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How to use automatic exposure bracketing
Techniques
24 October 2007 12:27
Even the best in-camera metering system needs a helping hand from time to time. If you’ve got the time and the skills you can override the exposure, but most DSLRs offer an automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) function to help you out.
If you suspect the exposure of your image is likely to be influenced by a very dark or light area in frame, you can set the AEB function and the camera will usually take three shots. One will be at the exposure suggested by the meter, while the other two will usually be over (+1 stop) and under (-1 stop) the suggested exposure.
To take the three AEB shots, hold the shutter release down (in continuous shooting drive mode) or press the shutter three times (in single shot drive mode).
AEB is useful if you’re shooting a subject that will fool the camera’s built-in metering, such as this field of bright yellow rapeseed flowers. By selecting the AEB function the camera took three images, with the +1 stop exposure producing the perfect result.
You can influence whether the camera changes the shutter speed or aperture during the bracketing by choosing the right exposure mode. In aperture-priority the camera will alter the shutter speed keeping the aperture constant, while in shutter-priority it will alter the aperture instead, keeping shutter speed constant.
The AEB function is usually found on the camera settings menu. Consult your manual for how to do it on your camera.