|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Canon PowerShot S70 - Bracketing control
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
Using a digital camera to take pictures is great. It's... Read More
Like most folks you have probably have organized and sorted... Read More
Point and click. The new life of digital cameras gives... Read More
If you use a digital camera (I use a Canon... Read More
Have you read the manual that came with your digital... Read More
Using a tripod is essential when taking photos - and... Read More
The digital camera is in reality a great possession with... Read More
Even though Nikon entered the camera world by 1948, today... Read More
Here's the challenge. You have to photograph small items for... Read More
Shopping for a new digital camera can be quite frustrating... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
Quality digital cameras are becoming affordable for just about everyone... Read More
There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making... Read More
Disposable wedding cameras (also called single-use cameras) will never replace... Read More
The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS,... Read More
Looking at the digital camera, a person can visualize it... Read More
There is a wide world of photography. It touches each... Read More
When you're driving through the mountains somewhere, and you... Read More
Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you... Read More
Nature is all around us, and its beauties are unlimited.... Read More
Portrait is defined as, "A likeness of a person, especially... Read More
What Is... Exposure BracketingExposure bracketing is a simple technique professional... Read More
You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the... Read More
Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing... Read More
Let's get something straight right out of the box. If... Read More
Demystifying Digital Camera JargonWant to buy a digital camera but... Read More
A digital SLR camera or a single lens reflex (SLR)... Read More
Digital Imaging is a process where an electronic photograph, scanned... Read More
The world of photography is an amazing one. It's been... Read More
Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand... Read More
Most serious photographers and all professionals use a Single Lens... Read More
Outdoor photographers shoot year round. That includes the hot summer.... Read More
Last month we bought the Canon Powershot A80 online for... Read More
Choosing a digital camera can be a daunting task with... Read More
Dots Per Inch is a useful measure of relative resolution.... Read More
Your first thought when you read "Alligator Farm" might be... Read More
If you use a digital camera (I use a Canon... Read More
Digital SLR Camera or Digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is... Read More
Remember the good old photography days?Film camera in hand, you... Read More
What Is... Exposure BracketingExposure bracketing is a simple technique professional... Read More
The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS,... Read More
When my old Olympus digital camera got broke while caving... Read More
George Eastman, founder of Kodak is world renowned today. Digital... Read More
If you are in the market to purchase a digital... Read More
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
Family vacations, summer weddings and family reunions are in full... Read More
Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More
It doesn't matter if your emailing photos of your grandson... Read More
Some of the best images can be captured during the... Read More
Photography Photography |