Originally Posted by
William W
Geoff:
As an addition to my commentary Post #36 and also directly addressing the shooting scenario of your sample image.
Firstly, here is an extract from my teaching notes which might be useful to you:
© AJ Group Pty Ltd Aust 1996~2015, WMW 1965~1996
REF: My Documents / Teaching Notes
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Secondly – comments on your image specifically.
EXIF reveals:
EOS 7DMkII
F/8 @ 1/400s @ ISO800
Av Priority
EC = 0
Metering Evaluative
White Balance: AWB
By your description of the Lighting Scenario “fairly poor overcast light and a bit of water vapour from spray in the air” and my experiences of shooting at sea and evaluating EV of a scene - that scene is about at EV = 10
If so, the “correct” exposure would be in the order: F/8 @ 1/100s @ ISO800
Referring to my notes above and expecting the headroom on the 7DMkII is about 1 Stop, then for the best possible outcome ready for Post Production and especially addressing the noise, that you do not want, I expect the shot would have been better pulled at about:
F4/ @ 1/400s @ ISO1600
Bracket -1 Stop +⅔Stop in ⅓Stops
Remove Filter (if you had a filter on)
Manual White Balance K= 8,000°
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One accurate way to measure your starting exposure for that shooting scenario:
Meter in “Evaluative Mode” something nearby: your open palm or lush grass.
> using your open palm and you are Caucasian/Anglo-Saxon Skinned- then open up about 1⅓Stops from that reading.
> lush green grass make no adjustment
WW