Use of Live Histogram to Photograph: I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use...

Boardmanrd55

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?

I would say it is more representative of the Zone System.

Boardmanrd55

I'm not familiar with the zone system? But there is a lot about photography that I have little to no knowledge. Can you give a brief description? Thanks!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I'm not familiar with the zone system? But there is a lot about photography that I have little to no knowledge. Can you give a brief description? Thanks!

That's quite a task. Perhaps you might find these useful:

http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/shooting/understanding-using-ansel-adams-zone-system/

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/the-digital-zone-system.html

rebride

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I'm not familiar with the zone system? But there is a lot about photography that I have little to no knowledge. Can you give a brief description? Thanks!

Zone System photographers judged the contrast/dynamic range of a scene by taking readings with a meter of darkest thru lightest areas of the subject. In a way they figured their own histogram and adjusted exposure along with changes in development of the negative to expand or compact the dynamic range. To move it around.
They did it to have the data on the negative to be able to get the print they visualized. and yes to minimize the manipulation of the printing process (darkroom PP ?).

To have a histogram, a graph of the dynamic range, right there on the camera is a wonderful thing. Absolutely use it. Learn how to use it. It will make your photography better. It makes life much simpler.

cthahn

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?

You can not really compare a histogram to a light meter. Both measure light, but in a completely different way. If you are a photographer using a digital SLR, you will always use a histogram. If you do not want to bother and understand a histogram, you are not a photographer.

zneb240 Loc: New South Wales - Australia

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes.... etc... So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing?....

Boardmanrd, yep - I for one try to reference the histogram after each shot, it helps ensure correct exposure and possibly call for a re-shoot and less PP. The exception of course is when shooting faster action when it may not be possible to do it immediately, however I still check later on when time permits - Warren.

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

Mogul wrote:

That's quite a task. Perhaps you might find these useful:

http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/shooting/understanding-using-ansel-adams-zone-system/

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/the-digital-zone-system.html

Two good, practical discussions for digital users :thumbup: Let me just add the Wiki reference for general background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_System

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

This histogram does not measure light. The light meter does that. The histogram displays the light measured by the light meter. Light meters give an overall number to all the light while the histogram shows the amount of light according to its brightness.

This has two practical results. The histogram shows blown out highlights, meters do not. The histogram allows you to capture the maximum amount of tonal information. You can always throw it away later but at least you have it in case you later decide to use it.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?

No...it's not a meter...but it does give you valuable info; are you overexposing any part of your image? Are you underexposing any part of your image?

That, and the distribution of tones are ALL the hiso tells you....that's it.

Boardmanrd55

Thanks to all! This has been very helpful and has solidfied my decision to upgrade my camera(Nikon V1) which does not have that ability, to one that does.

rebride

Many (most??) editing programs will show a histogram. Very useful for PP after the fact.
Many cameras have in-camera modes for tweaking dynamic range for jpegs. Some even do for RAW.
Check out;
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/histograms1.htm

rocketride Loc: Upstate NY

A histogram is simply a count of how many pixels are at each level of illumination (from caught-no-photons black to saturated white) in the photograph. This can be done either for each of the three color channels separately, or the three channels can be summed for each pixel and that data given in a single monochrome histogram.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?

Are you saying that they use "LiveView" and check the histogram while adjusting exposure and viewing the LCD?

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I almost always like to use the histogram in live view to get one exposure as nearly perfect as possible, then take additional exposures over and under as needed for bracketing and/or HDR. If I end up not using HDR, at least I have one good exposure to work with.

Boardmanrd55 wrote:

I have now taken 2 separate classes offered by the Ansel Adams photography studio in Yosemite and both times and by separate instructors, the use of live histogram when shooting has been recommended. So, my question is, does anyone use this method of photographing? I see the benefit of doing so as to minimize post production work. Does it in a way, represent a modern version of the light meter?