What Is... Exposure Bracketing
Exposure bracketing is a simple technique professional photographers use to ensure they properly expose their pictures, especially in challenging lighting situations.
When you expose for a scene, your camera's light meter will select an aperture / shutter speed combination that it believes will give a properly exposed picture.
Exposure bracketing means that you take two more pictures: one slightly under-exposed (usually by dialing in a negative exposure compensation, say -1/3EV), and the second one slightly over-exposed (usually by dialing in a positive exposure compensation, say +1/3EV), again according to your camera's light meter.
The reason you do this is because the camera might have been 'deceived' by the light (too much or too little) available and your main subject may be over- or under-exposed. By taking these three shots, you are making sure that if this were ever the case, then you would have properly compensated for it.
As an example, say you are taking a scene where there is an abundance of light around your main subject (for example, at the beach on a sunny day, or surrounded by snow). In this case, using Weighted-Average metering, your camera might be 'deceived' by the abundance of light and expose for it by closing down the aperture and/or using a faster shuter speed (assuming ISO is constant), with the result that the main subject might be under-exposed. By taking an extra shot at a slight over-exposure, you would in fact be over-exposing the surroundings, but properly exposing the main subject.
Another example would be the case where the surrounding might be too dark, and the camera exposes for the lack of light by either opening up the aperture and/or using a slower shutter speed (assuming ISO is constant), then the main subject might be over-exposed. By taking an extra shot at a slight under-exposure, you would in fact be under-exposing the surroundings, but properly exposing the main subject.
Now, most digital cameras have auto exposure bracketing, meaning that if you select that option before taking your shot, the camera will automatically take three shots for you: one which it thinks it has perfectly exposed; a second one sightly under-exposed; and the third one slightly over-exposed.
When should you use exposure bracketing? Anytime you feel the scene is a challenging one (too much highlights or shadows) as far as lighting is concerned, e.g. sunsets are usually better taken slightly under-exposed so use exposure bracketing there, or whenever you want to be sure you don't improperly expose a fabulous shot.
Remember, you are not using film anymore, so there are really no wasted shots (unless you are severely constrained by the size of your storage media).
Digital Dodging & Burning
Should you delete the extra shots right away? No, if storage permits, keep all three shots until you get home and upload them to your PC and into an image editing software, such as Photoshop. By using the layers functionality of Photoshop (or similar functionality of another image editing software), you can load all three shots into different layers and then carefully erase the under-exposed or over-exposed part of one or more layers to end up with a final shot where both the main subject and the surroundings are properly exposed!
This Photoshop functionality allows you to shoot in very extreme lighting situations where there are many parts in different intensity of light and shadows such that you are losing details in the highlights and shadows. In this case, you might need more than two extra shots to obtain details in the different parts. Without moving the camera (a tripod is essential here), take as many shots as you need, exposing for the different parts you want details to be visible. Then you would load them all up into Photoshop, each into its own layer, and by erasing the under- and over-exposed parts in each layer (granted, this equivalent of film 'dodging' and 'burning' can be a very tedious and challenging task in itself, but done properly it can be well worth the effort), you can end up with an 'impossible' shot where every part of the cave is properly exposed.
Used judiciously, exposure bracketing is a simple technique that can ensure proper exposure of a difficult lighting situation. Make sure you get a camera with good manual bracketing control
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOrdinary photos of dull subjects do actually sell, but the... Read More
Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
As you might imagine the paradigm shift from traditional film-based... Read More
If you use a digital camera (I use a Canon... Read More
1. Myth: Digital photos are pixilated or fuzzy. Reality: most... Read More
The digital camera is not meant only for capturing images... Read More
Looking at the most intricate details of the digital camera... Read More
Nude photography is the genre of art photography, whose subject... Read More
As it is a fact that digital cameras are comprised... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
Too many people have the idea that being paid to... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
Your lens is an essential element to good photographs. It's... Read More
Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to use. If you... Read More
Why is a 3 megapixel camera better than a 1... Read More
Fuji digital cameras entered the market in the late 90's.... Read More
When I promised readers that I was going to do... Read More
Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from... Read More
What have you done with the photos you've taken with... Read More
Here's the challenge. You have to photograph small items for... Read More
The business of stock photography has drastically changed over the... Read More
One of the main reasons people buy digital cameras is... Read More
In a traditional camera, the lens was king. If the... Read More
So, you have taken lots of pictures with your new... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..Good wildlife safari photography is not only about composition and... Read More
It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence,... Read More
The digital camera is but a technological advancement of the... Read More
Choosing the right digital camera for general use can be... Read More
A digital SLR camera or a single lens reflex (SLR)... Read More
Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and... Read More
It was widely reported in the press (15 September 1997)... Read More
Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of... Read More
The warm feelings are flowing all around when the pet... Read More
As it is a fact that digital cameras are comprised... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
While analyzing any camera, one of the most important qualities... Read More
Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under... Read More
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
Gone are the days when you would need to employ... Read More
The digital camera is not something of a magic box... Read More
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
Digital cameras are available in several price ranges today. They... Read More
These parameters are discussed at 2 levels: -Based on... Read More
About Personalized Photo Calendars:Photo Calendars are 12-month, wall-hanging calendars that... Read More
I've been practising wildlife photography on safari for over twenty... Read More
With such a fantastic device as the digital camera for... Read More
Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the... Read More
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
Photography |