What effect can exposure compensation have on photographs?

The ability to adjust exposure compensation allows photographers to modify the exposure level of their images relative to the camera's automatic settings. This adjustment effectively changes the brightness of the photograph according to the photographer's preferences, enabling them to either brighten or darken the image to achieve the desired visual effect.

For instance, if a scene is predominantly bright, the camera may underexpose the photo to compensate for the light, resulting in a darker image than intended. Using exposure compensation, a photographer can increase the brightness to better depict the scene as they envision it. Conversely, in cases where there is too much light, such as bright sunlight, reducing exposure compensation can help prevent overexposure and preserve detail in the highlights.

The other options do not accurately describe the role of exposure compensation. Turning black and white images to color is beyond the scope of exposure adjustments and involves entirely different processes related to colorization. Enhancing color saturation specifically pertains to vibrancy rather than brightness adjustments. Lastly, eliminating motion blur is primarily addressed through shutter speed rather than exposure compensation, which is focused on controlling light levels.