Originally posted by wrxwheelman so my question is, what am I doing wrong other than obviously not paying attention to the histogram if I want the correct exposure yet keep the same effect?
Here is what you did (data from Firefox EXIF viewer):
Fist picture:
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/125 second = 0.008 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 45/10 = F4.5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 1600 # Exposure Bias (EV) = 20/10 = 2
# Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
User error: Exposure compensation is +2 for the subject that is not white (or high-key) so it should not have been +2. With +2 subject with average tones looks overexposed with +2 and that is normal. Also, why ISO 1600 for daylight scenes? (If leaves are bright green I should gave used +0.5 or +1 depends on how bright you want them rendered, but not +2.)
Second picture:
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/1500 second = 0.00067 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 35/10 = F3.5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 1600 # Exposure Bias (EV) = 20/10 = 2
# Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
User error: Similar to #1, however in this case the main subject is mainly white so +2 should have worked but NOT with multi-segment metering: darker background has confused multi-segment metering. In this case center-weighted metering and +1.5 should have been used, or spot metered from the white area and +2.5 then recomposed for the shot. Again, ISO 1600 was not necessary.
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/2000 second = 0.0005 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 40/10 = F4
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 1600 # Exposure Bias (EV) = 20/10 = 2
# Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
Exactly the same as #2.
Hope this helps.