Comments on: using the histogram to determine exposure http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/ various writings on photography, whether techniques, ideas, equipment info, or just rants. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:48:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: planet neil - tangents » into hard sunlight http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-1378 planet neil - tangents » into hard sunlight Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:37:11 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-1378 [...] I used the histogram to make sure I don’t lose detail in the highlights, and then I added flash at -0.7 EV [...] [...] I used the histogram to make sure I don’t lose detail in the highlights, and then I added flash at -0.7 EV [...]

]]> By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-1237 Neil Fri, 16 May 2008 04:04:42 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-1237 <blockquote>Hi there Ross and George I shoot in manual exposure mode nearly always, and adjust my exposure on the fly. It comes with practice. But I also make it easier on myself with certain types of shoots, for example outdoor portrait sessions - I position my subjects so that they are in a consistent light. So if the light doesn't vary much, it means I don't have to adjust continuously. I get my settings, and then I shoot. Neil vN.</blockquote>

Hi there Ross and George

I shoot in manual exposure mode nearly always, and adjust my exposure on the fly. It comes with practice.

But I also make it easier on myself with certain types of shoots, for example outdoor portrait sessions - I position my subjects so that they are in a consistent light. So if the light doesn’t vary much, it means I don’t have to adjust continuously. I get my settings, and then I shoot.

Neil vN.

]]> By: Ross http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-775 Ross Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:03:09 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-775 Hi Neil, Great tutorial, helps me a lot with achieving the correct exposure. However I too would be interested in how you use this technique in Candid shots when you are moving around frequently. Ross Hi Neil,

Great tutorial, helps me a lot with achieving the correct exposure. However I too would be interested in how you use this technique in Candid shots when you are moving around frequently.

Ross

]]> By: George http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-634 George Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:59:35 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-634 Hi Neil, Great site, and I like this technique. I see how it can be very useful in controlled settings such as the studio. But, how do you manipulate this fast enough to keep up with the fast pace and ever changing lighting of weddings, especially outdoors? Is there a different technique you use for that? If so, please share. Thank you, George Hi Neil,
Great site, and I like this technique. I see how it can be very useful in controlled settings such as the studio. But, how do you manipulate this fast enough to keep up with the fast pace and ever changing lighting of weddings, especially outdoors? Is there a different technique you use for that? If so, please share.

Thank you,

George

]]> By: Desmond http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-586 Desmond Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:23:28 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-586 Hi Neil , I am also from SA , living in New Zealand now . I want to take control of exposure by going manual and this has been a very useful instruction for me . Cheers , Desmond . Hi Neil , I am also from SA , living in New Zealand now . I want to take control of exposure by going manual and this has been a very useful instruction for me .
Cheers , Desmond .

]]> By: Kafka http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-578 Kafka Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:15:47 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-578 Hi, Thanks again, Neil. I was doing similar things with manual metering mode or by adjusting exposure compensation with aperture priority mode, but your techniques gave me for the first time a clear and practical principle which saved me from my fuzzy method. I am curious now. If I may describe your technique as a "high key" metering, do you use a "low key" metering technique, if there is, when you want black to appear as black as far as possible? How would you adjust by looking at the histogram or that'll always require us to dial the exposure compensation as per experience? Kafka Hi,

Thanks again, Neil.

I was doing similar things with manual metering mode or by adjusting exposure compensation with aperture priority mode, but your techniques gave me for the first time a clear and practical principle which saved me from my fuzzy method.

I am curious now. If I may describe your technique as a “high key” metering, do you use a “low key” metering technique, if there is, when you want black to appear as black as far as possible? How would you adjust by looking at the histogram or that’ll always require us to dial the exposure compensation as per experience?

Kafka

]]> By: Rodolfo Rodriguez http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-188 Rodolfo Rodriguez Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:54:51 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-188 Dear Neil: Congratulations for your blog. 10 over 10 ! With your familly name sure you are from NL or the north of BE. Aren't you ? Smart people from those lovely countries have a very special quality teaching confuse things into untestardable ones. No matter which topic. I am proud to tell you that I lived and work during 3 years in Antwerpen, (Berchem) 35 years ago working by Agfa-Gevaert in Mortsel. Where my main photographic and electronic backgound comes from. Please keep in touch Rodolfo, from Argentina Dear Neil:
Congratulations for your blog. 10 over 10 !

With your familly name sure you are from NL or the north of BE.
Aren’t you ?
Smart people from those lovely countries have a very special quality teaching confuse things into untestardable ones. No matter which topic.
I am proud to tell you that I lived and work during 3 years in Antwerpen, (Berchem) 35 years ago working by Agfa-Gevaert in Mortsel.
Where my main photographic and electronic backgound comes from. Please keep in touch
Rodolfo, from Argentina

]]> By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-52 Neil Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:54:10 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-52 <blockquote>Hi there Mearle. On a histogram, the height of the graph at any point, shows how much info there is. So a spike would show that there is *more* data, not less. I do agree that with a RAW file you'd be quite safe with that exposure because you'd easily pull it into the range where the image looks properly exposed. (btw, I shoot exclusively in RAW.) I have found that using my histogram in this way, I can nail exposure nearly every time. And with RAW I have that leeway should I need it. Neil vN</blockquote>

Hi there Mearle.

On a histogram, the height of the graph at any point, shows how much info there is. So a spike would show that there is *more* data, not less.

I do agree that with a RAW file you’d be quite safe with that exposure because you’d easily pull it into the range where the image looks properly exposed. (btw, I shoot exclusively in RAW.)

I have found that using my histogram in this way, I can nail exposure nearly every time. And with RAW I have that leeway should I need it.

Neil vN

]]> By: Mearle http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-51 Mearle Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:36:13 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-51 Neil, I can see clearly from the Nikon histogram where you have an over exposure, but your pair of examples with the Canon histogram seems strongly affected by the change in position of the bouquet of flowers that reduce the amount in the white wedding dress. Since the less white portion dress is covered, the remaining whites form a spike, not from overexposure, but but from a reduction of white data. I would contend that you still have a properly exposed image on the Canon at 1/100 f5.0, especially if you are shooting in RAW instead of JPEG. Neil, I can see clearly from the Nikon histogram where you have an over exposure, but your pair of examples with the Canon histogram seems strongly affected by the change in position of the bouquet of flowers that reduce the amount in the white wedding dress. Since the less white portion dress is covered, the remaining whites form a spike, not from overexposure, but but from a reduction of white data. I would contend that you still have a properly exposed image on the Canon at 1/100 f5.0, especially if you are shooting in RAW instead of JPEG.

]]> By: Andrea Lane http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-43 Andrea Lane Sat, 04 Aug 2007 07:53:31 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/07/31/using-the-histogram-to-determine-exposure/#comment-43 Thank you for this Neil. Very useful explanation. Thank you for this Neil. Very useful explanation.

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