What is the appropriate correction for a predominately dark scene, such as a black tire?

When photographing predominantly dark scenes, such as a black tire, it is often necessary to adjust the exposure settings to accurately capture the details within those darker areas. The correct approach involves decreasing the exposure, which can be achieved by reducing the aperture (f/stop) setting.

A decrease of 2 f/stops is appropriate in this context because the camera’s metering system tends to interpret dark scenes as needing more light, leading to an overexposure if adjustments are not made. By decreasing the exposure by 2 f/stops, you allow less light to reach the sensor, compensating for the camera’s tendency to brighten the scene and ensuring that the details in the black tire are captured more accurately without losing contrast.

Thus, this adjustment helps maintain the integrity of the image, revealing textures and patterns that would otherwise be lost if the exposure were set too high.