What does it mean to “expose for the sky”?

What does it mean to “expose for the sky”?

When you expose for the sky, you are adjusting your camera’s shutter speed and aperture settings to make the sky’s color as accurate as possible. This can be done in many ways, but most professionals use only one method. They do the following:

1. Point the camera at the patch of the sky you want perfectly colored.
2. Switch your camera over to manual mode.
3. Pick an aperture that’s suitable for a sunny day (that’s usually F16).
4. Adjust your shutter speed until your camera’s light meter tells you that you’ve got an even and balanced shot.
5. Re-frame the image on the subject you want to shoot.
6. Take the picture.