why are my pictures underexposed while shooting in Manual?

480sparky

Senior Member
Histograms don't 'say' anything is underexposed. It's merely a graphic representation of the brightness of the total sum of pixels in an image. It's up to the photographer to interpret the histogram as it applies to both the scene as well as the desired results.
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I always make sure the meter is balanced on 0. But the histogram says they are underexposed.

Welcome. Always balancing the meter on 0 will not always give you the correct exposure. Take for example a snow or a night scene. Check out exposure compensation. Also it can depend on which metering mode you are using.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome,we do need more detail, what mode are you using, what metering are you using,and it would be helpful to see results complete with exif.
 

Deanie

New member
Here is an example. Matrix metering, center-weighted, 1/400 (he was walking), F.2.8, ISO 100. I had the mark at zero and applied no exposure compensation. I guess I was wrong in thinking that if the mark is centered at zero, the image would be correctly exposed.
 
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480sparky

Senior Member
Here is an example. Matrix metering, center-weighted, 1/400 (he was walking), F.2.8, ISO 100. I had the mark at zero and applied no exposure compensation. I guess I was wrong in thinking that if the mark is centered at zero, the image would be correctly exposed.

We need to see the image.
 

Deanie

New member
Here is an example. Matrix metering, center-weighted, 1/400 (he was walking), F.2.8, ISO 100. I had the mark at zero and applied no exposure compensation. I guess I was wrong in thinking that if the mark is centered at zero, the image would be correctly exposed.
I cannot figure out how to upload an image ... choosing "insert image" didn't work. So sorry, maybe someone can help here. It was an image of a man, looked dark.
 

Deanie

New member
You may need to downsize the image so the file size is below the maximum the forum allows.
NIK_0269FB.jpg
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Classic 'backlight' situation. The sunlit grass and trees in the background fooled the meter into thinking the scene was brighter than it was.
 

Deanie

New member
Also, I was about 10 ft. away. But still, at 2.8, I expected the background to be more blurred than this. What do you all think? Thank you for helping me figure out this new camera!
 

480sparky

Senior Member
A blurred backgound isn't as simple as just opening up the aperture. Focal length, as well as distances to both subject and background, plays a major role.
 

Deanie

New member
A blurred backgound isn't as simple as just opening up the aperture. Focal length, as well as distances to both subject and background, plays a major role.
Thank you, sparky. Focal length was 60 mm and those trees and swing were pretty far away. If I wanted to make sure the background had great bokeh and the image well-exposed, what do you think would have been better settings for me? I appreciate your time!!
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Thank you, sparky. Focal length was 60 mm and those trees and swing were pretty far away. If I wanted to make sure the background had great bokeh and the image well-exposed, what do you think would have been better settings for me? I appreciate your time!!

Move closer to the subject, or use a longer focal length.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I feel one of your problems was using matrix, it doesnt care what area is your sbject it just trys to give you an overall corect exposure balance, in the situation you show you should have metered for the subject of interest, the rest is as sparky said you need to pick the disance to subject, to the background, decide focal length and aperture to give the result you want.

Very rough and ready edit but i guess you where hoping for this sort of thing.

NIK_0269FB.jpg


You could try center-weighted metering,I use spot metering most of the time but it suits my subjects and what i want to get and can get tricky.
 

Deanie

New member
I feel one of your problems was using matrix, it doesnt care what area is your sbject it just trys to give you an overall corect exposure balance, in the situation you show you should have metered for the subject of interest, the rest is as sparky said you need to pick the disance to subject, to the background, decide focal length and aperture to give the result you want.

Very rough and ready edit but i guess you where hoping for this sort of thing.

View attachment 317639

You could try center-weighted metering,I use spot metering most of the time but it suits my subjects and what i want to get and can get tricky.
Thank you so much. I will change it to center-weighted for these kinds of images. Makes a lot of sense.
 

nickt

Senior Member
Center and spot weighted can get tricky. For example, if the man was off to the side, center or spot metering would read the bright area on the grass, making the man darker. Try it, but give exposure comp a try too. In manual, it won't change settings but it will change what the meter says. But since you are shooting manual, you could just recognize the scene as a problem and adjust your settings to let your meter fall slightly to the + side. Then you don't need to worry about messing with meter modes or exposure comp and possibly forgetting them for the next shot.
 
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