Hello, let's talk about photographer Kang Shin-ip-chal. Taking a photo is perhaps a process of finding the most ideal exposure value, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that. Among the various elements that make up a photograph, the most important factor might be exposure. There is light and many other elements, but when we combine all of these, we can say that it is a process of finding the most ideal exposure value. So, how can we reach the exposure value that I envision? This might be the biggest challenge. There are various methods to measure exposure. For example, there are different ways of metering, such as using spot metering and evaluative metering, among others. There are many different methods to capture the right exposure.

There are various ways to control exposure, such as aperture priority mode, shutter speed priority mode, and manual mode. However, one often wonders whether the exposure is actually appropriate. I believe there is no precise definition of correct exposure. The right exposure is simply one that aligns with my own standards. For instance, if I wish for the world I see to be a little brighter, then measuring for overexposure would yield the correct exposure for me. Conversely, if I feel that the atmosphere is gloomy and heavy, shooting darker would also be the correct exposure value according to my perspective. However, aside from all that, there are times when I just want to capture what my eyes see. In those cases, how should I set it? The most basic method is to use a light meter.

Many of you have probably seen this; it's a light meter that fits perfectly in your hand. Right now, the light meter isn't visible, but I have one here. If I want to take a picture of this subject, I would place the light meter here to measure the light intensity, and then input the exact exposure value into the camera. This way, I can shoot with relatively accurate data. 

Now, since we're talking about light meters, they can be broadly divided into two types: incident light meters and reflective light meters. The light meter that measures light through exposure is called an incident light meter. Generally, most of the light meters sold are incident light meters. As the name suggests, an incident light meter measures the light that directly falls on the subject. This allows for very precise exposure values to be captured.

Yes, but the exposure meter built into the camera is a reflective exposure meter. So, the reflective exposure meter is typically found in DSLRs or mirror cameras. This means that it measures the light that hits the subject and reflects back, using an 18% gray as the standard. Therefore, when shooting white or black subjects, there is a higher chance of the images being slightly underexposed or overexposed. However, since we generally use the built-in reflective exposure meter of the camera, I would like to share some tips on how we can reduce this error as much as possible. In the past, cameras without exposure meters required you to set the aperture and shutter speed according to certain formulas to achieve stable photos, such as determining the appropriate settings for a cloudy day.

I used to attach it to the back of the camera, but now it has a built-in light meter. So when we look through the viewfinder and set the exposure, we hear a beep, and the proper exposure is displayed in the camera's viewfinder. This indicates the exposure that the camera considers appropriate. However, is that really the correct exposure? The camera's light meter has some margin of error. But I think that if we can hold the camera directly and set the exposure values similar to the light meter, we can use the camera like a light meter. For example, if there is a figure here and the light falls on it, and we want to take a picture of it from a distance, the camera...

The exposure value provided is a bit more forgiving; it can be overexposed or underexposed at times. However, if you want more accurate data, you should get very close and use the light meter, even if the focus isn't perfectly sharp at this point. Just by looking at the exposure value, you'll see that if you shoot like this, it indicates 1/25 of a second. Then, if I shoot like this, the big pine subject appears to be significantly underexposed. Shall we give it a try? This is how it turned out. If I shoot according to what the camera suggests, the shutter speed will make the screen appear much brighter. The exposure values differ greatly when capturing from close up versus far away, especially when you want to express the skin tone in portrait photography or when using a specific technique.

I want to achieve precise exposure in the desired areas. When you want to do this, you can measure the exposure by placing the light meter very close to the subject, using it as the exposure meter for the camera. Then, you manually input the data values and take the shot, which will yield results that seem like they were obtained using the light meter. 

There may be situations like this: if I want to capture this reflection here, there is a gradient in the reflective areas. If I want to set the exposure to the midpoint of that gradient, and if I just set the camera to A mode and take the shot from a distance, the exposure may fall to a certain level. However, if I move a bit closer to set the exposure, I would need to adjust it accordingly. Right now, it indicates 1/100 of a second. If I take the shot again with the same composition, the exposure will definitely change.

You can express it that way. If you get a little closer to the subject, there is a way to use the camera as an exposure meter. In the case of landscape photography, there is a technique called bracketing. On the camera, you will see a mode labeled BKT. This allows you to take three shots at different exposures: one underexposed, one at the average value, and one overexposed. It’s best to use a tripod when shooting in this way. When you take those three shots in rapid succession, one will be very dark, one will be at a normal mid-value, and one will be very bright. Because of the use of this technique, you can achieve photos with very high contrast. If you look at this photo, it has very strong contrast, and you can combine the properly exposed shot from the three to create a better image.

When you use synthesis, it can result in a photo that is visibly appealing. The method utilizing bracketing is a good approach, especially for landscape photography. For those who haven't tried it, there is definitely a menu on your camera labeled BKT for bracketing. The best way to set up bracketing varies by camera brand, so if you read the manual for your camera, it will clearly explain where to find bracketing and which buttons to press to set it up. If you see the BKT indicator, using it will make it much easier to manage exposure in landscape photography. As I mentioned earlier, there is no definitive answer for exposure, but if you want to express what you see, these methods can be helpful.

사용하시면 조금 더 손쉽게 접근할 수 있지 않을까 싶습니다. 하지만 처음에도 말씀드렸지만, 노출에 정답은 없기 때문에, 내 기분에 따라 내가 표현하고 싶은 것이 언더로 찍고 싶다든지 오버로 찍고 싶다든지 할 때, 그 기분에 따라서 노출 값을 바꿔서 촬영해 주시면 됩니다. 물론 매뉴얼 모드로 찍는다고 해서 잘 찍거나 노출 값을 정확히 잡을 수 있는 것은 아니에요. 저도 모드를 많이 활용합니다. A 모드를 찍을 때도 노출 보정이나 노출 고정을 통해서 노출 값을 조금 더 잘 설정할 수 있기 때문에, 그렇게 활용하시면 조금 더 노출 값에 한 발 더 쉽게 접근할 수 있는 방법이 아닐까 싶습니다. 노출 보정이나 노출 고정에 대한 것은 제가 또 위에 링크를 올려 놓도록 할게요. 스파 권도 마찬가지고요. 지금은 너무너무 사진 찍기 좋은 계절이죠.

I think there are about three weeks left in the season. The leaves are starting to fall, and the way we express the autumn foliage can feel very different depending on the exposure. Therefore, I hope you can effectively utilize the methods I've mentioned, such as spot lighting, bracketing, and using the camera's exposure meter to get close and take photos. Before this autumn passes, it would be great if you could capture some memorable and pleasing photos. I hope this has been helpful, and I will return next time with even better content. You know what to do—subscribe and like!

내가 원하는 적정노출 손쉽게 잡아보기 /사진 노출

안녕하세요 사진작가 이강신 입니다.
사진을 잘 찍을 수 있는 방법은 여러가지 입니다.
제가 추구하는 건 카메라의 조작법 보다 사진의 가장 기본이 되는
사물을 보는 방법 과 사진을 이해하고 촬영하는 법에 대한 이야기를 더
자주 할 생각 입니다.
사진강좌와 가끔 보정강좌 그리고 살아가는 이야기와 음악 이야기들 입니다.
촬영이나 강의 기타 비즈니스 문의는 
kronos01@naver.com 으로 문의 주세요

