The Textbook of Digital Photography - PhotoCourse

ChApter 3. Controlling exposure

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http://www.photocourse.com/itext/explock/

AutoexPoSure loCk (Ae loCk)

You can adjust exposures with a procedure called autoexposure lock (AE

Lock). You point the camera so the part of the scene on which you want to

base the exposure is metered (spot metering works best) and press the shut-

ter button halfway down to calculate the exposure (and focus) and lock them

in. While continuing to hold down the shutter button, you recompose and

shoot the picture using the locked in settings.

Some cameras also have an AE Lock function that lets you lock exposure

independently of focus. First you press the shutter button halfway down to

lock exposure, then press the AE Lock button to keep it locked until you take

a picture. You can then release the shutter button, recompose the scene, then

press the shutter button halfway down again to lock just focus.

1. Point the camera so
   you are metering the
   area on which you want
   to base the exposure—
   in this case the subject
   in the cross hairs. Press
   the shutter button
   halfway down to lock
   exposure (and focus).


2. Without releasing the
   shutter button, compose
   the image the way you
   want it and press the
   shutter button the rest
   of the way down to take
   the photo.

If you took the picture
without first locking
exposure, it would be
too dark because the
background influenced
the exposure.

Pressing the shutter
button halfway down
locks exposure and
pressing it all the way
down takes the picture.

A common icon for AE
Lock buttons.

Click to explore

Exposure lock