Hannah_Chapter4

Chapter 4 is all about storytelling through a combination of different film components. While reading about exposure in particular, something stood out to me about proper exposure. The author explains that a properly exposed image will contain many different exposure levels in one picture. This got me thinking about a previous chapter that mentioned breaking the rules in film and I've found myself wondering the same thing about picture. Can we really use various incorrect exposures and light to create a more "correct" picture?

How to Make Perfect Exposures on Film

The article above describes a "perfect exposure" as one that captures the light in the exact way you've envisioned, bringing in the factor of personal preference. An example of incorrect usage of exposure I found in the article has to do with reflective lights meters. A camera's reflective light meter works by measuring the 18% middle grey's lux output. In this case of incorrect usage, you are purposefully allowing the light meters to falter. One of the most common faltering examples is when the light meters are pointed at a backlit subject, such as human silhouettes against a sunset. This creates a beautiful picture, one that many directors will purposefully want; however, it is a perfect example of unbalanced exposure. This may be the "proper exposure" that the author spoke about in this chapter, by lighting the main subjects up in a way that is "proper" for storytelling.