MeritKeep

Take control of exposure

Photograph one subject four times: correctly exposed, deliberately one stop under, deliberately one stop over, and once in a scene where the meter gets it wrong and you override it. The point is not four good photographs. It is proving the exposure was a decision rather than whatever the camera picked.

Part of the Photography course~90 minutesEvidence: a write-up and up to 4 photographsWe check the technical side. Whether it's any good is your call
01 · What counts as done

What you have to hand in

  • Four frames, with EXIF intact.
  • A line per frame stating what you intended.
  • The over- and under-exposed frames are within about half a stop of the stated target.
  • The overridden frame states the compensation used and why the meter failed.
02 · How it will be marked

The checklist, published before you start

We score your work against each line below, and every score has to quote the part of your work it is based on. You read all of it first, so you can argue with any score on the specifics.
  • Exposure matches the stated intent30% of the grade

    The frame is exposed the way the submission says it meant to be — not merely "correct".

    1. AbsentExposure does not match the stated intent and no reason is given.
    2. DevelopingClose, but more than a stop from what was described.
    3. Competent— this is the pass markWithin about half a stop of the stated intent.
    4. StrongOn intent, with the compensation decision explained.
  • Nothing is clipped by accident30% of the grade

    Highlights and shadows retain detail unless the submission says they were sacrificed on purpose.

    1. AbsentSignificant clipping at one or both ends, unacknowledged.
    2. DevelopingMinor clipping, unacknowledged.
    3. Competent— this is the pass markNo accidental clipping.
    4. StrongNo accidental clipping, and any deliberate sacrifice is named and justified.
  • Settings support the claim20% of the grade

    EXIF or reported settings are consistent with what the submission says was done.

    1. AbsentSettings contradict the description.
    2. DevelopingSettings partially reported or partially consistent.
    3. Competent— this is the pass markReported and consistent.
    4. StrongReported, consistent, and the trade-off chosen is explained.
  • The result was controlled, not lucky20% of the grade

    Across the submitted frames, the effect is consistent enough to look deliberate.

    1. AbsentOne frame works; the others do not.
    2. DevelopingInconsistent across frames.
    3. Competent— this is the pass markConsistent across the set.
    4. StrongConsistent, and variation between frames is itself explained.
03 · What this proves

The skills a pass would prove

Pass, and these skills count as proven, with this piece of work attached as the evidence.

This brief is part of the Photography course

Starting it starts the course: every skill above, in the order they depend on each other, with this brief at the end as the thing you hand in — marked against the checklist you have just read and nothing else.

About three minutes to set up: what you want to do with Photography, where you are starting from, and how many hours a week you actually have. The subject we already have from this page.Start the Photography course
See the whole Photography course, or every graded brief we run.

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