Exposure Bracketing

Exposure bracketing is taking a series of varying exposures in order to ensure obtaining a correct exposure. The typical exposure bracketing method is to take one photo at the recommended metered exposure, a second photo of the same subject at a higher exposure, and a third photo of the same subject at a lower exposure.

 

The famous photographer and editor of Life magazine, Margaret Bourke-White, bracketed by setting her shutter speed to 1/100th of a second and making an exposure at each full stop from f/4 to f/22. (Note: based on the equipment she was using at the time, her actual exposures were from f/4.5 to f/22).

 

When shooting color negatives and/or B&W negative film, my bracketing personal preferences are:

 

Metered exposure, 2 stops over, and 2 stops under

or

Metered exposure, 2 stops over, and 1 stop under

 

When shooting color transparency (slide) film, my bracketing personal preferences are:

 

Metered exposure, 1 stop over, and 1 stop under

or

Metered exposure, ½ stop over, and ½ stop under

or

Metered exposure and one stop over

(I eliminated the one-stop under because I rarely used it).

 

The minimum bracketing features I expect from my digital cameras are the same as what I can do with my film cameras. However, since digital cameras easily use ISO to alter exposure, I expect much more from my digital cameras.

Done