 (Click on photos to enlarge) Occasionally, students will pull out an image they've shot and ask about its exposure. Is it too light? Is it too dark? Is it the correct exposure? I’ll study the photo briefly and then ask their opinion. This way we can dive deeper into the question, since it’s usually one not easily answered. There are issues to consider when determining a photograph’s appropriate exposure. Perhaps most critical is avoiding very bright and very dark areas, since that may cause clipping and, in turn, problems when displaying the picture on a monitor or when printing it. After that, and similar to other compositional elements such as framing, camera angle, focal length, depth-of-field, etc, the photographer must determine how a specific exposure will impact the look of the photo. I would assume that most photographers usually strive for a “normally” or “properly” exposed image. But intentionally over-exposing or under-exposing can create a very different dynamic-something that can make a far more interesting and exciting image. The photos below, hopefully, will help illustrate this. The first set of images shows a college cafeteria. Keep in mind that the outside illumination is significantly brighter than the inside lighting. The first photo has been exposed for the outdoor lighting, making the greenery easily recognizable. This keeps the indoor lighting dark, but in a positive way. The reflections on the tables subtly highlight them, providing just enough illumination to render their shapes pleasingly. The more brightly exposed second photo shows those same interesting reflections, but with greater intensity. And though still rather dark, the cafeteria can be seen in more detail than in the first photo. In addition, the windows become grossly overexposed with the increased exposure, hiding what's outside (which can be a good thing) and causing a wonderful eerie glow.   The second set of images was taken in a college classroom. I was drawn to the chairs’ tight, perfect alignment, as well as the starkness of the surroundings. For me, the precision of this scene is both inviting and off-putting. Dark objects, like these chairs, can open up interesting lighting possibilities. That’s because they can be photographed at a variety of brighter exposures without becoming overexposed. The first picture shows the chairs and room normally exposed. This is how the room would appear to someone standing within. The second photograph is overexposed. That’s apparent when looking at the ceiling, walls, and floor. But, again, because the chairs are made from such dark material, we’re now able to see them in much greater detail. In addition, the chairs are pleasingly framed by the bright areas of the room.   The third set of images shows a young woman smoking. The brightest object in the darker picture is her cigarette, which helps elevate its importance. When the picture is lightened, her skin and cigarette seem to blend into the background. This now makes the formerly dark eyes and hair, with smoke swirling through it, more dominant.   The fourth set of images is that of a woman holding a clear glass globe, an object often associated with fortune telling. The brighter photo works better for showing off both the dark dress and her statuesque profile. But by bringing down its intensity, the second picture becomes more dramatic and mysterious.   The fifth set of images features a girl and her mother, with the latter holding a large cross. To my mind, the difference between these two photos, compared to those previously shown, is the most extreme. The darker picture clearly and equally displays all the elements within - face, neck, hair, clothes, hand, and cross. But when the exposure is increased, a dramatic change occurs. It's her hair, eyes, lips, and cross that jump out and now dominate the image.   Barring technical problems caused by the lighting, it’s impossible to say which exposure is correct or preferable. That decision is solely within the realm of the viewer and the photographer. I don’t find one picture preferable to another. I think each one offers a different but equally interesting interpretation. |
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