[Preface: this guide is primarily written for newbie film photographers; but I will try to point out the analogous functions of digital cameras. On a fundamental level, it’s all the same.]
I’d guess that 99% of the time these days, when someone takes a picture, they just point their cell phone or digital point-and-shoot or even higher-end digital SLR at the subject, let the camera quickly compute all the settings needed to take the shot, and the snap it. A lot of the time, this is sufficient. However, if you’re using a film camera with manual settings (or just want to override your newer film or even your digital camera’s auto mode because its guesstimations aren’t giving you the results you want), you have to understand how to dial in the exposure yourself.
There are three main ingredients to exposure: the intensity of the light entering the camera, the amount of time that light is allowed in, and the sensitivity of the film (or the sensor, for you digital kids). Most cameras will allow you at least some control over all of these settings, and they are all interrelated so if you keep that in mind, you will be able to compensate for a lack of control in one factor by adjusting the other two. Sound complicated? It’s really not. Let me explain further. Continue reading
junkyard photo 