Exposure

Look familiar?

Why does this happen?

The build in light meter of your camera is calibrated to use 18% gray as a reference. This means that it will always attempt to give you a 18% gray picture. So, if you take a light meter reading against the bright background the light meter will see that there is to much light entering the camera. The light meter will attempt to let less light enter the camera by either using a faster shutter speed or a smaller aperture. By doing this the light meter reaches it's goal, but that is not what you wanted.

Always be careful for a bright background.

There is some ways to overcome this problem:

1. Move closer to your object, take a light meter reading without the background. Use this reading to take you picture. With most instant cameras this will not work because you cannot adjust your variables.

2. Change the position of your object relative to the bright background:

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 1- This picture was taken with the model's back facing the window.

Picture 2 - The model stands with his right shoulder towards the window, perpendicular to the window.

Picture 3 - The model stands with his right shoulder towards the window, 45 degrees to the window.

So, by moving your object, you can control the light.

More about exposure in the book

Photographs by Pieter Pretorius, http://www.photosa.co.za

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