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OnBreak.
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All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

My camera has a partial metering setting, which is something in between of evaluative and spot, I think I might try using it for a bit and see the results

While switching to partial may improve results on a subject - it won’t really help in these scenes. You have such a drastic difference in light and dark that you’ve gone outside of the camera’s dynamic range.

Image 2’s best bet to get the scene in camera would be to use a grad. ND filter. Images 1 and 3 would need multiple exposures combined in post to capture the whole range. (Upon looking at them further, a grad. ND would have been of use in all of the images., though image 2 is the most stereotypical use case)

This is why your camera fails to produce results you like in these scenes: it doesn’t know what you want. YOU need to tell it the exact exposure and KNOW your gear well enough to know that you’re going to sacrifice some shadow detail and/or blow some highlights based on your chosen exposure.

I highly recommend getting very familiar with the histogram and how to use it along with the Zone System. It’s a concept from way back in the day but in a nutshell: shoot the exposure that gets the details that you want. It may not be print worthy straight from the camera, but if it’s got everything you need, you can finish perfecting in post. (Film guys, I know that that is a gross simplification. Not trying to explain it here, simply wet OP’s appetite to learn).

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

My camera has a partial metering setting, which is something in between of evaluative and spot, I think I might try using it for a bit and see the results

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

My camera has a partial metering setting, which is something in between of evaluative and spot, I think I might try using it for a bit and see the results

While switching to partial may improve results on a subject - it won’t really help in these scenes. You have such a drastic difference in light and dark that you’ve gone outside of the camera’s dynamic range.

Image 2’s best bet to get the scene in camera would be to use a grad. ND filter. Images 1 and 3 would need multiple exposures combined in post to capture the whole range. (Upon looking at them further, a grad. ND would have been of use in all of the images., though image 2 is the most stereotypical use case)

This is why your camera fails to produce results you like in these scenes: it doesn’t know what you want. YOU need to tell it the exact exposure and KNOW your gear well enough to know that you’re going to sacrifice some shadow detail and/or blow some highlights based on your chosen exposure.

I highly recommend getting very familiar with the histogram and how to use it along with the Zone System. It’s a concept from way back in the day but in a nutshell: shoot the exposure that gets the details that you want. It may not be print worthy straight from the camera, but if it’s got everything you need, you can finish perfecting in post. (Film guys, I know that that is a gross simplification. Not trying to explain it here, simply wet OP’s appetite to learn).

added 164 characters in body
Source Link
OnBreak.
  • 20.5k
  • 5
  • 50
  • 82

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

My camera has a partial metering setting, which is something in between of evaluative and spot, I think I might try using it for a bit and see the results

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.

My camera has a partial metering setting, which is something in between of evaluative and spot, I think I might try using it for a bit and see the results

Source Link
OnBreak.
  • 20.5k
  • 5
  • 50
  • 82

All of these scenes have something in common: they’re high contrast with many, many stops between the shadows and the highlights.

If you were to meter for the shadows, then you’d blow the highlights (image 3). Meter for the highlights, and drown the shadows (images 1 and 2).

Because you set evaluative metering, the whole frame is being taken into account for the metering. I’m sure it’s more technical, but it appears the camera is simply favoring the side (highlight or shadow) that simply exists more in the frame in order to maximize the amount of decent exposure area.

Obviously, this leaves much to be desired. But, high contrast scenes are where auto modes go to die. This is where you should be the one making the exposure decisions.

Use spot metering on the shadows and highlights to get an idea how far apart they are. Use this knowledge to pick the exposure you want that will sacrifice the detail you’re willing to give up. Want all of the detail? Shoot an HDR shot.