Description

Book Synopsis
This newly revised edition of Bryan Peterson's most popular book demystifies the complex concepts of exposure in photography, allowing readers to capture the images they want. With his trademark accessible style, Peterson instructs readers on how to achieve successful images in almost any situation, explaining the fundamentals of exposure and its component parts of light, aperture and shutter speed. With an emphasis on getting the best exposure even in tricky situations, 'Understanding Exposure' shows how to get (or lose) sharpness and contrast in images, how to freeze action and how to take the best meter readings, while also exploring filters, flash and light. With all new images, and updated captions throughout, this revised edition is sure to be as popular as ever.

Trade Review
"Of all the photography books I have on my bookshelf, and believe me, I have quite a few, this is the one that stands out as the most helpful. It is the first one I recommend to new photographers and it is one that I refer to when I need a bit of a refresher. It will take the fear out of moving from the point and shoot modes to the creative modes of your camera."
- Digital Photography School

Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Defining Exposure
What Is Meant by Exposure? 8
The Photographic Triangle 10
The Heart of the Triangle: The Light Meter 16
White Balance 19
Six Correct Exposures Versus One Creatively Correct One 24
Finding Creative Exposure Options 28
Aperture
Aperture and Depth of Field 32
Storytelling Apertures 36
Isolation or Singular-Theme Apertures 48
“Who Cares?” Apertures 54
Aperture and Macro Photography 58
Shutter Speed
The Importance of Shutter Speed 64
The Right Shutter Speed for the Subject 66
Freezing Motion 68
Panning 73
Implying Motion 76
Implying Motion with Stationary Subjects 80
Making “Rain” 83
Light
The Importance of Light: The Importance
of Exposure 86
The Best Light 88
Frontlight 92
Overcast Frontlight 95
Sidelight 98
Backlight 102
Exposure Meters 106
18% Reflectance 110
The Gray Card 112
The Sky Brothers 113
Mr. Green Jeans (The Sky Brothers’
Cousin) 116
Night and Low-Light Photography 118
Flashlights and Starlight 124
Light Painting 126
Special Techniques
Polarizing Filters 132
Graduated Neutral-Density Filters 134
Multiple Exposures 136


Electronic Flash
The Photographic Triangle and Flash 142
The Three Factors for Correct Flash
Photography Exposure 144
The Dangers of Becoming a Flashaholic 148
The Limitations of Your Teenie-Weenie
Pop-Up Flash 150
Powering Down the Flash 152
Flash as a Fill Light 153
Wireless Flash 158
Colored Gels 162
Rear Curtain Sync 165
Index 168

Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition

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    RRP £23.99 – you save £6.00 (25%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Mon 13 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by B Peterson

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition by B Peterson

      Publisher: Random House USA Inc
      Publication Date: 15/03/2016
      ISBN13: 9781607748502, 978-1607748502
      ISBN10: 1607748509

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      This newly revised edition of Bryan Peterson's most popular book demystifies the complex concepts of exposure in photography, allowing readers to capture the images they want. With his trademark accessible style, Peterson instructs readers on how to achieve successful images in almost any situation, explaining the fundamentals of exposure and its component parts of light, aperture and shutter speed. With an emphasis on getting the best exposure even in tricky situations, 'Understanding Exposure' shows how to get (or lose) sharpness and contrast in images, how to freeze action and how to take the best meter readings, while also exploring filters, flash and light. With all new images, and updated captions throughout, this revised edition is sure to be as popular as ever.

      Trade Review
      "Of all the photography books I have on my bookshelf, and believe me, I have quite a few, this is the one that stands out as the most helpful. It is the first one I recommend to new photographers and it is one that I refer to when I need a bit of a refresher. It will take the fear out of moving from the point and shoot modes to the creative modes of your camera."
      - Digital Photography School

      Table of Contents
      Introduction 1
      Defining Exposure
      What Is Meant by Exposure? 8
      The Photographic Triangle 10
      The Heart of the Triangle: The Light Meter 16
      White Balance 19
      Six Correct Exposures Versus One Creatively Correct One 24
      Finding Creative Exposure Options 28
      Aperture
      Aperture and Depth of Field 32
      Storytelling Apertures 36
      Isolation or Singular-Theme Apertures 48
      “Who Cares?” Apertures 54
      Aperture and Macro Photography 58
      Shutter Speed
      The Importance of Shutter Speed 64
      The Right Shutter Speed for the Subject 66
      Freezing Motion 68
      Panning 73
      Implying Motion 76
      Implying Motion with Stationary Subjects 80
      Making “Rain” 83
      Light
      The Importance of Light: The Importance
      of Exposure 86
      The Best Light 88
      Frontlight 92
      Overcast Frontlight 95
      Sidelight 98
      Backlight 102
      Exposure Meters 106
      18% Reflectance 110
      The Gray Card 112
      The Sky Brothers 113
      Mr. Green Jeans (The Sky Brothers’
      Cousin) 116
      Night and Low-Light Photography 118
      Flashlights and Starlight 124
      Light Painting 126
      Special Techniques
      Polarizing Filters 132
      Graduated Neutral-Density Filters 134
      Multiple Exposures 136


      Electronic Flash
      The Photographic Triangle and Flash 142
      The Three Factors for Correct Flash
      Photography Exposure 144
      The Dangers of Becoming a Flashaholic 148
      The Limitations of Your Teenie-Weenie
      Pop-Up Flash 150
      Powering Down the Flash 152
      Flash as a Fill Light 153
      Wireless Flash 158
      Colored Gels 162
      Rear Curtain Sync 165
      Index 168

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