Metering for Proper Exposure Your camera has a meter in the view window, and some also show on the display on the back. The meter allows to check for proper exposure before you take a photo. Here is what it looks like
How to Read the Meter Top Meter: Proper Exposure- meter mark centered Middle Meter: Over Exposed-meter marked towards the + side Bottom Example: Under Exposed- meter marked towards the -
Setting Up Your Camera for Good Exposure 1. Gauge your Lighting- Indoors? Outdoors? Low or high lighting? 2. Set your ISO- Less light=higher ISO more light=lower ISO *Remember! Higher ISO’s get grainy when printed or enlarged. Try to as stay low as possible.* 3. Set your priority setting- Aperture or Shutter first? How do you know which is your priority? -if you are focused on capturing objects in focus at different distances, then Aperture (Fstop) is your priority -if you are trying to capture fast movement or slow movement, then shutter is your priority. Aperture priority- Low F-stop=close up photos/ mid F#= mid-range distance/ high F-stop #=distant photos Shutter priority- Faster shutter speed=freezes motion with no blur Slower shutter= captures and sees motion/blur *to capture people without blur, you typically want to be over 1/200 *to avoid seeing your own camera shake, do not go under 1/40 without a tripod 4. Set your last setting to get correct exposure- IMPORTANT! If you set Aperture above, adjust your shutter to get a centered meter reading If you set Shutter above, adjust your aperture to get a centered meter reading