p.1 #1 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
I recently shot a Nutcracker performance and had some serious problems with blown highlights on several of the shots. I was shooting mainly in P mode, evaluative metering mode, at iso 1600 with both a 135L and 85mm f.18, single shot AF.
Basically I have blown highlights and even if I lower the exposure as much as -4 I still have blown highlights so there is no way to recover the lost highlights. When I let Camera Raw auto adjust it it drops exposure by -1.10 as you'll see in the screen shots.
How can I avoid this in the future? I believe it was it just a poor choice of metering mode that caused this, and I am thinking if I used spot or center weighted I might have had better results.
p.1 #3 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
With a black background the cameras metering is thrown out. Trying to meter the entire scene.
Just try dialing in some - exposure compensation. I think that is how this works, never really gotten into it yet to see if I am suggesting the right direction.
p.1 #5 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
I would switch to spot metering and use manual exposure. Take a few practice shots and view the histograme after each one and then adjust exposure accordingly. This will only work, however if the lighting stays fairly consistent. With digital, once the highlights are blown there is now way to recover.
p.1 #6 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
Thanks for the tips all. Due to the nature of the lighting constantly changing I went with P mode rather than manual against my better judgement. In regards to the choice of metering mode, sounds like like spot metering would have been a much better choice.
p.1 #7 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
Is spot metering linked only to the central AF sensor ? If so then it may get in your way when altering compositions. Also, with spot metering there is more work required by you to alter each reading to suit the brightness of the subject.
p.1 #8 · Blew the exposure but how do I avoid this next time
Take the camera out of P (professional mode, ha, ha).
I usually shoot wide open in A and watch the shutter speed to stop movement.
Turn on the "flashing highlights" in the display so you can see what highlights are getting blown out.
Shoot in RAW so you can recover more.
Black backgrounds with spotlights (such as theatre) always throw off the light meters.
Yes, you can try spot metering, but I do the above.
Good Luck, and keep shooting.
