This Obscure Metering Mode Averts Blown Out Skies (VIDEO)

Today we’re exploring a common culprit for disappointing landscape photos with blown-out skies and other key elements that are far brighter than the rest of a scene. The solution has to do with the fact that many photographers never take time to explore the obscure options buried in their camera’s menu.

The topic at hand is known as “highlight-weighted metering, and respected pro Mark Denney introduces the lesson like this: “I take a deep dive into this hidden metering mode that protects you landscape exposures and demonstrate why it’s one of the most overlooked tools for photographing in tricky lighting conditions.”

So whether you’re shooting a blazing sunrise or sunset, a sunlit waterfall, or a snow-covered landscape, highlight-weighted metering enables you to retain detail where it matters most. Denny explains how this technique works, when to use it, and the way it differs from the more familiar Matrix, Spot, and Center Weighted modes.

The bottom line is this: If you’ve ever struggled with bright skies lacking detail, or unbalanced exposures that just don’t look right, this nine-minute video will help you finally understand how  to use this secret weapon to control light in an accurate and repeatable way.

Denney says this metering method is predicated on the simple fact that “cameras are constantly guessing what’s most important in a scene, so if you’re using Matrix or Evaluative metering it’s looking at the entire frame and averaging things out.” Therefore, if there’s a bright sky, snow, or water, your camera will often get exposure wrong.

On the other hand, highlight-weighted metering takes a different approach. Instead of trying to balance the entire scene, in prioritizes the brightest tones within the frame. Denney demonstrates an easy method for testing this concept in the comfort or your own home, so that you can proceed with confidence the next time you’re out on the field.

There’s much more to learn on Denney’s instructional YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore. And don’t miss our earlier tutorial featuring a highly acclaimed British pro who demonstrates five simple techniques for avoiding ugly grain and blur when shooting photographs in low-light conditions.