How can you improve your exposure skills for different photography genres?

1 Landscape photography

Landscape photography often involves capturing wide scenes with varying light conditions, such as sunrise, sunset, or cloudy days. To achieve a balanced exposure, you need to consider the dynamic range of your scene, which is the difference between the brightest and darkest areas. One way to measure the dynamic range is to use the histogram, which shows the distribution of tones in your image. Ideally, you want to avoid clipping, which means losing details in the highlights or shadows. You can also use exposure bracketing, which means taking multiple shots at different exposure values and blending them later in post-processing.

2 Portrait photography

Portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality and expression of a person or a group of people. To achieve a flattering exposure, you need to consider the skin tone, the background, and the lighting of your subject. One way to measure the exposure is to use the spot metering mode, which means basing your exposure on a small area of your scene, usually the face of your subject. You can also use exposure compensation, which means adjusting your exposure by a certain amount of stops, to fine-tune your exposure. For example, you can increase your exposure if your subject is backlit or decrease it if your subject is in front of a bright background.

3 Wildlife photography

Wildlife photography involves capturing animals in their natural habitat, often from a distance or with a fast-moving action. To achieve a sharp and clear exposure, you need to consider the speed, the distance, and the contrast of your subject. One way to measure the exposure is to use the matrix or evaluative metering mode, which means basing your exposure on the entire scene, with more emphasis on the center. You can also use aperture priority mode, which means setting your aperture and letting your camera choose the shutter speed and ISO, to control the depth of field and the motion blur of your subject.

4 Street photography

Street photography involves capturing candid moments of people and urban life, often with a spontaneous and creative style. To achieve a flexible and versatile exposure, you need to consider the light, the mood, and the story of your scene. One way to measure the exposure is to use the zone system, which means dividing your scene into zones of brightness and assigning them exposure values. You can also use manual mode, which means setting your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO yourself, to have full control over your exposure and be ready for any situation.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?