light
Compensation for back lighting
The most common instance requiring exposure compensation is ‘back lighting’ using a TTL
meter. The metering system will be overly infl uenced by the light source and indicate a reduced
exposure. As the light source occupies more and more of the central portion of the viewfi nder so
the indicated exposure is further reduced. The required exposure for the subject may be many
times greater than the indicated exposure.
If the camera is in manual mode or equipped with an exposure lock, the photographer can meter
for the specifi c tonal range required and then re-frame the shot. An alternative used by many
professionals is to adjust the exposure using the exposure compensation facility. Using this
technique can avoid re-framing after fi rst metering.
ACTIVITY 6
Choose four different lighting situations where the subject is back-lit.
Take a photograph of each subject with the ‘meter indicated exposure’ or MIE.
Do not reposition the frame. Make a record of the exposures.
Using your own judgement compensate the exposure using either the exposure compensation
facility or adjusting ISO. Make a record of the exposures.
Take a meter reading for the shadow area and with the camera set to manual make one exposure
at this reading. Make a record of the exposure.
Take a meter reading for the highlight area and with the camera set to manual make one
exposure at this reading. Make a record of the exposure.
Review the images and name the image fi les accordingly.
Assess the results of your images using exposure compensation.Mark Galer