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Hello, .

Whether working in an automatic or manual exposure mode, a reflective light meter inside our camera measures the intensity, or brightness, of the light we're photographing.

Measuring light intensity is essential because it allows us or the camera to achieve a picture with a standard or mid-tonality.  

A standard tonality is crucial because it provides a known baseline for controlling exposure.

Exposure is necessary to create a photograph because a picture is a recording of light onto light-sensitive material (digital sensor, film, etc.), and that recording of light onto light-sensitive material is the photograph

Exposure controls the tonality of our photograph, and we control exposure with aperture ( f-stop) and shutter speed.

Metering is an evaluation.

Exposure is a decision.

We measure the light intensity of what we want to control tonality for in our photograph, and based on our metering and tonality decisions, we decide what exposure settings to use to control the tonality of what we metered for.   

An attentive and thoughtful approach to metering and exposure are essential elements of our compositional process because they allow us to achieve a preferred exposure, which provides a tonality that’s not too bright or dark.
 

In any fully automatic exposure mode, we lose the ability to meter because the camera does it for us. 

However, we regain the ability to meter thoughtfully in the aperture/shutter priority and full manual exposure modes.

If asked, could we tell someone what we metered off of and why we decided on our exposure settings?

In other words, did we evaluate and decide, or did our camera do it for us?

The Getting to Know Your Camera class teaches how to create thoughtful photographs using aperture and shutter priority modes. 

The Introduction To Photography class teaches how to create thoughtfully composed photographs using manual exposure modes. 

More classes are below.

Do you need to learn to use your camera or brush up on some skills and techniques, especially if you want to be ready to take pictures and record those holiday moments?

I've scheduled Introduction to Photography and Getting to Know Your Camera classes.

Since class sizes are limited to five participants, it's a good idea to reserve your spot as soon as possible.

If you need a different schedule, there's always Private Lessons.

Below are more ways to learn photography with me.

The Introduction to Photography class or a series of Private Lessons will help you study and practice to become a photographer who can make the best possible pictures.

By studying and practicing photography with me, you'll learn how to be a better photographer. 

More ways to study and practice with me are below.