In Milford Sound, NZ today on our AUS/NZ vacation.
Many shots of waterfalls and majestic mountains were pretty much directly into the sun (top of subject).
Thus, these were severely overexposed.
Do not have any manuals or guides with me and am a newb.
Thinking my exposure metering setting (matrix) is the problem. Shooting manual with ISO at 200-200 all day. All of my other shots are looking wonderful. Shooting Sigma 17-70 with Nikon D7200.
All tips appreciated.
Do you know how to read a histogram to evaluate your exposure?
RichardTaylor wrote:
Do you know how to read a histogram?
I believe I understand, but the histogram is only available after the shot, correct?
frjeff wrote:
I believe I understand, but the histogram is only available after the shot, correct?
For your camera, yes.
If the exposure conditions are difficult then take a test shot, look at the histogram, and make any necessary adjustments.
RichardTaylor wrote:
For your camera, yes.
If the exposure conditions are difficult then take a test shot, look at the histogram, and make any necessary adjustments.
Thank you. Makes good sense. And the throw away costs nothing except time.
Take your shots of the waterfalls earlier in the day or late in the day , you’ll have a easier time catching an awesome pic ... happy days 👍🏻
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
frjeff wrote:
In Milford Sound, NZ today on our AUS/NZ vacation.
Many shots of waterfalls and majestic mountains were pretty much directly into the sun (top of subject).
Thus, these were severely overexposed.
Do not have any manuals or guides with me and am a newb.
Thinking my exposure metering setting (matrix) is the problem. Shooting manual with ISO at 200-200 all day. All of my other shots are looking wonderful. Shooting Sigma 17-70 with Nikon D7200.
All tips appreciated.
You don't need a manual to adjust your exposure to be correct for the light. If matrix isn't it getting it done for you, then use a lower ISO and/or smaller lens opening, or use a neutral density filter. Or you can go to the locations at different times - either earlier or later in the day where the sun is in a different position.
It depends on where and how much area the metering method you select covers in the image.
Averaging will try to take in the entire image. If there is a massive amount of really bright, it will under expose the darker areas, and vice-versa. Spot metering can be aimed at a small location to get THAT area properly exposed, disregarding the rest of the image luminosity. Each metering method will yield different results.
Reviewing the histogram helps.
Example: Averaging a shot of only the moon will give you a big white solid ball. The "average" for the entire scene is dark, so it will over expose the moon.
(A copy of an image would be nice so we can see exactly what it looks like.)
But why shooting into the sun causes overexposure? Should it be underexposure?
BebuLamar wrote:
But why shooting into the sun causes overexposure? Should it be underexposure?
One would think.
Unless the "ground" is normal which would greatly over expose the sky.
We don't know what part of the image is being referenced as over exposed.
As comments have already demonstrated, it would be beneficial to see a photo. If you are talking about just a small portion of the image where the sun is, then dynamic range may be the issue. Your camera sometimes cannot capture the full range of darkest to lightest.
So we can give suggestions about metering or learning how to make exposure adjustments, but there are many cases when the sun or what is next to the sun in your frame will be impossible to reveal detail.
But what/where was the subject.
We really need to see an image so we understand what we are talking about.
Your example is great. Such a large difference between two areas.
I have already deleted all of the blown out shots I was questioning about.
I will gladly ask again and save examples should it happen again (bright light/sun directly behind subject).
In this case (on a moving boat cruise), I could not wait for a better lighting time- it was a one time pass on the cruise.
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