Photography Exposure and Metering 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which metering mode measures light from the entire frame and calculates an average exposure?
- Spot metering
- Center-weighted metering
- Evaluative/matrix metering (Correct answer)
- Partial metering
Correct answer: Evaluative/matrix metering
Evaluative (Canon) or matrix (Nikon) metering analyzes the entire frame and uses algorithms to calculate a balanced exposure.
Question 2: When shooting a subject against a bright window (backlit), which exposure adjustment typically produces the best result?
- Apply negative exposure compensation
- Apply positive exposure compensation (Correct answer)
- Use a faster shutter speed
- Reduce the ISO
Correct answer: Apply positive exposure compensation
Positive exposure compensation brightens the subject by overriding the camera's tendency to underexpose when the background is much brighter than the subject.
Question 3: What does the term 'ETTR' (Expose To The Right) mean in digital photography?
- Always use the rightmost AF point
- Intentionally slightly overexpose to maximize shadow detail and reduce noise (Correct answer)
- Expose for highlights and recover shadows in post
- Use right-handed camera grip for stability
Correct answer: Intentionally slightly overexpose to maximize shadow detail and reduce noise
ETTR means exposing so the histogram is pushed toward the right (bright) end without clipping highlights, capturing maximum data and reducing noise in shadows.
Question 4: A photographer uses spot metering on a gray card placed near their subject. What is the purpose of this technique?
- To set white balance automatically
- To ensure the camera exposes for a true 18% gray reference, giving accurate exposure (Correct answer)
- To reduce chromatic aberration
- To measure the color temperature of the scene
Correct answer: To ensure the camera exposes for a true 18% gray reference, giving accurate exposure
A gray card reflects exactly 18% of light, which is the neutral tone cameras are calibrated to expose correctly, giving a reliable exposure baseline.
Question 5: In bright sunlight, the Sunny 16 rule states that the correct exposure at f/16 is approximately:
- Shutter speed = 1/ISO, ISO 100 → 1/100s (Correct answer)
- Shutter speed = ISO value in seconds, ISO 100 → 100s
- Shutter speed = 1/aperture, f/16 → 1/16s
- Shutter speed = 2× the ISO, ISO 100 → 1/200s
Correct answer: Shutter speed = 1/ISO, ISO 100 → 1/100s
The Sunny 16 rule: set f/16 and shutter speed to the reciprocal of the ISO (e.g., ISO 100 → 1/100s) for a correct daylight exposure.
Question 6: What effect does halving the ISO have on exposure if all other settings remain the same?
- The image becomes one stop brighter
- The image becomes one stop darker (Correct answer)
- Exposure stays the same but noise increases
- Depth of field increases by one stop
Correct answer: The image becomes one stop darker
Halving the ISO reduces the sensor's sensitivity by one stop, producing a one-stop darker exposure without changing aperture or shutter speed.
Question 7: A photographer exposes for the sky in a landscape, causing the foreground to appear very dark. Which tool is MOST commonly used in-camera to balance this exposure?
- Polarizing filter
- Graduated neutral density (GND) filter (Correct answer)
- UV filter
- Macro extension tube
Correct answer: Graduated neutral density (GND) filter
A graduated ND filter darkens the bright sky while leaving the foreground exposure unchanged, reducing the dynamic range challenge in the scene.
Photography Exposure and Metering 2
Which metering mode measures light from the entire frame and calculates an average exposure?