Histograms& Light Meters HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER

Similar documents
This histogram represents the +½ stop exposure from the bracket illustrated on the first page.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SETTINGS ON YOUR CAMERA!

Understanding Histograms


CAMERA BASICS. Stops of light

!"#$%&'!( The exposure is achieved by the proper combination of light intensity (aperture) and duration of light (shutter speed) entering the camera.!

Understanding and Using Dynamic Range. Eagle River Camera Club October 2, 2014

Dynamic Range. H. David Stein

the RAW FILE CONVERTER EX powered by SILKYPIX

Take Control of Your Camera

Advanced Photography. Topic 3 - Exposure: Flash Photography Tricks

How to correct a contrast rejection. how to understand a histogram. Ver. 1.0 jetphoto.net

Reading The Histogram

L I F E L O N G L E A R N I N G C O L L A B O R AT I V E - FA L L S N A P I X : P H O T O G R A P H Y

High Dynamic Range Photography

Color and More. Color basics

Zone. ystem. Handbook. Part 2 The Zone System in Practice. by Jeff Curto

One Week to Better Photography

FOCUS, EXPOSURE (& METERING) BVCC May 2018

OUTDOOR PORTRAITURE WORKSHOP

Aperture & Shutter Speed Review

Camera Exposure Modes

Photomatix Light 1.0 User Manual

Digital camera modes explained: choose the best shooting mode for your subject

Drive Mode. Details for each of these Drive Mode settings are discussed below.

Produce stunning. Pro photographer Chris Humphreys guides you through HDR and how to create captivating natural-looking images

Aperture & Shutter Speed Review

Photography Basics. Exposure

Elements of Exposure

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography in Photoshop CS2

METERING FOR A BETTER PHOTOGRAPH

Photography Help Sheets

Aperture. The lens opening that allows more, or less light onto the sensor formed by a diaphragm inside the actual lens.

by Don Dement DPCA 3 Dec 2012

Aperture & Shutter Speed. Review

1. This paper contains 45 multiple-choice-questions (MCQ) in 6 pages. 2. All questions carry equal marks. 3. You can take 1 hour for answering.

The Blackbody s Black Body

These aren t just cameras

Movie 3. Basic Camera Raw workflow

Introduction to 2-D Copy Work

A Short History of Using Cameras for Weld Monitoring

BLACK CAT PHOTOGRAPHIC RULES-OF- THUMB

THE CAMERA EYE CAMERA

CHAPTER 7 - HISTOGRAMS

Recovering highlight detail in over exposed NEF images

Topaz Labs DeNoise 3 Review By Dennis Goulet. The Problem

TABLETOP WORKSHOP. Janet Steyer

Chapter 11-Shooting Action

E-420. Exceptional ease of use. 100% D-SLR quality. 10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor Shadow Adjustment Technology

Flash photography basics. Timothy Swinson

E-420. Exceptional ease of use. 100% D-SLR quality. 10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor Shadow Adjustment Technology

MULTIPLE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

DUALMASTER L-558/L-558. Operating Manual

Understanding Your Camera 2: UUU200

Digital Photography: Fundamentals of Light, Color, & Exposure Part II Michael J. Glagola - December 9, 2006

Film exposure speaks to the amount of light that strikes the film when you press the shutter button to make a picture. Correct exposure depends on

RT-EL/PX. Transmitter. Operating Manual

Exposure. Fundamentals. for. Film and Digital

Luma User s Guide. Mosaic Imaging 873 Great Road P.O. Box 299 Stow, MA

New Features Guide. Version 3.00

Using Curves and Histograms

1 (7) Raw Developer Review. Raw Developer Review. Blue Door & Window frame, Barrio Historico. Alain Briot

E-520. Built-in image stabiliser for all lenses. Comfortable Live View thanks to high speed contrast AF** 100% D-SLR quality

OVERVIEW WHERE TO FIND THE SETTINGS. CION Technical Notes #1 Exposure Index, Gamma and In-Camera Color Correction Comparison

Realistic HDR Histograms Camera Raw

Figure 1 HDR image fusion example

It all started with the CASIO QV- 1 0.

Photoshop Elements 3 Brightness and Contrast

Raymond Klass Photography Newsletter

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER (CPP) TEST SPECIFICATIONS CAMERA, LENSES AND ATTACHMENTS (12%)

Color Correction and Enhancement

A Beginner s Guide To Exposure

Lesson 1 Course Notes

New Features Guide. Version 2.00

FiLMiCPro v6 Quick Start Guide

High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a combination of a specialized image capture technique and image processing.

Introduction to camera usage. The universal manual controls of most cameras

3 Exposure Techniques for Beginners By Gary Tindale

Basic Camera Craft. Roy Killen, GMAPS, EFIAP, MPSA. (c) 2016 Roy Killen Basic Camera Craft, Page 1

Suggested FL-36/50 Flash Setups By English Bob

Levels. What is a levels histogram? "Good" and "bad" histograms. Levels

Gossen Luna-star F

Photographing the Night Sky

PHOTOTUTOR.com.au Share the Knowledge

Using Auto FP High-Speed Sync to Illuminate Fast Sports Action

The Classroom Collection. H i s t o g r a m

OTHER RECORDING FUNCTIONS

A Basic Guide to Photoshop CS Adjustment Layers

Improving digital images with the GNU Image Manipulation Program PHOTO FIX

Advanced Masking Tutorial

Fujichrome 100/1000. Professional Slide Film. Speeds from El , with great image quality

Name Digital Imaging I Chapters 9 12 Review Material

Focusing and Metering

By Mark Schutzer Coast Division Meet June 2013 Copies of this presentation can be found at

The Pro Masterpiece with world's fastest AF* and built-in IS.

By Mark Schutzer PCR Regional Convention, Fremont, CA April 2009 Copies of this presentation can be found at

When you first open the dialog box you only see two sliders.

capture outside Capture Your Holidays with Katrina Kennedy It s cold outside! I m sitting At the end of this lesson you will be able to:

TENT APPLICATION GUIDE

Camera Raw software is included as a plug-in with Adobe Photoshop and also adds some functions to Adobe Bridge.

Transcription:

Histograms& Light Meters HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER

WHAT IS A HISTOGRAM? Frequency* 0 Darker to Lighter Steps 255 Shadow Midtones Highlights Figure 1 Anatomy of a Photographic Histogram *Frequency indicates the number of each tonality occurrence A histogram is a bar graph that was originally created for statistical analysis. As digital photography was developed, designers incorporated them into cameras to provide a graphic representation of the digitally recorded image. However, even today their function is not fully understood and the information they provide is often incorrectly used. As shown in Figure 1 above, your digital camera creates a histogram that describes the tonal range of each scene you capture. The camera s processor locates each picture element (pixel) on this horizontal scale according to its relative brightness from 0 (Black) to 255 (White). Pixels of equal brightness are stacked vertically one upon another to create lines of varying heights. The result is a graph of very fine vertical lines which can appear as a smooth curve, a series of jagged lines or a combination of both. A histogram cannot tell you about lighting ratios, the best flash-ambient mix, or if the subject is properly exposed. That is why using a light meter, along with your camera s histogram is the best way to assure optimum results that can be easily reproduced. Digging deeper into histograms It is not always easy to make sense of a histogram showing the full tonality a of scene, so we have created the graphic examples below to help simplify the process. In Figures 2-6, the tonal steps are arranged starting with no midtones, simply black and white. Each successive figure adds midtone steps. The steps in each Figure are of equal size and shape. The resulting histograms clearly show each tone as an equal height line that is uniformly distributed across the horizontal scale. As figure 6 illustrates, even when the number of steps is increased to a degree where the impression is a continuous gradation, the resulting histogram appears smoother but can still show all the discreet tones. Figure 2 Black No Midtones White Figure 3 Black Two Midtones White Figure 4 Black More Midtones White Photography would be much easier if histograms had instantly recognizable good shapes and bad shapes and if there were ideal shapes that guaranteed perfect results. The truth is, they are just graphs. All of the histograms in this brochure accurately describe the pictures located near them. Their shapes are all very different because the tonal distribution of the image they represent is also very different. At best, a histogram is a guide, it is up to you to determine how to use it. Figure 5 Black Lots of Tones White Figure 6 Black Continuous Tones White A histogram is a great way to judge if the brightness range of a scene will fit within the dynamic range of your camera. That is, if it fits within the confines of the left and right sides, you will most likely have an easily printable image. However, if the shape of the histogram is pushed up against either side, you have to understand the difference between a normally exposed, high-key or low-key image, and the possibility of losing a highlight or shadow detail in the scene you are trying to record. Histograms are not typically helpful in determining the exact exposure of the subject, the effect of lighting on the subject, or variations in light mixtures. And as histograms appear in a small window on the back of your digital camera, a quick glance is often not enough to make a quality determination.

CHALLENGE! Can you match each image to its Histogram? Trying to judge an image only based upon its histogram is like trying to tell what someone looks like based upon their fingerprint. Like a pilot s instruments, a photographer s light meter is the key to gaining valuable information about a scene s tonal values and hues before it is captured. ANSWERS ON BOTTOM 1) a) 2) b) 3) c) 4) d) ANSWERS 1d 2c 3b 4a

Push/Pull Processing? Histograms and Light Meters - 4 ways they compare... Although everyone has their own preferences and shooting styles, photographic imaging can be optimized by understanding what a light meter and histogram can show you in the four scenarios presented here. Virtually every common shooting situation is represented, and each example shows proper exposure as determined by a light meter while including an interpretation of the accompanying histogram. (1) Avoid subject failure and expose for proper High Key and Low Key scenes The most common problem of built-in camera meters is subject failure. It caused the exposure system to try and average the reflected value of the tones of these two scenes, Figures 7-8. The left halves show the results of accepting the camera meter settings would have been underexposure (trying to make the white plate middle gray), and overexposure (trying to make the black plate middle gray). Proper exposure (right halves) was achieved using a handheld incident meter which measured the light falling on the subjects and determined that both subjects required the identical exposure. The histograms, while inadequate for determining proper exposure, show the bias in tonal distribution and give a good indication of how High Key and Low Key subjects will reproduce. Even with the best TTL systems, proper rendering of flash and ambient exposure can be unpredictable especially when subjects are not average and backgrounds are bright or non-reflective. A handheld meter ensures accuracy by separately measuring both kinds of lighting. Histograms do provide an interesting view of the distribution of tones, and indicate difference in the effective contrast of the lighting. However, there is very little useful information about how the ambient and flash relate to each other in terms of brightness (ratio) or optimum, combined exposure. Figure 7a Figure 7b Figure 7a High Key (Camera) Figure 7b High Key (Inc. Meter) Figure 8a Figure 8b Figure 8a Low Key (Camera) Figure 8b Low Key (Inc. Meter) When working with more than one light, a meter is essential to evaluate and compare each light source to determine both proper exposure and the effect that each light will have on all parts of the scene, Figures 10-15. Figure 16 Ambient Only Figure 17 Flash Only Figure 18 Ambient & Flash 1:1 Ratio Fig 29 In-Camera Meter Exposure under exposed Photograhers who learned their craft by underexposing slide film to pump up the saturation should pay attention to Figures 19-23 which show only subtle changes in the histogram when compared to the metered f/stop value and resulting image. Underexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram, ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Photographers who learned on negative film, routinely overexposed and let the lab compensate should pay attention to Figures 23-27 which show only subtle changes compared to the metered f/stop value and images. Overexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Figure 11 1:2 Ratio Figure 12 Most camera manufacturers only give you an approximate representation of the subject histogram, Figure 35, because they realize the viewing window is too small to provide accurate detail. Although there are some exceptions to this, Figure 36. Cameras that offer more data are more expensive and/or are designed for the slower paced studio environment where there is time to analyze and reanalyze both lighting and exposure. In the end, the way you record your vision of a scene or subject is all about how you interpret and/or control the light falling on it, the combination of photographic techniques you use to capture it, and the care you use in exposing the image. Fig 30 Digitally Pushed Correction Fig 31 Handheld Meter Exposure Fig 32 No Compensation Required properly exposed Fig 33 In today s digital age, the technology involved in photography is much more advanced. However, professional-quality results still require the best techniques and tools. Figure 19 f/22 Figure 20 f/19 Figure 21 f/16 Digital capture has a dynamic range and latitude roughly comparable to transparency film. If you ve built the skill to work within these limits, you re off to a good start. But if you re accustomed to the wider latitude (extra margin of exposure error) that color negative film affords, it s time to change your thinking. It may seem that any miracle can be made to happen in the digital darkroom, but correcting a bad exposure has its limits. What may first look like a simple brightness correction can result in a loss of image detail that cannot be fixed. Figure 22 1:3 Ratio Yes! While histograms provide a convenient way to see how an entire scene will be reproduced (or not), they really don t tell the whole story. They can show the tonal range of a scene but interpreting the effects of controlled lighting can be difficult or impossible. And they don t provide information in camera terms (i.e. f/stops) that s the job of a light meter. Figures 34-36. A handheld light meter enables you to see light more completely, and make the types of decisions that will make you a better photographer. These photographic results show how even a half-stop variation in exposure can cause a rapid blocking of tonal information. Histograms show this in a much more subtle way but it is difficult to impossible to see them on the average D-SLR panel. And as there is no detailed horizontal scale (even in most software, Figure 28), it s hard to visualize and gauge that the error in each exposure here equals a half stop. So there s almost no chance you ll be able to use a histogram to fine tune settings to get within the ideal one tenth of an f/stop. Figure 10 (4) Avoid under and over exposure (2) Controlling multiple light sources, setting ratios and adjusting tonal range The histogram is useful to gain an understanding of how the overall tonal range will reproduce and to alert when extreme contrasts (pixel blocking on right or left sides) could cause a loss of image detail. However, as it is very difficult to interpret the visual effect by observing the respective curves, the histogram is not a suitable guide for positioning and controlling the power of each light source - especially when making small 1/10th f/stop adjustments. Film and Pixel Quality Still Suffers (3) Balance ambient and flash on location Do You Need a Light Meter? f/13 Figure 23 f/11 *NORMAL* Figure 24 f/9.5 In Figure 29, the exposure was calculated by the camera s built-in system. It observed the excessive amount of light reflected off chrome and white background and calculated an exposure to maintain detail in these areas. Averaging in the greater brightness caused underexposure of the overall image (subject failure). Figure 30 shows the result after it was fixed in the computer. For Figure 31, the L-758DR was used in incident mode to determine proper exposure. The result (Figure 32) looks great without any computer manipulation. At these small print sizes, the image quality of both Figures 30 and 32 might seem equally acceptable. However when enlarged and inspected (Figure 33), it s clear that the quality of the fixed image is of much lower. By push processing the image in post-production, the software stretched the limited information and could not fill in or fake the missing data. This literally caused gaps in the range of tones as shown in the histogram. Of course higher-end digital cameras and digital backs will yield better results with some variations in proper exposure. And multiple- exposure techniques as well as RAW capture will allow one to effectively extend exposure latitude of the image. However, once again these techniques will add additional computer processing time and require a good knowledge of post-production software techniques. Figure 34 Figure 35 Typical Digital Camera Histogram Now, remember why you first started taking pictures. What are the keys that will get you more time shooting? Figure 13 1:4 Ratio Figure 14 1:5 Ratio Figure 15 1:6 Ratio Figure 28 Raw Processing Window Figure 25 f/8 Figure 26 f/6.7 Figure 27 f/5.6 A histogram and a light meter. Figure 36 High End Digital Camera Histogram (Spot Reading Only Available with Proprietary Software

Push/Pull Processing? Histograms and Light Meters - 4 ways they compare... Although everyone has their own preferences and shooting styles, photographic imaging can be optimized by understanding what a light meter and histogram can show you in the four scenarios presented here. Virtually every common shooting situation is represented, and each example shows proper exposure as determined by a light meter while including an interpretation of the accompanying histogram. (1) Avoid subject failure and expose for proper High Key and Low Key scenes The most common problem of built-in camera meters is subject failure. It caused the exposure system to try and average the reflected value of the tones of these two scenes, Figures 7-8. The left halves show the results of accepting the camera meter settings would have been underexposure (trying to make the white plate middle gray), and overexposure (trying to make the black plate middle gray). Proper exposure (right halves) was achieved using a handheld incident meter which measured the light falling on the subjects and determined that both subjects required the identical exposure. The histograms, while inadequate for determining proper exposure, show the bias in tonal distribution and give a good indication of how High Key and Low Key subjects will reproduce. Even with the best TTL systems, proper rendering of flash and ambient exposure can be unpredictable especially when subjects are not average and backgrounds are bright or non-reflective. A handheld meter ensures accuracy by separately measuring both kinds of lighting. Histograms do provide an interesting view of the distribution of tones, and indicate difference in the effective contrast of the lighting. However, there is very little useful information about how the ambient and flash relate to each other in terms of brightness (ratio) or optimum, combined exposure. Figure 7a Figure 7b Figure 7a High Key (Camera) Figure 7b High Key (Inc. Meter) Figure 8a Figure 8b Figure 8a Low Key (Camera) Figure 8b Low Key (Inc. Meter) When working with more than one light, a meter is essential to evaluate and compare each light source to determine both proper exposure and the effect that each light will have on all parts of the scene, Figures 10-15. Figure 16 Ambient Only Figure 17 Flash Only Figure 18 Ambient & Flash 1:1 Ratio Fig 29 In-Camera Meter Exposure under exposed Photograhers who learned their craft by underexposing slide film to pump up the saturation should pay attention to Figures 19-23 which show only subtle changes in the histogram when compared to the metered f/stop value and resulting image. Underexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram, ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Photographers who learned on negative film, routinely overexposed and let the lab compensate should pay attention to Figures 23-27 which show only subtle changes compared to the metered f/stop value and images. Overexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Figure 11 1:2 Ratio Figure 12 Most camera manufacturers only give you an approximate representation of the subject histogram, Figure 35, because they realize the viewing window is too small to provide accurate detail. Although there are some exceptions to this, Figure 36. Cameras that offer more data are more expensive and/or are designed for the slower paced studio environment where there is time to analyze and reanalyze both lighting and exposure. In the end, the way you record your vision of a scene or subject is all about how you interpret and/or control the light falling on it, the combination of photographic techniques you use to capture it, and the care you use in exposing the image. Fig 30 Digitally Pushed Correction Fig 31 Handheld Meter Exposure Fig 32 No Compensation Required properly exposed Fig 33 In today s digital age, the technology involved in photography is much more advanced. However, professional-quality results still require the best techniques and tools. Figure 19 f/22 Figure 20 f/19 Figure 21 f/16 Digital capture has a dynamic range and latitude roughly comparable to transparency film. If you ve built the skill to work within these limits, you re off to a good start. But if you re accustomed to the wider latitude (extra margin of exposure error) that color negative film affords, it s time to change your thinking. It may seem that any miracle can be made to happen in the digital darkroom, but correcting a bad exposure has its limits. What may first look like a simple brightness correction can result in a loss of image detail that cannot be fixed. Figure 22 1:3 Ratio Yes! While histograms provide a convenient way to see how an entire scene will be reproduced (or not), they really don t tell the whole story. They can show the tonal range of a scene but interpreting the effects of controlled lighting can be difficult or impossible. And they don t provide information in camera terms (i.e. f/stops) that s the job of a light meter. Figures 34-36. A handheld light meter enables you to see light more completely, and make the types of decisions that will make you a better photographer. These photographic results show how even a half-stop variation in exposure can cause a rapid blocking of tonal information. Histograms show this in a much more subtle way but it is difficult to impossible to see them on the average D-SLR panel. And as there is no detailed horizontal scale (even in most software, Figure 28), it s hard to visualize and gauge that the error in each exposure here equals a half stop. So there s almost no chance you ll be able to use a histogram to fine tune settings to get within the ideal one tenth of an f/stop. Figure 10 (4) Avoid under and over exposure (2) Controlling multiple light sources, setting ratios and adjusting tonal range The histogram is useful to gain an understanding of how the overall tonal range will reproduce and to alert when extreme contrasts (pixel blocking on right or left sides) could cause a loss of image detail. However, as it is very difficult to interpret the visual effect by observing the respective curves, the histogram is not a suitable guide for positioning and controlling the power of each light source - especially when making small 1/10th f/stop adjustments. Film and Pixel Quality Still Suffers (3) Balance ambient and flash on location Do You Need a Light Meter? f/13 Figure 23 f/11 *NORMAL* Figure 24 f/9.5 In Figure 29, the exposure was calculated by the camera s built-in system. It observed the excessive amount of light reflected off chrome and white background and calculated an exposure to maintain detail in these areas. Averaging in the greater brightness caused underexposure of the overall image (subject failure). Figure 30 shows the result after it was fixed in the computer. For Figure 31, the L-758DR was used in incident mode to determine proper exposure. The result (Figure 32) looks great without any computer manipulation. At these small print sizes, the image quality of both Figures 30 and 32 might seem equally acceptable. However when enlarged and inspected (Figure 33), it s clear that the quality of the fixed image is of much lower. By push processing the image in post-production, the software stretched the limited information and could not fill in or fake the missing data. This literally caused gaps in the range of tones as shown in the histogram. Of course higher-end digital cameras and digital backs will yield better results with some variations in proper exposure. And multiple- exposure techniques as well as RAW capture will allow one to effectively extend exposure latitude of the image. However, once again these techniques will add additional computer processing time and require a good knowledge of post-production software techniques. Figure 34 Figure 35 Typical Digital Camera Histogram Now, remember why you first started taking pictures. What are the keys that will get you more time shooting? Figure 13 1:4 Ratio Figure 14 1:5 Ratio Figure 15 1:6 Ratio Figure 28 Raw Processing Window Figure 25 f/8 Figure 26 f/6.7 Figure 27 f/5.6 A histogram and a light meter. Figure 36 High End Digital Camera Histogram (Spot Reading Only Available with Proprietary Software

Push/Pull Processing? Histograms and Light Meters - 4 ways they compare... Although everyone has their own preferences and shooting styles, photographic imaging can be optimized by understanding what a light meter and histogram can show you in the four scenarios presented here. Virtually every common shooting situation is represented, and each example shows proper exposure as determined by a light meter while including an interpretation of the accompanying histogram. (1) Avoid subject failure and expose for proper High Key and Low Key scenes The most common problem of built-in camera meters is subject failure. It caused the exposure system to try and average the reflected value of the tones of these two scenes, Figures 7-8. The left halves show the results of accepting the camera meter settings would have been underexposure (trying to make the white plate middle gray), and overexposure (trying to make the black plate middle gray). Proper exposure (right halves) was achieved using a handheld incident meter which measured the light falling on the subjects and determined that both subjects required the identical exposure. The histograms, while inadequate for determining proper exposure, show the bias in tonal distribution and give a good indication of how High Key and Low Key subjects will reproduce. Even with the best TTL systems, proper rendering of flash and ambient exposure can be unpredictable especially when subjects are not average and backgrounds are bright or non-reflective. A handheld meter ensures accuracy by separately measuring both kinds of lighting. Histograms do provide an interesting view of the distribution of tones, and indicate difference in the effective contrast of the lighting. However, there is very little useful information about how the ambient and flash relate to each other in terms of brightness (ratio) or optimum, combined exposure. Figure 7a Figure 7b Figure 7a High Key (Camera) Figure 7b High Key (Inc. Meter) Figure 8a Figure 8b Figure 8a Low Key (Camera) Figure 8b Low Key (Inc. Meter) When working with more than one light, a meter is essential to evaluate and compare each light source to determine both proper exposure and the effect that each light will have on all parts of the scene, Figures 10-15. Figure 16 Ambient Only Figure 17 Flash Only Figure 18 Ambient & Flash 1:1 Ratio Fig 29 In-Camera Meter Exposure under exposed Photograhers who learned their craft by underexposing slide film to pump up the saturation should pay attention to Figures 19-23 which show only subtle changes in the histogram when compared to the metered f/stop value and resulting image. Underexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram, ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Photographers who learned on negative film, routinely overexposed and let the lab compensate should pay attention to Figures 23-27 which show only subtle changes compared to the metered f/stop value and images. Overexposure equals image loss. Relying on a handheld meter, instead of the histogram ensures accurate, repeatable exposures. Figure 11 1:2 Ratio Figure 12 Most camera manufacturers only give you an approximate representation of the subject histogram, Figure 35, because they realize the viewing window is too small to provide accurate detail. Although there are some exceptions to this, Figure 36. Cameras that offer more data are more expensive and/or are designed for the slower paced studio environment where there is time to analyze and reanalyze both lighting and exposure. In the end, the way you record your vision of a scene or subject is all about how you interpret and/or control the light falling on it, the combination of photographic techniques you use to capture it, and the care you use in exposing the image. Fig 30 Digitally Pushed Correction Fig 31 Handheld Meter Exposure Fig 32 No Compensation Required properly exposed Fig 33 In today s digital age, the technology involved in photography is much more advanced. However, professional-quality results still require the best techniques and tools. Figure 19 f/22 Figure 20 f/19 Figure 21 f/16 Digital capture has a dynamic range and latitude roughly comparable to transparency film. If you ve built the skill to work within these limits, you re off to a good start. But if you re accustomed to the wider latitude (extra margin of exposure error) that color negative film affords, it s time to change your thinking. It may seem that any miracle can be made to happen in the digital darkroom, but correcting a bad exposure has its limits. What may first look like a simple brightness correction can result in a loss of image detail that cannot be fixed. Figure 22 1:3 Ratio Yes! While histograms provide a convenient way to see how an entire scene will be reproduced (or not), they really don t tell the whole story. They can show the tonal range of a scene but interpreting the effects of controlled lighting can be difficult or impossible. And they don t provide information in camera terms (i.e. f/stops) that s the job of a light meter. Figures 34-36. A handheld light meter enables you to see light more completely, and make the types of decisions that will make you a better photographer. These photographic results show how even a half-stop variation in exposure can cause a rapid blocking of tonal information. Histograms show this in a much more subtle way but it is difficult to impossible to see them on the average D-SLR panel. And as there is no detailed horizontal scale (even in most software, Figure 28), it s hard to visualize and gauge that the error in each exposure here equals a half stop. So there s almost no chance you ll be able to use a histogram to fine tune settings to get within the ideal one tenth of an f/stop. Figure 10 (4) Avoid under and over exposure (2) Controlling multiple light sources, setting ratios and adjusting tonal range The histogram is useful to gain an understanding of how the overall tonal range will reproduce and to alert when extreme contrasts (pixel blocking on right or left sides) could cause a loss of image detail. However, as it is very difficult to interpret the visual effect by observing the respective curves, the histogram is not a suitable guide for positioning and controlling the power of each light source - especially when making small 1/10th f/stop adjustments. Film and Pixel Quality Still Suffers (3) Balance ambient and flash on location Do You Need a Light Meter? f/13 Figure 23 f/11 *NORMAL* Figure 24 f/9.5 In Figure 29, the exposure was calculated by the camera s built-in system. It observed the excessive amount of light reflected off chrome and white background and calculated an exposure to maintain detail in these areas. Averaging in the greater brightness caused underexposure of the overall image (subject failure). Figure 30 shows the result after it was fixed in the computer. For Figure 31, the L-758DR was used in incident mode to determine proper exposure. The result (Figure 32) looks great without any computer manipulation. At these small print sizes, the image quality of both Figures 30 and 32 might seem equally acceptable. However when enlarged and inspected (Figure 33), it s clear that the quality of the fixed image is of much lower. By push processing the image in post-production, the software stretched the limited information and could not fill in or fake the missing data. This literally caused gaps in the range of tones as shown in the histogram. Of course higher-end digital cameras and digital backs will yield better results with some variations in proper exposure. And multiple- exposure techniques as well as RAW capture will allow one to effectively extend exposure latitude of the image. However, once again these techniques will add additional computer processing time and require a good knowledge of post-production software techniques. Figure 34 Figure 35 Typical Digital Camera Histogram Now, remember why you first started taking pictures. What are the keys that will get you more time shooting? Figure 13 1:4 Ratio Figure 14 1:5 Ratio Figure 15 1:6 Ratio Figure 28 Raw Processing Window Figure 25 f/8 Figure 26 f/6.7 Figure 27 f/5.6 A histogram and a light meter. Figure 36 High End Digital Camera Histogram (Spot Reading Only Available with Proprietary Software

Sekonic L-758DR Sekonic L-358 Features: w Exposure Profile Programing w Store and Recall up to 3 exposure profiles w Store, recall and display preset Dynamic range w Pre-exposure latitude warning w 1 spot that measures reflected flash output down to an amazing f/2.0 (ISO 100) w Analyzing Function for simultaneous reading of flash and ambient light w Selectable full, 1/2 or 1/3 stop settings w Retractable and Rotating Lumisphere w Built-in Radio Transmitter for simultaneously triggering and measure flash exposures wireless. w Selective Quad-Triggering control buttons for quick selection of which flash unit to trigger and measure. w Illuminated 1 degree LCD viewfinder. The only meter that sees eye to eye with digital Features: w Analyzing Function for simultaneous reading of flash and ambient light w Optional Plug-in radio transmitter module to simultaneously trigger and measure the flash exposure wirelessly w Compatible with all PocketWizards w Selectable full, 1/2 or 1/3 stop settings w Retractable-Removable-Rotating Lumisphere w Optional 1, 5 and 10 Spot Attachments. The world s most affordable light meter with PocketWizard Wireless Freedom. What is PocketWizard Wireless Freedom? It is a system of professional photographic products which incorporate a compatible digital wireless radio system, eliminating the need for PC sync and shutter release cables. Electronic Flash Select which flash unit you want to trigger (using Quad-Triggering mode) and measure the light without wires. Camera & Flash Trigger your flash and camera simultaneously without wires and measure the light output from your Sekonic meter. Norman A, D & ML Series Norman offers PocketWizard Radio Receiver technology inside their power pack units and monolights. Both can be triggered and measured with a Sekonic radio triggering light meter. PocketWizard The perfect companion to Sekonic radio triggering meters. PocketWizards trigger your flash, cameras or both without wires from the palm of your hand or when attached to your camera. Profoto Profoto Acute2R, Acute 600B D4 and ProB2 with built-in radio receiver accepts digital radio triggering signals from the Sekonic transmitter module without wires. Dyna-Lite Wi Series The Wi series incorporates PocketWizard Receiver technology inside. It accepts the radio triggering signals from a Sekonic radio-ready light meter wirelessly. #401-956 K12-06-10 SEKONIC w 8 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523 w Phone: 914-347-3300 w Fax: 914-347-3309 w E-mail: info@sekonic.com w www.sekonic.com