Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What is primarily increased when using color film with long exposure times?

1. Contrast distortion

2. Exposure consistency

3. Image clarity

4. Black and white conversion

The correct answer is: Contrast distortion

When using color film with long exposure times, contrast distortion is primarily increased. Long exposure times can lead to various issues in color film due to the nature of how color emulsions react to light. When the film is exposed for an extended period, multiple factors come into play, such as the intermolecular reactions that can intensify certain colors over others or create uneven exposure across the frame. This phenomenon can result in exaggerated contrast in the final image, affecting the overall tonal quality and color balance. In comparison, the other options don't accurately relate to the inherent issues presented by long exposure times with color film. For instance, exposure consistency isn't impacted positively in the context of longer exposures; rather, it may become less consistent due to the uneven distribution of light components over an extended period. Similarly, while long exposures can affect image clarity, they generally do not enhance it, and black and white conversion is unrelated, as it doesn't inherently increase with exposure time. Thus, the presence of contrast distortion stands out as the primary concern when dealing with long exposure times in color photography.