Monday 6 May 2013

Exercise: Measuring Exposure Part 2

For this exercise we were asked to take 5 or 6 different photographs, and for each make 5 exposures arranged around the measured exposure.  The measured exposure was done using evaluative metering and the intervals were at 1/2 stop, providing a sequence of –1, –1/2, 0, +1/2, +1 stop.  In the sets below, this sequence is maintained, so for the portrait format, left to right, is –1, –1/2, then measured in centre and left to right bottom –1/2, –1.
For landscape format, then on left top is –1, left bottom –1/2, then measured in centre and right top +1/2 and right bottom is +1.
None of the images have been edited, as, for the purpose of this exercise I wanted to show these “as shot”.  They have been hand-held, so there are slight differences between individual images.
Greenwich 1
Above is a view of the old Naval College at Greenwich and the towering office complexes across the river at Canary Wharf.  I chose not to make a symmetrical view here, wishing to locate the office towers centrally between the clock towers of the college as I wanted to maximise the difference between old and new.  The measured exposure probably works best here, though the exposure at +1/2 stop also works.
 Greenwich 4
This sign outside the Cutty Sark pub, along the river to the East of the Cutty Sark and the College, provided an opportunity to demonstrate the effect of meters adjusting black to a shade of grey.  For me, the best exposure is the one exposed at –1 stop as this gives the best black, though the grey brickwork is now slightly too dark.  In processing this image, I would retain the grey brickwork at the originally metered exposure.
Greenwich 5
An anchor provides the source of this subject.  Here, the most effective exposure is that given –1 stop compensation.  In the metered exposure, the shadow areas affected the calculation, allowing the brightly lit areas to be overexposed, losing detail in those areas.

Greenwich 3
Looking through the pillars of an old wharf at the office complexes in Canary Wharf, again, the measured exposure provides the best balance between the shadow and brightly lit areas, though the photograph taken at +1/2 stop provides slightly more detail in the shadow areas, but the highlights start suffering and the sky takes on a slightly washed out appearance.
OW 1
Here, in this photograph of the Provost training aircraft from the 50’s, my preferred exposure is that indicated at –1/2 stop, though it actually looks brighter than the metered exposure.  The light was changing due to fast moving clouds and differed enough to cause this change of exposure.  I did not notice this at the time of taking, but I decide to leave this in as it still illustrates the purpose of the exercise.  Nevertheless, I was “caught out”.
Stratford 1
Colourful pillars and geometric patterns at Stratford DLR station, provide the inspiration for this photograph.  The exposure with –1/2 compensation to me is the best one with the colours having improved saturation, without damaging detail in the shadows.

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