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What is an ideal histogram supposed to look like
May 9, 2012 12:31:10 #
Zenith701
Loc: Southern California
New to dslr so I don't really understand a lot. Is there an ideal shape for a histogram? In statistics a bell curve is kind of what you are trying for in dispersions. Is there something like this with histograms?
May 9, 2012 12:41:40 #
It varies with the photo.
A high key photo for example will have a lot of peaks on the right side and the opposite occurs with a photo that's overly dark. Both will be properly exposed though.
You need to learn to evaluate the scene and analyse the histogram.
A really good article here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml
A high key photo for example will have a lot of peaks on the right side and the opposite occurs with a photo that's overly dark. Both will be properly exposed though.
You need to learn to evaluate the scene and analyse the histogram.
A really good article here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml
May 9, 2012 12:59:54 #
The other poster is correct; there IS NO optimum histogram due to the nature of what a histogram tells you.
A histogram cannot and does not tell you if your shot is exposed properly. It can ONLY tell you the distribution of light and dark tones in a shot...which has nothing to do with exposure.
The only thing that's even close to being relevant is if there are light or dark tones that are "clipped" i.e. at the ends of the histo and cannot be recorded by the sensor and even then,that's not necessarily bad depending on what you intend with the shot itself.
Here is another resource about it
http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/HistogramsLightmetersWorkTogether.pdf&sa=U&ei=UaOqT4XRLMms0AGHh_ysBw&ved=0CBAQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNElEsihShQjOHkn4EMmvqf29uLHuA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/HistogramsLightmetersWorkTogether.pdf&sa=U&ei=UaOqT4XRLMms0AGHh_ysBw&ved=0CBAQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNElEsihShQjOHkn4EMmvqf29uLHuA
A histogram cannot and does not tell you if your shot is exposed properly. It can ONLY tell you the distribution of light and dark tones in a shot...which has nothing to do with exposure.
The only thing that's even close to being relevant is if there are light or dark tones that are "clipped" i.e. at the ends of the histo and cannot be recorded by the sensor and even then,that's not necessarily bad depending on what you intend with the shot itself.
Here is another resource about it
http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/HistogramsLightmetersWorkTogether.pdf&sa=U&ei=UaOqT4XRLMms0AGHh_ysBw&ved=0CBAQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNElEsihShQjOHkn4EMmvqf29uLHuA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/HistogramsLightmetersWorkTogether.pdf&sa=U&ei=UaOqT4XRLMms0AGHh_ysBw&ved=0CBAQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNElEsihShQjOHkn4EMmvqf29uLHuA
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May 9, 2012 14:57:04 #
May 9, 2012 15:07:31 #
Ok, so, basically I can tell that from looking at the photo myself. How does the histogram aid me?
May 9, 2012 15:30:49 #
SteveR wrote:
Ok, so, basically I can tell that from looking at the photo myself. How does the histogram aid me?
All the histo tells you is:
Are there tones in my shot that lie beyond what my sensor can reproduce? (i.e. total black or white with no detail)
that's it.
May 9, 2012 19:13:33 #
The thumbnails you see on the rear LCD may not be great for making assessments, so a histogram is useful in the field.
Check out Panorama section of our forum.
May 10, 2012 06:45:23 #
rpavich wrote:
All the histo tells you is:
Are there tones in my shot that lie beyond what my sensor can reproduce? (i.e. total black or white with no detail)
that's it.
SteveR wrote:
Ok, so, basically I can tell that from looking at the photo myself. How does the histogram aid me?
All the histo tells you is:
Are there tones in my shot that lie beyond what my sensor can reproduce? (i.e. total black or white with no detail)
that's it.
The reason to stop "chimping" and use a light meter if possible.
May 10, 2012 06:52:02 #
bioteacher
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
rpavich wrote:
The other poster is correct; there IS NO optimum h... (show quote)
Having trouble getting to web site - is there another address?
May 10, 2012 06:53:44 #
bioteacher wrote:
quote=rpavich The other poster is correct; there ... (show quote)
Here is the file:
May 10, 2012 06:54:22 #
skidooman wrote:
The reason to stop "chimping" and use a light meter if possible.
rpavich wrote:
All the histo tells you is:
Are there tones in my shot that lie beyond what my sensor can reproduce? (i.e. total black or white with no detail)
that's it.
SteveR wrote:
Ok, so, basically I can tell that from looking at the photo myself. How does the histogram aid me?
All the histo tells you is:
Are there tones in my shot that lie beyond what my sensor can reproduce? (i.e. total black or white with no detail)
that's it.
The reason to stop "chimping" and use a light meter if possible.
You won't get an argument from me! :)
Check out Black and White Photography section of our forum.
May 10, 2012 08:51:33 #
expose the histogram to the right, look at your blikies and back off by a 1/3. You should have the right exposure.
May 10, 2012 09:06:39 #
May 10, 2012 11:05:09 #
Zenith701 wrote:
New to dslr so I don't really understand a lot. Is there an ideal shape for a histogram? In statistics a bell curve is kind of what you are trying for in dispersions. Is there something like this with histograms?
There is no such thing as an ideal histogram as there is no ideal photograph. A snow scene's histogram will look totally different for a photo taken of a coal miner in a mine. Looks for articles on Histograms in greater detail for more information.
May 10, 2012 12:40:25 #
Every historgram is different because of changing light. I make sure that my historgram is not touching either the left side or the right side, but to say the main peak is in the middle would be incorrect. DSLR's have light meters in them, use that also to get correct exposure (this can be 1/4-1/2 of stop to the left). Shooting many pictures and learning that connection between the light meter and the histogram is what it is all about. When you change lenses you may have to learn all this for that lens.
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