How to know if a picture is under-exposed or over-exposed and what to do to correct them?

Question

i want to be a good photographer. I use Nikon D70. I usually have to take pics at night inside houses, like in birthdays parties, etc . So, I always use the built-in flash. But the picture exposure doesnt come exactly correct. So, how to know if the picture is over-exposed or under-exposed and what to do to correct them? Plz help.

Answer 1

There is usually a light meter on your camera showing the exposure level. You should try to keep it as close to the middle as possible.

Overexposed = too much light
Underexposed = not enough light

If you open the aperture more you'll get more light, if you use a slower shutter speed you'll get more light

If you want to fix your pictures in post-processing, try Photoshop where you can "dodge" and "burn" the areas that need less or more light respectively.

Answer 2

The built-in flash can be a problem. It's not very powerful and so you get a pic showing bright or even white faces and a very dull background. The only fix for this is more light, ie getting an additional flashgun to throw more light around the room. If you want to correct existing shots in an editing program then generally it's easier to brighten a shot up to reveal detail in the shadows than to darken a too light shot.

Answer 3

Try using Av mode (aperture priority). This mode will be useful especially when u take pictures indoor and during night time.

Built-in flashes are never good, no matter what brands or models. I suggest you get an external flashgun. You can get a Nikon or a third party flashgun. A Nikon flashgun might cost more than a third party's so consider your budget.

If you dont want to get an external flashgun, then try covering your built-in flash with a semi-transparent masking tape or tissue paper. This can prevent overexposure.

Answer 4

over exposed pictures have too much light.
under exposed pictures are those which is too dark.
to fix it... look at your light meter before taking the picture. also consider your shutter speed and aperture, as well as the light source in the place where you would take the picture.

kindly, look for your camera's manual to properly figure out how to use those that I mentioned above... =)

Answer 5

take the camera back to the shop and have it tested a D70 should not be that bad it also could be pilot error