The camera's automatic metering system is based on 18% gray. Whether the scene is black or white, the camera's metering system exposes the scene so that it appears 18% gray on the negative. Most of the time, this gives an accurate exposure. But not when shooting large areas of light-colored scenery and dark-colored scenery.

Shooting large areas of white requires an increase in exposure of 1-2 stops through exposure compensation.

When photographing large areas of black, you need to reduce the exposure by 1-2 stops with exposure compensation.