How does film exposure work?

Okay, so you want me to jazz up this explanation of film exposure, huh? Make it sound less like a textbook and more like… me just chatting about it? I can totally do that! Here’s my take:

“So, film exposure… Where do I even begin? It’s kind of magical, don’t you think? Basically, it’s all about how much light you let hit the film. Think of it like giving the film a little kiss of light.

Too little light? Ugh, you end up with a super dark, muddy picture. Total bummer, right? It’s like trying to see something in a pitch-black room. You can kinda make things out, but it’s mostly just guesswork.

And too much light? Well, that’s just as bad! Everything’s totally washed out, blown out – a bright, white nothingness! It’s like staring directly at the sun. Remember that time I accidentally left my lens cap off in bright sunlight? Ruined the whole roll! (Don’t ask…).

But here’s the thing, and this is where the magic really happens: when you get the exposure just right? That’s when you capture something incredible. It’s this perfect balance, a delicate dance between shutter speed, aperture, and how bright the scene actually is. It’s like… catching a fleeting moment, a whisper of time, and holding onto it forever.

Honestly, it’s a thrill! It can be frustrating at times, absolutely! But the feeling of seeing those perfectly exposed negatives come out of the developing tank? Nothing beats it. Absolutely nothing.”