Historgram
Dec 28, 2019 00:24:01 #
I am kind of new here and I am totally lost as how to read histogram. Does anyone here know of a good read on this. Something that is not too hard to understand but with enough on the subject that I will be abil to understand its purpose. THANKS in advance !!!!!
Dec 28, 2019 01:03:09 #
Dec 28, 2019 01:46:34 #
Give “Mastering Histograms” by Al Judge a read. Amazon has it available. Once you read and understand this book, you will really find how useful the histograms can be in your photography.
Dec 28, 2019 06:42:16 #
Dec 28, 2019 07:57:11 #
Doc Barry wrote:
Give “Mastering Histograms” by Al Judge a read. Amazon has it available. Once you read and understand this book, you will really find how useful the histograms can be in your photography.
Dec 28, 2019 08:17:11 #
Ron Krause wrote:
I am kind of new here and I am totally lost as how to read histogram. Does anyone here know of a good read on this. Something that is not too hard to understand but with enough on the subject that I will be abil to understand its purpose. THANKS in advance !!!!!
I'd like to suggest less emphasis on the 'graph' that is the histogram; and instead, to look at the highlight warnings in the image when viewed on the back of the camera. See the example below developed from a Nikon manual. When you look at your image / test image, look for any blinking highlight warnings (aka 'blinkies'). If they're blinking on a critical aspect of the image, such as this woman's forehead, your image is too over-exposed. To me, this information is easier to understand and react to than the Left / Right aspect of the graph. You just need to adjust your exposure to remove those highlights. Understanding what / how is to modify within the Exposure Triangle to remove these highlights is the far more important, intuitive skill to develop rather than an ability to read a graph.
This link: ETTR in Practice discusses an exposure method of 'Exposing to the Right (ETTR)', where 'right' is the right side of the histogram. But note, all the examples are focused on the position of the highlight warnings rather than the shape / location of the histogram.
Dec 28, 2019 08:45:31 #
Good resources:
https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/histograms1.htm
https://photographylife.com/understanding-histograms-in-photography
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/what-are-histograms-a-photographers-guide
If you have Lightroom you can get a good feeling for it by turning on the blinkies and clicking and dragging directly in the histogram. Watch what the warnings in the image do as the histogram changes. Try holding down alt and watch the image as you move the histogram around.
https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/histograms1.htm
https://photographylife.com/understanding-histograms-in-photography
https://photographylife.com/landscapes/what-are-histograms-a-photographers-guide
If you have Lightroom you can get a good feeling for it by turning on the blinkies and clicking and dragging directly in the histogram. Watch what the warnings in the image do as the histogram changes. Try holding down alt and watch the image as you move the histogram around.
Dec 29, 2019 05:56:48 #
Dec 29, 2019 07:05:11 #
Some advice. when you are answering a PARTICULAR post on here, click on "quote reply". The we will know to whom you are replying
Travler wrote:
Good, practical advice.
Dec 29, 2019 07:45:55 #
RichardTaylor wrote:
Just watched the link. Makes more sense than most I’ve read
Dec 29, 2019 07:53:11 #
If you don't have anything shooting to the top, you're fine. You should be able to tell that from looking reviewing the shot yourself, which is why I don't bother with histograms. Your eyes are the best tools for letting you know that you've achieved good light balance.
Dec 29, 2019 14:47:39 #
Ron Krause wrote:
I am kind of new here and I am totally lost as how to read histogram. Does anyone here know of a good read on this. Something that is not too hard to understand but with enough on the subject that I will be abil to understand its purpose. THANKS in advance !!!!!
Something I never see talked about with histograms. Do a little testing and see what each of the vertical lines in the histogram means to your camera. On my D7500 (and all the other Nikons I have had) the space between the lines represents about 2/3rds of a stop. Knowing this, a quick glance at the histogram tells you just how much to adjust to get it the way you want it. At the same time, 2/3rds of a stop doesn't really effect the final PP'd image for most digital files. I have tested many under and over exposed files against the final print and at 2/3rds over or under (for most files) I can make identical prints. Non the less I strive to get the perfect exposure in camera and use my histogram all the time.
...Cam
Dec 29, 2019 14:54:51 #
Dec 30, 2019 00:01:33 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
I'd like to suggest less emphasis on the 'graph' t... (show quote)
Thanks much. The “blinkies ” were perplexing me.
Dec 31, 2019 21:24:27 #
My thought on histograms may seem rather simple, but it's basically what I got from a Nikon seminar taught by Nikon teachers.
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