What is exposure compensation?

Learn how exposure compensation works, and when to use it.

Exposure compensation basically helps you override automatic exposure adjustments your camera makes in situations with uneven light distribution, filters, non-standard processing, or underexposure or overexposure. It lets you take control of your image’s brightness by manually increasing or decreasing exposure. Learn more about how exposure compensation can benefit you.

How exposure compensation works, and when to use it.

Exposure compensation works differently depending on your camera mode:

• Aperture priority mode. Here, you manually set your aperture, while the camera automatically sets a shutter speed. Exposure compensation in this mode works by changing the shutter speed to get the right exposure.
• Shutter priority mode. Essentially the opposite of aperture priority mode, you manually set the shutter speed while the camera automatically sets the aperture. Exposure compensation then works by changing the aperture to the right exposure.
• Program mode: This allows you to manually set both your aperture and shutter speed. Here, exposure compensation works by changing your shutter speed.

Usually your camera settings are correct, and you won’t need to worry about exposure compensation. But in some situations, you might want to make manual adjustments. For instance, if you’re shooting in the snow, your camera’s light meter will assume that the brilliant white snow should be gray and will choose to underexpose the image.

Or, during a night shoot, your camera’s light meter will try to brighten the picture. Using exposure compensation helps you take control and set the correct dark tones to capture the scene.

Exposure compensation is also great if you’re trying to experiment with light or add drama by lightening and darkening your image in unexpected ways.

Take charge of exposure.

Explore what more Adobe Photoshop Lightroom can do to help you further amplify exposure effects.