How to Expose a Black and White Negative
Film is sensitive to light. Its sensitivity forms the foundation of how photography works. A camera is a light tight box with a small opening, which allows a specific amount of light to enter for a specified amount of time. When a negative is exposed to light, silver halide crystals react to create an image. Too much light on a negative produces over exposure and the picture loses detail. Under exposing a negative produces a print with strong gray tones instead of sharp black and white tones.
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Instructions
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Learn the camera's settings. Repeatedly getting the right film exposure requires solid camera knowledge.
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Place the light meter on your subject's skin tone, if you are photographing a portrait.
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Take one meter reading on the most lit part of your frame and another one in the shadow. Average the two shutter speeds or apertures, and use that setting to take your photograph. This procedure will allow you to compensate for harsh lighting.
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Use your camera's Portrait and Landscape settings. These settings will give more specific automatic exposure suggestions for your environment than the Automatic setting.
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Select the right film speed. Choose a film with a high ISO for low light, and a low ISO for bright and sunny lighting.
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Look in your camera's viewfinder, and lightly press the shutter. Look at the figures at the bottom or side of the viewfinder. Locate the poles or digits. This gives you a specific reading for exposing the film and will tell you how to adjust your camera settings for the right exposure.
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Change your shutter speed or aperture until the marker in your viewfinder is centered. This creates a balanced light reading.
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Tips & Warnings
Underexposed or overexposed film can be adjusted in the developing process by changing the developer concentration and time.
The end result can also be adjusted digitally by adapting the Levels and Contrast in Photoshop.
If photographing a full scene, use a gray card to get the most accurate reading.
A hand-held light meter may also help you get an accurate reading.
Since film is so light sensitive, it is important that it is only exposed to the light from the camera.
Do not open your camera at any time before the film is rewound. This will expose your film further and cause it to turn gray or purple and ruin your photos.
