Summary

• Light values are in front of the camera.

• Exposure values are inside the camera,

• With ISO linking a light value to an exposure value.

Camera		The Subject
Exposure Value	↔ ISO ↔	Light Value

Zero Point for

Light Values & Exposure Values

The zero point for light values and exposure values was arbitrarily set based on the luminance of a dim interior.

A dim interior has a light value of 0.

At ISO 100, the dim interior has an exposure value of 0.

One of the possible exposure settings is f/1 at 1 second, at ISO 100.

Camera		The Subject (Dim interior)
Exposure Value = 0	At ISO 100	Light Value = 0

All of the other exposure values below are derived from the above zero point.

Light Values Chart

Here's a chart of light values.

A chart for exposure values is below.

Go down to the Exposure Values Chart.

LV Value	Sunny 16 Exposure	Subject
18	+3	- Bright reflections
17	+2	- White or very light colored/toned subject in bright sunlight
16	+1
15	0	- Subject is medium colored/toned in bright sunlight
14	-1	- Slightly overcast
13	-2	- Overcast
12	-3	- Heavy overcast
11	-4	- Sunset - Open shade
10	-5	- Landscapes just after sunset or before sunrise
9	-6	- Landscapes 10 minutes after sunset/before sunrise - Neon and lighted signs at night - Stage shows with bright lighting
8	-7	- Times Square at night - Store windows at night - Fires at night - Stadium lighting - Interior with sunlight coming through window - Interior with many florescent lights
7	-8	- Bright street at night - Stage shows with average lighting - Daytime interior with skylight
6	-9	- Fairs and amusement parks at night - Daytime interior with windows & no direct sunlight
5	-10	- Night interior with bright lighting
4	-11	- Floodlighted buildings, monuments, fountains - Holiday lighting at night (indoor or outdoor) - Night interior with average lighting - Candle-lighted close-ups
3	-12	- Street at night
2	-13
1	-14
0	-15	- Dim interior
-1	-16
-2	-17
-3	-18	- Rural landscape illuminated by a full moon
-4	-19
-5	-20
-6	-21	- Rural landscape illuminated by starlight

With the above light value chart, and the exposure value chart below, you can set any exposure.

You won't need a light meter.

How to Determine Exposures

1) Find the light value on the above light value chart.

2) Look for the same number in the exposure value columns on the exposure value chart below.

That is, if the light value is x, then the exposure value is also x.

Be sure to look for the exposure value number in the correct ISO column.

3) Use any of the exposure settings in the row for the exposure value number.

An Example

Let's say your photographing an elephant in bright sunlight.

The ISO on your camera is set to 200.

From the above light value chart, you find that the light value for a subject in bright sunlight is 15.

Here's the pertinent row from the above light value chart.

LV Value	Sunny 16 Exposure	Subject
15	0	- Subject is medium colored/toned in bright sunlight

You then use the exposure value chart below.

You locate the same number, 15, in the exposure value number column for ISO 200.

Here's the relevant row from the exposure value chart below.

Exposure Value Numbers					Exposure Settings
100	200	400	800	1600	f/1	f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8	f/11	f/16	f/22
16	15	14	13	12	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125

You can set your camera to any of the exposure settings in the row.

Same Amounts of Light

All of the exposure settings in each row allow the same amount of light to reach the camera sensor.

If you took a series of photographs at each of the settings in a row, the resulting photographs would look the same, exposure-wise.

Here are photographs made using the exposure settings from the same row as our example.

However

While the photographs may be the same "shade" exposure-wise, the photographs may not look the same in other ways.

Differences in depth-of-field may become apparent due to the varying lens openings.

Subject motion may be frozen or blurred depending on the shutter speed.

Exposure Values Chart

This is the exposure values chart.

Go up to the Light Values Chart.

Exposure Value Numbers					Exposure Settings
100	200	400	800	1600	f/1	f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8	f/11	f/16	f/22
-	-	-	-	18	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8000
-	-	-	18	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8000	4000
-	-	18	17	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000
-	18	17	16	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000
18	17	16	15	14	-	-	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500
17	16	15	14	13	-	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250
16	15	14	13	12	-	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125
15	14	13	12	11	-	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125	60
14	13	12	11	10	-	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125	60	30
13	12	11	10	9	8000	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125	60	30	15
12	11	10	9	8	4000	2000	1000	500	250	125	60	30	15	8
11	10	9	8	7	2000	1000	500	250	125	60	30	15	8	4
10	9	8	7	6	1000	500	250	125	60	30	15	8	4	2
9	8	7	6	5	500	250	125	60	30	15	8	4	2	1"
8	7	6	5	4	250	125	60	30	15	8	4	2	1"	2"
7	6	5	4	3	125	60	30	15	8	4	2	1"	2"	4"
6	5	4	3	2	60	30	15	8	4	2	1"	2"	4"	8"
5	4	3	2	1	30	15	8	4	2	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"
4	3	2	1	0	15	8	4	2	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"
3	2	1	0	-1	8	4	2	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"	-
2	1	0	-1	-2	4	2	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"	-	-
1	0	-1	-2	-3	2	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"	-	-	-
0	-1	-2	-3	-4	1"	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"	-	-	-	-
-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	2"	4"	8"	15"	30"	-	-	-	-	-
-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	4"	8"	15"	30"	-	-	-	-	-	-
-3	-4	-5	-6	-	8"	15"	30"	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-4	-5	-6	-	-	15"	30"	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-5	-6	-	-	-	30"	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-6	-	-	-	-	60"	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-