Exposure compensation is a camera feature that allows photographers to manually adjust the exposure determined by the camera's automatic metering system. Using a dedicated dial or buttons, the photographer can override the camera's suggested exposure, typically within a range of ±2 stops, to correct for situations where the metering system might be "fooled" by tricky lighting conditions, such as backlit subjects or scenes with high contrast. This adjustment ensures that highlights are preserved, shadows retain detail, or the overall brightness matches the photographer's creative intent.
Exposure compensation is also useful when pushing or pulling film during development, as it allows for intentional modification of contrast and tonal range. By understanding and using this feature, photographers gain greater creative control over their images, achieving more accurate and visually appealing results in both film and digital photography.