Introduction to Photography: Selection and Application of Photometric Mode

Correct exposure is the key to taking good photos, and correct exposure is also the basic requirement for taking good photos. In order to get the correct exposure image, we must be familiar with the differences of various metering modes. As long as you choose the appropriate metering mode and use it flexibly, you can easily take a perfect exposure image in backlight, Gao Fancha, low light and other scenes.

Introduction to photography: the most commonly used metering mode in camera industry

All-area photometry

Full area photometry is the most commonly used photometry mode, which can give correct exposure results in most environments. In this mode, the camera will measure the light in each area of the picture, and after unifying the measurement results, compare the data in the database to get the best exposure level in the environment. Up to now, in most shooting environments and conditions, all-area photometry can provide quite correct exposure information, so when the automatic shooting mode is < automatic mode >, all-area photometry is the preset mode. After the general public presses the shutter, they can generally take satisfactory photos, which has a considerable relationship with the popularity of photography.

In cloudy or low contrast environment, photos with good exposure can be obtained through full area photometry.

Central key photometry

Most people always put the protagonist in the center when taking photos. Therefore, in the backlight and night environment, as long as the photometry in the central area is taken as the standard, and the EV is fine-tuned according to the brightness of the surrounding environment, you can take backlight or night shots to obtain the correct exposure image. In fact, this is also a metering mode developed under the condition that it is difficult to measure the light in a very small area by metering technology and the partition exposure has not been developed. For advanced players who rarely use central composition and need more accurate exposure level, central focus metering is a less used metering mode.

When the main body is centered, the central key can be used to measure light.

Spot photometry

Spot metering is a common metering mode for advanced players. Advanced players always like to challenge photography themes, such as Gao Fancha, Backlight and Twilight, and they also have their own opinions on the required exposure level. The whole area metering mode may not reach the exposure effect that advanced players want. Spot metering is aimed at a small area, accounting for only 1~5% of the whole picture. Generally linked with the central focus, some models can be linked with the set focus. Using spot metering mode, the brightness of different areas in the shooting picture can be measured separately, providing the information needed by high-level players. The player then chooses the appropriate exposure value to shoot according to the shooting focus, tolerance, light and shadow of the picture, etc.

In high contrast environment, if you want to show the shadow details, you can use spot metering to confirm the exposure.

All-area photometry

Central key photometry

Spot photometry

How do advanced players use spot metering?

How do advanced players use spot metering as exposure standard? Usually, in the weak light or Gao Fancha environment, neither the negative nor the photosensitive element of a digital camera can see clearly from the bright part to the dark part like the naked eye, which is called tolerance problem. When shooting this type of image, advanced players will use spot metering to determine the exposure. It is usually necessary to decide whether the work should focus on the bright part and ignore the details of the dark part, or focus on the dark part to overexpose the bright part. If both can present details, we must first set the middle tone, the bright part should not exceed +2EV, and the dark part should not be lower than -2EV.

After making a rough decision, spot metering is carried out with the central focus, and the exposure value of the bright part, the middle tone and the dark part is tested. After determining the exposure value of the required middle tone, the metering point (usually also the focus) is aimed at the middle tone area, and the numerical value is fixed with AE Lock or the aperture and shutter value are fixed with M mode, and finally the composition is photographed.