Are you struggling with overexposed or underexposed photos? If so you’ve come to the right place today, as instructor Anthony Crothers identifies three common errors made by beginners and then demonstrates how to fix them fast.
Crothers is a British pro with 35 years of experience and two decades of teaching others what he’s learned along the way. His straightforward how-to tutorials are designed to help inexperienced shooters build confidence and improve their skills in a fun and engaging way.
Today’s eight-minute episode is all getting the light right every time, and it begins with this promise: “Whether you’re stuck in Auto mode, confused by the Exposure Triangle or ignoring your histogram, this beginners guide will help you take control of the camera and start capturing the images you imagined.”
Be sure to stick around until the end for a confidence-boosting bonus tip on exposure bracketing before switching to full Manual mode. You can also download Crothers’ free photography e-book with a link in the description beneath the video.
Shooting in Auto mode is at the top of the list and Crothers says, “it may seem like the safest option, but here’s the problem: Your camera doesn’t actually know what you’re trying to capture. It sees only light and color—not the mood, subject, or your creative vision.” In other words, this may be fine for simple snapshots, but not for challenging scenes like snowy landscapes, Golden Hour portraits, and other scenes where Auto mode can easily get things wrong.
Crothers moves on to the Exposure Triangle that describes an interplay between aperture, speed, and ISO for creating balanced exposures. The problem here, according to Crothers, is that many photographers only pay attention to one of these settings while ignoring the others. He explains how all three of these essential elements combines to enhance photos in different ways.
Ignoring the histogram is also a recipe for cooking up images that don’t meet their potential, and Crothers demonstrates how you can easily use this important tool to advantage. By following his straightforward advice you’ll be able to nail exposure every time.
The video concludes with tips for using Exposure Bracketing to increase your odds of success. Be sure to download the free e-book mentioned above, and then visit Crothers’ instructional YouTube channel for more helpful tips and tricks.
Be sure to watch another quick primer we featured recently with a popular instructor who demonstrates how easy it can be to greatly improve photographs by following her practical advice for using on-camera flash.