Lessons learned 3 by jcv2

Photography • Flowers/Plants • posted on Jun 24, 2005

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Description

Back in those nineties my SLR-camera was new and I had to explore the behaviour of the camera. It seems the little computer that activates the automatic shuttertime has an own will. When I shoot a bright object (like this orchid) against a dark background the exposure time will become too long; the camera tries to compensate the dark background by overexposing, the object in front becomes overexposed and details get lost, colors get washed out! Same is for the opposite, when I shoot a dark object against a bright background the exposure time will become too short; the camera tries to compensate the bright background by underexposing and the object in front becomes underexposed! So I anticipate on that by underexposing objects against a dark background and overexposing objects against a bright background. It depends - of course! - on the type of camera you do have, and when you can use spot metering you can solve the problem by selecting the object you want to have correctly. Lesson 3 - Anticipate on the behaviour of your camera. Using a new one is best done a good time before you're going on vacation, because it will reveal how things work out, and spoiling a vacation-shooting by some wrong setting or so makes you regret that afterwards! Not included in this lesson is the composition, but that will return in another lesson. Thanks for your attention and your always valuable comments Minolta X-700 (Agfa CT 100, 70 mm)

Comments (21)

pimbotin

6:17AM | Fri, 24 June 2005

There is another method to compensate this. (I've read on the books). You use a sheet of paper with a "neutral" grey color on it. You put it in front of your camera during the automatic detection of exposure time and then you hold the button and take the shot... I've never done it, but...

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WIZARDEFX

6:53AM | Fri, 24 June 2005

Delicate work. I haven't figured how to do anything but automatic shots.

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sharky_

8:04AM | Fri, 24 June 2005

This is one lesson that I needed badly on my lava walks and several of my mountain walks. Using point and shoot, it happened just as you said. It either over exposed or under exposed. Most of the pictures were dumped. I had to redo the lava/mountain walk again but with a better understanding of the how the camera works. I'm still making big time mistakes but I've learned with each mistakes. Thanks for this valuable lesson. This flower seems to have the sun shine on it....Beautiful. Aloha

deannemart

8:19AM | Fri, 24 June 2005

Another good lesson! My photos were coming out off-center, then I realized it was a problem with my viewfinder. I have to shoot a bit to the left to balance the image with my camera :)

tvernuccio

9:30AM | Fri, 24 June 2005

Fantastic lesson, Jan-Carel! yep...it's something i've learned over time too. can't always go by what my histogram says 'cause i know what the result will be!

donvino

2:26PM | Fri, 24 June 2005

gorgeous macro, amazing colors and fabulous details!

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marybelgium

4:38PM | Fri, 24 June 2005

SUPERB !

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tibet2004uk

5:40PM | Fri, 24 June 2005

Lesson 4: the rule of third: avoid placing ur subject in the middle of the shot! And some of the petals are overexposed here and ur whites are washed out! As for the sheet of grey paper that Pimbotin is referring to, it's called a grey card and can be found at any photographer shop! Hehe! ;)

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Sekadhar

8:31PM | Fri, 24 June 2005

Super! Excellent done!!!

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Punaguy

1:51AM | Sat, 25 June 2005

Thanks for another handy lesson here...in the heat of the moment one tends to shoot and worry about the consequences later only to be dissapointed. Very kewl results here! Aloha~

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LadyLisa

2:52AM | Sat, 25 June 2005

Beautiful capture of nature. Excellent talent!

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GiMi53

3:10AM | Sat, 25 June 2005

Oh, I see that this is becoming a workshop... thanks J-C and you all... I'm gonna try this greycard.... :~)

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tallpindo

5:10AM | Sat, 25 June 2005

I get it! Art is an art. Mere experimentaion of trial and error produces a lot of cutting room floor and precious little of use. Somewhere is the money shot before film or money runs out.

parb1194

5:19AM | Sat, 25 June 2005

Beautiful little orchid and capture.

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iaacf

12:48AM | Sun, 26 June 2005

I fully agree to that... A new camera always behave different from what you would expect...I have learned that lesson already... but it it great to get to know your camera and experience the possibilities there and and you've maybe never dreamed off.. BTW: beautiful orchid.. had one in my garden, but lost it...:-(.

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