photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I never use my histogram. In my landscape photography I always expose for the highlights and will combine images in post-processing to give me an image very close to what I actually photographed. I shoot in RAW.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Not to worry Boo, every technical post is parsed and parsed again so it CAN be misunderstood....just have to go with the flow and the misunderstood comments...

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

The histogram is used to verify exposure only. It has nothing to do with motion, which is shutter speed and a focus issue.

Yes I use the histogram on every shot. I set my exposure by light meter play I think I want the photo and then I checked the histogram to see that it is correctly exposed. If not I make an adjustment.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Do you suggest that exposing for the highlights is the guide (as when we used slide film)? How would you compare using the histogram to using spot readings (for zone placement more or less) for exposure settings? The histogram does not tell us what areas are clipped, though I admit that high under or over readings should be self-evident from the view...

Isn't a histogram likely to indicate the same settings as an automatic exposure reading--and does it meter by the camera's meter-setting (spot, center, average, center weighted)? Surely the histogram is telling us what the camera meter sees?

Does a histogram tell you how much more or less exposure you need, or do you have to test shoot for that? I am not sure what good it does to know that there is a bit of pure black or a bit of pure white in a scene--that seems to me pretty common--and knowing how much of each extreme a scene has can be discovered by more direct means (spot readings), if not by experience... However, I will try tinkering with histograms to see if they help. Most people intuit that a white bloom against dark green foliage needs exposure considerations--and if that is all the histogram tells me, I can do without.
I have never tried using histograms because I can't change the scene--if it has too much dark and too much light, I wait for haze or cloud, or another day, or maybe change the light. If it is one or the other (dark or light), I may use a gray card--or the f-16 rule (and count down the stops from full sun), which are incident-method, and let the clips fall where they may. I do try to tweak contrast in PS to the degree that the top highlights are pure white and the bottom shadows are good, rich black...

timcc Loc: Virginia

I'll check the histogram in the EVF if the lighting has a wide range, but in manual I usually just expose for the highlights. The histogram is the first thing I look at in post, though.

BooIsMyCat Loc: Somewhere

Please reread my comment. I never made any statement that the histogram and motion are connected.
Thank you.

BooIsMyCat Loc: Somewhere

It is my current understanding that the RGB histogram is the one you want to use and as you LOOK at this histogram, you identify the R/G/B channel that is furthest to the right and you adjust exposure for THAT channel, basically, ignoring the others.

LewSpecker

If the image appears too light or dark, adjusting the EV will alter the histogram. The histogam is always a good feed back to where you are.

its_yoshie

yep. well said

fotoman150

I use the meter in the camera before I shoot and after I take a shot I ALWAYS check the histogram to make sure the exposure is what I want.

Notice I didn’t say to check the histogram to see if the exposure is correct. I may not be looking for 18% grey.

The histogram will tell me if there are any pixels that are over or under exposed or if the image is bright, dark or average.

If I want a silouette the histogram will show a lot of pixels dark or under exposed. The opposite will be true if I’m shooting high key or bright image. Sometimes I want to overexpose on purpose.

I may check it once or twice then not again unless the light changes or if I want to accomplish something else with the exposure.

Makes no difference if the subject is moving. The shot will be a still shot. You are only going to get one exposure per shutter click. All the nonsense about the subject moving to lighter or darker areas is bs. What the camera sees when you click the shutter is what you get. That exposure you capture can’t magically change after the subject has moved. Only if you take another shot after the subject moves.

Now if you’re talking about a live histogram, how are you going to keep the moving subject in the frame and maintain composition if you’re watching the histogram to make sure the exposure is what you want before you press the shutter button? The live histogram is more useful Before the shot. Then the histogram is useful again after the shot.
As I said, I check the meter before and check the histogram after.

I’ve heard of some pros who never check it. I always check it

The reason to check the histogram is the LCD screen is inaccurate in some lighting conditions and the screen is not calibrated.

In some cameras the overexposed areas will blink on the LCD screen so you know right away where the overexposure is.

One way I use the histogram is if I’m shooting a bride and I don’t want to overexpose the dress I will check the he meter, take the shot and check the histogram. Some people shoot brides in a kind of light and airy style and shoot high key. Not my style. I understand that some of the light and airy style is done in post processing.

BooIsMyCat Loc: Somewhere

LOL! I think you're right!

BooIsMyCat Loc: Somewhere

Or, Evaluative metering may help too! :-)

mgshn

I look at the histogram of an exposed image to make sure there’s no blown highlights. That’s something that can’t be fixed in post.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Exactly right - I use my histogram to check my exposure.

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

I use Highlight warnings, don't really understand histograms. I am a newbee to DSLR's. I am not following - AT ALL - what glaring omission that you are referring to.
I have read quite a few articles on Histograms. I am a bit frustrated in trying to understand them better, but moving subjects? Not following . . .