Dark photos, exposure correct
Sep 22, 2016 14:08:48 #
kenArchi
Loc: Seal Beach, CA
Why do digital photos come out dark. They look like they are under exposed.
The first photo is correct exposure at f8 1/400 sec. I use a Gossen meter incident reading.
The second photo is f8 1/200 sec.
The second photo brightness is actually how I see it.
When I was using film and doing my own scanning with the Nikon 2400 scanner, the scans would not be dark like digitals, without doing any adjustments.
These photos are from raw files, no adjustments.
Am I not understanding something here?
It seems like I always have to over expose my photos.
Maybe my camera needs exposure adjustment somehow.
The first photo is correct exposure at f8 1/400 sec. I use a Gossen meter incident reading.
The second photo is f8 1/200 sec.
The second photo brightness is actually how I see it.
When I was using film and doing my own scanning with the Nikon 2400 scanner, the scans would not be dark like digitals, without doing any adjustments.
These photos are from raw files, no adjustments.
Am I not understanding something here?
It seems like I always have to over expose my photos.
Maybe my camera needs exposure adjustment somehow.
Sep 22, 2016 14:10:33 #
Sep 22, 2016 14:12:19 #
Sep 22, 2016 14:19:04 #
I have never used an off-camera meter, but the obvious answer would be what dirtpusher said: at least in the example shown, the sunlit bright white of the building is skewing the exposure to darker.
Similar to shooting snow: if you want white, ignore what any meter is trying to tell you and over-expose (or bracket).
Similar to shooting snow: if you want white, ignore what any meter is trying to tell you and over-expose (or bracket).
Sep 22, 2016 14:20:17 #
Sep 22, 2016 14:33:43 #
kenArchi wrote:
manual settings
check the properties on picture see what pattern is.
Sep 22, 2016 14:36:11 #
He's using incident metering so it doesn't matter what the subject reflectance is like (providing it is being done correctly).
However has the light meter and camera been calibrated so they work well together? (ie is the camera ISO the same as the light meter iSO settings?)
However has the light meter and camera been calibrated so they work well together? (ie is the camera ISO the same as the light meter iSO settings?)
Sep 22, 2016 15:16:12 #
Looks to me like there might be some exposure compensation going on in the camera.
Last year, I took an incident reading with my calibrated handheld and set the camera accordingly. later I discovered the photo was badly underexposed.
Somehow or another, I had set the camera to negative compensation by a stop and a half.
Last year, I took an incident reading with my calibrated handheld and set the camera accordingly. later I discovered the photo was badly underexposed.
Somehow or another, I had set the camera to negative compensation by a stop and a half.
Sep 22, 2016 17:08:36 #
kenArchi wrote:
Frankly, I like the first picture better for the building - white buildings tend to look washed out to me if you meter what is actually there. Back when I was shooting Kodachrome, I would intentionally under-expose a scene like that so the building would come out better, and simply tolerate the under-exposed shaded area; today, I would start with the first image, and then use the "curves" tool or something similar to brighten the dark wooded area.Why do digital photos come out dark. They look lik... (show quote)
Sep 22, 2016 18:26:34 #
Also, images may look darker or lighter depending on your monitor. I can change the viewing angle on my laptop and get a drastic change in its appearance.
Sep 22, 2016 19:55:34 #
Perfect example of how incident meter doesn't work for you. I think you have the meter in sunlight and the exposure for things under that light is correct like the wall. I think you didn't measure the light in the shade.
Sep 22, 2016 22:36:34 #
kenArchi
Loc: Seal Beach, CA
I am using the basic sunny f16 rule. The meter measure the same. At iso100 f16 1/100sec. Or f8 1/400sec. The time of the day was about after 11am near noon.
Camera exposure compensation is set at zero.
Ative D-lighting was on in auto mode. It is now off. I do not know if this caused any difference.
So tomorrow I will retest with a couple more cameras to compare.
Camera exposure compensation is set at zero.
Ative D-lighting was on in auto mode. It is now off. I do not know if this caused any difference.
So tomorrow I will retest with a couple more cameras to compare.
Sep 22, 2016 22:46:14 #
Sep 22, 2016 23:12:46 #
Sep 22, 2016 23:28:57 #
kenArchi wrote:
I said MANUAL, exposures and focus.
was it on center weighted or shifted to right.
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