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How to Prevent the Washed-out Look When Taking Pictures

Even on the brightest sunniest day, your camera can sometimes be tricked into producing pictures that are washed out. Washed-out pictures are the result of the image being overexposed. This generally happens when photographing a picture where a portion of it is darker and that area in the picture is taking up the majority of the center of viewfinder. Internal meters in cameras generally measure on a "Center Weighted Average" if this part of the scene is darker than the rest of the scene, the picture will be washed out.

Instructions

- 1
  Turn your digital camera on and turn the exposure mode dial to any of the automatic modes. In these modes, the camera will determine the best exposure but still gives some control to the photographer.
- 2
  Hold the camera up to your eye and compose the scene you going to be taking a picture of. Observe what is in the center portion of the viewfinder. If this area is filled with darker colors, then you camera will automatically want to overexpose the picture. Camera meters read reflective light and since there is not much light being reflected off of a dark subject, it will overexpose the picture.
- 3
  Turn the "Exposure Compensation" dial to under expose the picture by one full stop. A stop is an incremental level of adjustment in exposure. By reducing the exposure you are bringing the level of exposure back towards an even exposure, this will prevent the camera from letting too much light into the picture.
- 4
  Press the shutter release all the way down to take the picture. Press the review button on the back of the camera to review the picture you just shot and confirm the picture is not washed out.

Photography