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How to Meter Sunsets in Photography

The paintlike streaks of red and orange, along with wisps of purple, that make up a sunset are always worthy of capture with your camera. However, if you tend to shoot in Auto mode, you may be disappointed with your results. Because of the variance in light strength, in-camera meters tend to drastically over- or underexpose sunsets. By using an external light meter, you can make a more educated decision when it comes to your sunset exposure settings.

Things You'll Need

Spot meter

Instructions

- 1
  Program the spot meter for your selected ISO. ISO refers to either the speed of your film or the sensitivity of your digital camera's sensor. Based on this value, the meter will calibrate itself for proper exposure.
- 2
  Aim your spot meter at a part of the sunset that is medium brightness--not too dark, and not too light. Lock the exposure settings by pressing the appropriate button on the meter.
- 3
  Read the recommended aperture, or lens opening, and shutter speed from the meter's display screen. Switch your camera to manual mode and use the control pad to enter these settings.
- 4
  Compose your photograph through the viewfinder. For a more interesting sunset photograph, include foreground elements like trees, silhouetted people or a lighthouse. Press the shutter button to take a photograph.
- 5
  Bracket your photograph to ensure proper exposure. Using your camera's EV compensation setting, take a second shot with minus-1 stop and a third with plus-1 stop. This provides you with three photographs taken with varying exposures, allowing you to select the one that looks best.

Photography