At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:
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- Observe the relationship of light to the photo’s subject(s) to identify major exposure issues that must be corrected by adding or removing light sources.
- Determine minor in-camera adjustments that must be made using the camera’s exposure meter to take an exposure reading.
- Utilize the camera’s exposure dial to fine-tune adjustments for under- and over-exposure readings.
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Light ‘em Up!
Light and Exposure and How to Adjust
When you press your camera’s shutter button to take a photo, the camera’s shutter opens briefly exposing light to the camera’s sensor – this determines how bright or how dark the photo is. We refer to the amount of light which reaches your camera’s sensor as exposure. If the key to great photos is having just the right amount of light in your photo, then knowing how to achieve proper exposure is the key to taking professional quality portrait photos at home.
Let’s revisit the general principles that we learned already about light:
It is important to observe the relationship of light to the subject. Too much light on the subject can result in bright spots on the subject’s face, or worse, squinting. Too little light can cause dark shadows on the subject’s face, or worse, blending the subject into the portrait’s backdrop. In these extremes, lighting issues must be addressed before exposure can be considered.
Link to Lesson One for an optional review
Here is a helpful table to add or reduce light:
| Add Light Source | Manage Excess Light |
| Softbox Light
Softboxes diffuse light into a pleasing, soft, even light which reduces harsh shadows and mimics window light. |
Light Reflector
Light Reflectors ‘bounce’ existing light off of a subject and redirect it for other purposes (such as fill light and catch lights). |
Using Your Camera’s Exposure Tools
Exposure Meter and Exposure Dial
After you have your feel for recognizing sources of light, it is time to learn how to use the exposure settings in your camera-which measure and regulate the light that will come through in the picture.
Take a look at the photo below. Can you see a difference in light from the left to the right?
We can assume the photographer added a light source to remove the major shadows present, but what the photographer has also done is to adjust the exposure. You can see how even the color of the background is brightened. Adjusting the exposure is the final fine-tuning before the light is ready, and the great news is your digital camera will have a built in tool-the exposure meter-which will gauge the light mechanically for you to adjust. This meter may or may not have numbers, but is recognizable by its dashes:
Here are the steps to take an exposure reading:
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- Depress the camera’s shutter button half-way (if you press it the entire way you will take a picture).
- Locate the scale with dashes: this is your meter. Where this dash lies indicates the photo’s current exposure if you were to take the picture.
The goal is to have the dash directly in the center of the scale, indicating a properly exposed photography. However, more often than not, an adjustment will need to be made. If the dash is on the right-hand side of the center of the scale, the photo is overexposed. If the dash is on the left-hand side of the center of the scale, the photo is underexposed.
To correct for overexposure, find your camera’s exposure dial (which is normally at the top of the camera by the shutter button) and turn it to the right until the dash inside of your meter reading moves to the center of the scale and the photo becomes properly exposed.
To correct for underexposure, turn the exposure dial to the left until the dash moves to the center of the scale, resulting in a properly exposed photo.
In Summary
Understanding the importance of lighting in photography, its effect on the photos you take, and how to adjust for too much or too little of it are key elements of taking professional quality portraits at home. Mitigating extreme lighting issues by adding or removing light sources and then fine-tuning exposure in-camera using the exposure meter will improve quality and make the portrait photography process smoother and easier. A secondary key element, achieving proper focus, will be discussed in the next lesson.
Self Check
 GIVE IT A TRY! |
| Based on what you’ve learned about exposure, practice gaining familiarity with lighting and exposure adjustments in-camera. Experiment by intentionally taking slightly under- and over-exposed photos and reviewing the results. Is there a benefit to having more light than what is considered ideal? Benefits to having less? Using exposure and light to set a certain mood is one of the more important tools for artistic expression in the professional photographer’s tool kit. |
 YOU CAN DO THIS! Keep practicing! |
| Practice is the only way to learn the intricacies of photography concepts like exposure. As you take portraits, review the results and make adjustments before taking more photos. The combination of experimentation and repetition will help you learn the basics of your camera and tools such as exposure. |
 ADVANCED TOPIC: The Exposure Triangle |
| A photo’s exposure is determined by 3 variables : aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The relationship between the three is illustrated in the diagram below. Fortunately for new photographers these variables are automatically controlled when your camera is in ‘Auto’ mode, but as you progress in skill level you may want to try switching to Manual mode to control them yourself.
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Continue to Lesson 5: Achieving Proper Focus