Intentionally or not, we all shoot dark or under-exposed images from time to time. Although our cameras are smarter than ever, sometimes the metering mode you’ve used might not have got the exposure quite as you hoped. Here we’ll look at working with darker images and how you can retain details by balancing out different areas of exposure.
I shot this image on an overcast day with one off-camera flash and a shoot-through umbrella, to keep the light diffused. A single light is a key aspect when you shoot a darker or gritty image: it will give you dark shadows and contrast across your shot - plus, it’s far easier to carry around one light than two or three. So let’s see how to tackle the overall tone, colour and exposure of this image to create our spooky scene.
Models: Rebecca Rose Robinson, Gemma Louise Williams