Help with dark photos in LR: I have a Nikon D810 - when I take photos they look great on the screen on the back of camera, until I import them, I have adjusted the brightness of the...

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

I have a Nikon D810 - when I take photos they look great on the screen on the back of camera, until I import them, I have adjusted the brightness of the viewing screen on the back of the camera, then when I import from the card they are darker, then into LightRoom, they look fine until they have loaded then when they have finished loading the actual exposure is a lot darker.

I know I must be doing something wrong but just can't put my finger on it, can anyo0ne help me on this please as I am not sure if it is a camera issue, a lightroom issue or just me being stupid. Thank you hogs.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Check your Histogram gives more information about the image

Linary Loc: UK

Linda Ewing wrote:

I have a Nikon D810 - when I take photos they look... (show quote)

Are you importing raw or jpg only or raw + jpg?
Does the Histogram on the camera for one of the affected shots look similar to the Lightroom Histogram (it won't look exactly the same, but is it in the same ballpark?
Are you using any presets during the LR import?

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Linda,

I believe the screen on the back of the camera is adjusting them to make them view the best. Hit the upside of the multi-function circle button to scroll through different views on the camera screen. One of them shows the histograms. I have the same issue on my D800 - they display brighter on the camera than the actual exposure is. I'm not sure if the camera display can be set to show the "true" exposure?

Of course the histogram is also displayed in Lightroom.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

I only shoot in raw, I do check the histogram regularly when shooting but do not tend to compare this with the LR version. At the moment I use a CF card and a SD card in the second slot, that is the only thing I know that is different.

I have a wedding to shoot next weekend and today a halloween shoot so really worried as I will already be shooting in the dark. This is the thing they look great with all the normal adjustments in camera and on the screen at back of camera but not when I load them up, really strange.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Look at your histogram on your camera, what does it say / display? Is the data distributed in the middle or to the left? This is the tool that make this a digital camera with an active display on the back for the data being processed by the computer inside. The image display screen is biased to be bright enough for you to see the display in daylight. The histogram has no such bias.

You can use the camera and LR for a given image and judge how much you need to begin to expose to the right when capturing images next time. You don't mention your shooting mode; you can use Exposure Compensation in Aperture or Shutter priority. Or, use the meter and adjust +1 or more in manual relative to the exposure 'midpoint'.

So, take an image adjusted in LR. Take your camera and look at the histogram for that same image. Judge how for to the right the histogram should have moved to get the same image results coming out of the camera. Begin to implement this change and histogram evaluation process into your shooting style.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

Thank you for letting me know that you have a similar problem with the D800, yes I do scroll up to see the histogram, when shooting under dark conditions I increase the ISO considerably but the D810 seems a lot noisierthan it should be as I always thought these modern cameras can go quite high regarding ISO but I really have to be careful with mine as I then get a lot of colour noise which is difficult to control in post. Thank you for trying to help me it is much appreciated, just so worried about these shoots I am about to do.

GregWCIL wrote:

Linda,

I believe the screen on the back of the camera is adjusting them to make them view the best. Hit the upside of the multi-function circle button to scroll through different views on the camera screen. One of them shows the histograms. I have the same issue on my D800 - they display brighter on the camera than the actual exposure is. I'm not sure if the camera display can be set to show the "true" exposure?

Of course the histogram is also displayed in Lightroom.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

Thank you so much I will do all this before I go out today, I mainly shoot in manual but I think today I will use AP and adjust compensation as I go to shoot more to the right. As mentioned I have darkened my LCD screen a little to try to get a balance. I appreciate your advice thank you.

MorrisT Loc: Chattanooga, Tn.

Linda Ewing wrote:

I have a Nikon D810 - when I take photos they look... (show quote)

Linda, I had a problem with my D810 pictures being dark when downloaded. What I finally figured out is that the auto iso was on and setting the iso by the numbers was limiting the camera to that setting. I turned auto iso off, set the iso to what I wanted and it cleared my problem. The pictures looked good on the camera's screen but downloaded dark. Histogram was definitely to the left. MorrisT

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

Thank you, I am going to check right now before I leave, it doesn't say auto iso in the top screen but I will check anyway, thank you for being so helpful.

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Another point to consider is if you're shooting RAW or RAW +Jpeg is that the camera as well as Lightroom when loading an image is showing you the embedded jpeg within the Raw file. When it finishes loading in Lightroom is when you see the actual RAW file data/image.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

I went out last night to do a halloween shoot and took into consideration everyones' advice regarding ISO and shooting more to the right etc, although it was difficult in the dark to get a 'to the right' histogram I did bear this in mind and tried to push it a little and, of course, I think you are right when you say about the embedded jpeg that is shown first in LR then I end up with the raw data only after loading.

It has been a learning curve but thank you all, I knew someone would be able to help and it has really helped me be more observant of what I am achieving. Thank you all

bersharbp Loc: Texas

Are you sure your monitor is calibrated?

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

I did calibrate it about a year ago perhaps it needs doing again. I will give it a go.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Linda Ewing wrote:

I did calibrate it about a year ago perhaps it needs doing again. I will give it a go.

I calibrate my monitors monthly