Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

In the context of film, what is generally considered the outcome of underexposure?

1. Faded colors

2. Strong contrast

3. No detail in shadows

4. Detailed highlights

The correct answer is: No detail in shadows

Underexposure in photography occurs when the film or sensor does not receive sufficient light to accurately capture the scene. This typically results in significant detail loss, particularly in the shadow areas of the image. When an image is underexposed, the darker regions will appear very dark or completely black, which means that fine details within those shadows are lost. In contrast, highlights may retain some detail, but the overall balance of the image will suffer as the lack of light leads to an overall dark appearance. Thus, shadows end up with no visible detail, making it challenging to recover information during post-processing. Understanding this aspect of exposure is crucial, as it continues to affect how photographers assess and control their shooting environments to ensure optimal image quality.