have to do, especially if the background is a significant portion of the frame. It's easier when the subject takes up most of the frame at the time of exposure.
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WIDE dynamic range is hard to handle.

Sometimes you will be reduced to what do you want more the background or the speaker/subject.

When in doubt, take different exposures, and decide when you get home on the computer.

 

As was said, a flash would have been a good addition in this case.

BUT you got to watch out for the shadow and red-eye. Especially red-eye. yuk. A flash is not a silver bullet.

 

While matrix meters are neat and do a great job, they can still be fooled by both dark and bright background.

I have lots of shots where the matrix meter failed to deal with the lighting of the scene, and I had an over or under exposed subject.

 

The more you shoot, the more you learn. Keep good notes.

Next time use a flash, and see what you learn.

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