Exercise - Measuring Exposure

Part One -

Dark

Dark - Clearing
f/22  1/320  ISO-3200

This was taken not long before sunset, with the sun low and to the left of the frame. While parts of the frame are actually light, much of it is in shade so there is a contrast between light and dark areas.  I think you do get a sense of fading light from the image.  This is what I wanted to convey, and for this reason did not lighten the shadowed areas.

Dark - Mask
f/4.5  1/15  ISO-3200

 The light source, a window, is about 15ft from the subject which itself is dark,as is the background.  In fact, there was just enough light to take the photo.  I could have used flash but this would have lit the eyes and shown the background behind them.  There is a certain darkness about the mask, and not just in colouration.  I wanted to capture this, by limiting the colour and seeing the eyes filled by dark shadow.

Light

Light - Sculpture
f/5.6  1/8  ISO-400

 The subject was positioned on a shelf.  I directed the flash on to the shelf above, so the light would bounce off it, back down on to the sculpture and also light the background.  The light feel to the image and background creates a contrast to the apparently anguished pose of the figure.

Light - Surrey Hills
f/22  1/400  ISO-3200

A darker exposure would have given a higher contrast between the lighter green areas and the slight red colouration.  However, I liked the subtle blend of tones and softness created with this fairly light exposure.

Part Two

I generally aim for slight under exposure, on the basis that alterations can easily be made later.  If an image is over exposed, darkening it post production can be quite ineffective.  Each of the series of photos in part two of the exercise were set around the "best exposure" being -1 (slightly darker than average) on the exposure scale. 

Dried Sea Urchin (1)
f/14  1/100  ISO-100  ISO 3200

Sea Urchin (2)
f/13  1/80  ISO-3200

Sea Urchin (3)
f/11  1/80  ISO-3200

Sea Urchin (4)
f/10  1/60  ISO-3200

Sea Urchin (5)
f/10 1/50  ISO-3200

In the Sea Urchin photos, I found the shots half a stop lighter or darker to be acceptable.  The central exposure was much what I expected, perhaps lightly brighter in some areas.  The lightest image had too bright a reflection on the surface, and the darkest seemed a bit flat.

Garden Framed (1)
f/14  1/100  ISO-3200

Garden Framed (2)
f/14  1/60  ISO-3200

Garden Framed (3)
f/14  1/50  ISO-3200

Garden Framed (4)
f/14  1/30  ISO-3200

Garden Framed (5)
f/13  1/25  ISO-3200

The central exposure in the Garden Framed series was a little darker than expected. I put this down to standing under dim lighting, with brighter light behind the window frame.  The darkest shot was not appealing.  I found all of the others acceptable, although actually preferred the shots half a stop and 1 stop lighter.   These gave the window frame a whiter appearance and are more balanced.  The photos were taken through the glass of a kitchen door leading on to the sun lounge, with the window frame opposite.  

Green Candle Bottle (1)
f/22  1/25  ISO-3200

Green Candle Bottle (2)
f/20  1/20  ISO-3200

Green Candle Bottle (3)
f/20  1/15  ISO-3200

Green Candle Bottle (4)
f/18  1/13  ISO-3200

Green Candle Bottle (5)
f/18  1/10  ISO-3200

The central exposure of Green Candle Bottle is a touch darker than expected.  The two darker exposures don't work for me, and I find the lighter two work best.  The darker exposures lose any warmth from the green and yellow colouring.  I used natural light, but on reflection bounce flash would probably have worked better.

Tree Statuette (1)
f/18  1/25  ISO-3200

Tree Statuette (2)
f/14  1/25  ISO-3200

Tree Statuette (3)
f/11  1/25  ISO-3200

Tree Statuette (4)
f/9  1/25  ISO-3200

Tree Statuette (5)
f/9  1/15  ISO-2500

The central exposure of Tree Statuette is as expected.  I think all of the other images work, apart from the darkest exposure.  Image (4), half a stop lighter, is the photo I would pick, with the lightest picture second choice.  

Weathered Door (1)
f/22  1/25  ISO-3200



Weathered Door (2)
f/18  1/25  ISO-3200

Weathered Door (3)
f/16  1/24  ISO-3200

Weathered Door (4)
f/13  1/25  ISO-3200

Weathered Door (5)
f/10  1/25  ISO-2500

The Weathered Door images were taken in fading light, under cloudy conditions.  I think there is potential for a more satisfying image in bright sunlight, towards the end of the day.  The central exposure is as expected.  However, I do prefer the lighter images.  The exposure half a stop darker is OK but one stop darker is too dark.