Assuming you are shooting in P mode....

Meter off the grass and then dial in negative 2/3 exposure compensation...

Adhood wrote:.

I have a Nikon D40.I was reading the book "Understanding Exposure"Bryan Peterson explains that when metering off of green areas youhave to meter that area at -2/3 stops to get the correct exposure..

How do I accomplish this?.

Do I adjust the shutter speed/ aperture until the exposure meterreads -2/3?(How would I know it was -2/3).

Or.

Do I adjust the exposure compensation?.

Yes, just adjust exposure compensation. EC-2/3 tells the camera to meter at -2/3..

Although, honestly, concrete rules like -2/3 whenever you look at green aren't always very good. Since it's digital, just take a picture and gauge it yourself (or analyze the histogram). Reshoot if necessary...

If you change the shutter/aperture in any of the automatic or semi-automatic modes (Auto, P, A/Av, S/Tv), you won't change exposure. (The camera will adjust one of the other settings to try to maintain what it thinks the 'correct' exposure should be.).

You need to go to full Manual (overkill) or dial in exposure compensation...

But what does -2/3 mean? Go to -2 on a scale of 0 to -3 EV? And on a D80 does it hold that exposure for just that one shot or until you change it back...

Dtf wrote:.

But what does -2/3 mean? Go to -2 on a scale of 0 to -3 EV? And ona D80 does it hold that exposure for just that one shot or until youchange it back..

It means to go -2/3 of a stop (-0.666 stop). Do you know exposure stops? If not this will require more explanation. On just about any camera, it will maintain that value until you change it...

Most cameras offer 2 or 3 full stops of exposure adjustments. Each of those full stops can further be broken down into thirds. So 2/3 stop means to adjust the exposure by 67% of one full stop...

... you start messing around with camra settings..

There are a lot more useful important, and understandable ways of setting yhour camera than trying to cope with confusing informtion from an old book by a confused/confusing writer..

Look in your camera instruction book, and learn about various metering patterms Matrix is one way the camera takes metter readings, and there are probably sev eral other methods. Understanding these will serve you much b etter than trying to meter on green grass and then set exposure compensation..

BAK..

Got it! I have my D80 set up for 1/3 stops from the custom menu so -2/3 is really -0.7 right? The other choice on the menu is 1/2 stop increments. Actually I just set it up to use the Main Control dial to set EV instead of having to press the EV button and spin the dial...

When metering off of green areas youhave to meter that area at -2/3 stops to get the correct exposure..

Others have explained how to do this but I don't really agree that such an adjustment is necessary. I've been using an SLR, first film and now digital, for over 25 years and I was always taught that grass was a good approximation of a mid tone. In other words, if you haven't got a grey card with you just point the camera at the grass and meter off that - which is basically what this author is saying, but I have never found it necessary to then make EV compensation. In reality, 0.7 of a stop isn't isn't that material so I wouldn't worry about it. If the shot is an important one then shoot RAW and you can always adjust the exposure on the computer afterwards if you find it necessary..

Confused of Malvern'The greatest fool can ask more than the wisest man can answer'..

BAK wrote:.

... you start messing around with camra settings..

There are a lot more useful important, and understandable ways ofsetting yhour camera than trying to cope with confusing informtionfrom an old book by a confused/confusing writer..

Look in your camera instruction book, and learn about variousmetering patterms Matrix is one way the camera takes metterreadings, and there are probably sev eral other methods.Understanding these will serve you much b etter than trying to meteron green grass and then set exposure compensation..

BAK.

Fully agree with Baks proposal. Read your cam instruction book as many times as necessary and practice a lot on what it teaches. Success,Eduardo..

And it taught me quite a bit about photography, it really helped me understand what a proper exposure was and also the basic workings of a camera. Also taught me some good techniques I would not have known otherwise. Matrix metering is not always reliable, doesn't matter if you have the latest and greatest..

Anyways, I am one of those people who always try to nail the correct exposure and try to ensure my picture is good out of camera to do as little post processing as possible. Oh, yeah, and I also hate using the flash.Fuji Film S9100s9100/s9600 Flickr Group:http://www.flickr.com/groups/37994085@N00/..