Is it Better to Overexpose or Underexpose Film?
As a beginning filmmaker, you’re probably taking a lot in as far as exposure, ISO, aperture, and all of those great things go. You’ve likely heard of the exposure triangle. And you’ve probably even attempted to adjust your shooting in order to achieve an overexposed or an underexposed appearance. So, is it better to overexpose or underexpose film, and why?
Overexposed vs Underexposed Film Definitions
A lot of people, especially those that are just getting started, struggle to understand the difference between overexposing and underexposing film.
To help you understand what it means to overexpose vs to underexpose film and how this applies to other concepts such as pushing/pulling film and shooting at box speed.
Let’s first take a look at some very simple definitions of each:
- Overexposed film – this means that you have allowed more light to hit the film that what was recommended.
- Underexposed film – this means that you allowed less than the recommended amount of light hit the film.
- Pushing film – this means that you underexpose the film and then develop it for a longer period of time in order to overcompensate for the underexposure.
- Pulling film – this means that you overexpose the film and then develop it for a shorter period of time in order to overcompensate for it.
- Shooting at Box Speed – this means that you use the ISO that was recommended by the manufacturer (on the box) for the film that you’re using.
Technically Correct Exposure
So, is it better to overexpose or underexpose film? This kind of depends on the desired outcome that you’re trying to achieve. One thing that is important to note here is that when you overexpose or underexpose film.
And you don’t take steps to compensate in development, through pushing or pulling. Then your images are going to be brighter or darker than they would normally be.
When filming, achieving technically correct exposure can be largely a matter of preference. A technically correct exposure for a digital image is one that looks most realistic with shadows and highlights visible in all the right places and without the image being too bright or too dark.
So, if the exposure shouldn’t be overexposed or underexposed technically, then…which is better? Is it better to overexpose or underexpose film?
Logistics
When talking about film, actual tangible film, logistically it is better to overexpose.
WHY? The overexposure of film allows the negative to hold more information which, in theory, through pulling, would allow the desired image to be preserved.
However, if a plan to compensate for the exposure is not underway for the film, then it would likely be better to base your decision as to whether you should overexpose or underexpose film based on your own personal preference and the desired visibility of the shot.