How to get the perfect exposure on film every time?

It’s important for film photographers to be adept at exposing their shots because it will lead to consistently better results. Since you cannot see your images right away, being knowledgeable about lighting can help you feel more confident in your process. Here are a few tips to practice that will help to perfect your exposure, so you can capture moments exactly how you envisioned them.

Choose the appropriate ISO

Among the three components of the exposure triangle – aperture, shutter speed, and ISO – the ISO is an independent variable in film. You cannot change it midway through the roll. In this case, especially when using point-and-shoot cameras, a way to achieve proper exposure is by planning ahead. Think of where and when you are most likely to shoot so you can choose a film stock with the appropriate ISO and set your camera accordingly.

Use a Light Meter

Metering is a useful skill for Lomographers to attain good exposure. It is the process in which a light meter reads the amount of light in the scene you’d like to photograph, and then assigns the right shutter speed and aperture for the camera. There are cameras with built-in light meters, and there are others without. Fortunately, there are external light meters and smartphone apps available. When new to metering (or exposure compensation as you will learn later on), you can try to bracket your shots – using the same subject, take one shot set according to the meter, one shot a stop above, and one shot a stop below. This helps visualize the extent of each stop, and assures that you have at least one properly exposed photo.

Apply the Sunny 16 Rule

In the absence of a light meter or the time to use it, the Sunny 16 Rule is the way to go. It is not as accurate, but can give a good estimate. The basic fundamental of this rule is that on a bright sunny day, your aperture is at f/16 and your shutter speed is what most closely matches your film’s ISO. For example, if you’re using ISO 200 then your shutter speed should be 1/200 seconds. Needless to say, things become slightly more complex if you change your aperture setting or when the weather is different, so we have prepared a Sunny 16 Rule guide.

Try Exposure Compensation

Exposure compensation is when photographers override standard exposure settings. This is primarily for situations where your film of choice does not complement the lighting situation before you. Film cameras usually allow you to rate the film, which makes way for some manual adjustments. For instance, rating your ISO 400 film at 800 leads to underexposure, while rating it lower at 160 creates overexposure. This is because the rating contributes to dictating the quantity of light that the film receives. Undeniably, this can lead to potential loss of detail and contrast, and that’s where pushing and pulling come in.

Exposure compensation is available for instant cameras as well. There is a “+1” button to add some brightness and a “-1” button to lessen it. Manually adjusting your gear to get the perfect exposure for the situation hones your creative instinct and ability to gauge what is needed in that moment.

Practice!

Photography is an art that you improve in by constantly practicing. Searching for how to get perfect exposure is a good start. Now, get out there and try it out!