Exposure Conpensation

Exposure compensation is a technique for adjusting the exposure indicated by a photographic exposure meter, in consideration of factors that may cause the indicated exposure to result in a less-than-optimal image. Factors considered may include unusual lighting distribution, variations within a camera system, filters, non-standard processing, or intended underexposure or overexposure. Cinematographers may also apply exposure compensation for changes in shutter angle or film speed, among other factors.

Generally used in Aperture and Shutter Priority Modes...

In photography, some cameras include exposure compensation as a feature to allow the user to adjust the automatically calculated exposure. Compensation can be either positive (additional exposure) or negative (reduced exposure), and is commonly available in third- or half-step[1] increments, usually up to two or three steps in either direction; some digital cameras allow a greater range. Camera exposure compensation is commonly stated in terms of exposure value (EV); 1 EV is equal to one exposure step.

LOOK for +/- sign on your Camera Body.. If not able to locate, try to check Menu or Function Controls available in some cameras.

Light Meter in SLR Cameras

Knowing how your digital camera meters light is critical for achieving consistent and accurate exposures. Metering is the brain behind how your camera determines the shutter speed and aperture, based on lighting conditions and ISO speed.

Understanding these can improve one's photographic intuition for how a camera measures light.

Light Meters:

- Reflected Light Meters
- Incident Light Meters
...

Normally you can see an Exposure Scale in your cameras. Most of the times when we start using new SLR cameras, it takes time to estimate the right exposure (Aperture + Shutter Speed) in different light conditions. Light Meter Scale is dem=noted by a line having zero value in middle & -ve values on right side. +ve values are on left side and denotes over-exposed. This does not mean that zero is the ideal Exposure. This needs to be estimted by photographer becuase every Ligt Meter has different algorithm to judge light coming to the lens. So it might be the case and -2 is ideal exposure in sunlight (It's just an example).

How to try:

- Go to manual mode of your camera
- Set some value of Aperture (Whtever you want)
- Check the value in Camera Light Meter
- Now click photograph at some Shutterspeed
- Check how it can be improved.
- Now try this again n again with different Shutter sppeds and also check Light Meter regularly.

You can also try the same thing with fixed Shutterspeed. Remember, always check Light meter when you change Aperture or Shutter-speed. Over the time it will give you an idea about Exposure values for different light conditions.