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Youre quite frequently pretty sure of various questionable ideas.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

Gee - as I understand it a Nikon measures the illumination at around a hundred different points and then cross references that against a bunch of typical situations - if you really think you are that good, more power to you - I personally believe a photo without data is merely a curiosity item and has little educational value

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Kinda self contradictory there ....

mmills79 Loc: NJ

I did read the whole thread and apparently I am not alone in feeling that you really aren't a contributor. As SEVERAL others have commented, clearly helpfulness is not in your toolkit!

gwilliams6

As a longtime professional photojournalist that has shot all subjects around the world for many decades under all conditions, and also as a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university I get asked this all the time.

I am happy to share my settings, along with the reasons I chose those settings for that subject under those lighting conditions. It really helps my students get a head start as they go out and shoot assignments and have to make those exposure setting themselves. It is all part of the comprehensive course study I gave them.

And yes understanding and using histograms is one tool that helps them to achieve proper exposure ,and helps them understand how to stay within the tonal and dynamic range of their camera sensors.

Experimentation and breaking the rules is encouraged as I challenge my students to gain the knowledge and experience in the field to become the masters of their gear and craft.

Why would I selfishly keep this information to myself when it is of value, and so many pros were kind enough to help me as a young photographer with their guidance and by their example.

Cheers and best to you.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’m all for giving a good trolling when it’s called for but I don’t confuse it with helpfulness.

profbowman Loc: Harrisonburg, VA, USA

Sure, post processing will change the output from the photographer. I should have made clear that I was meaning that the same camera, make, model, and year must give the same result out of the camera with the same setttings, or tthe world of electronics is non-existent. --Richard

DelRae Loc: Oregon

I hear you sounds good thanks for a Reply Delrae

DelRae Loc: Oregon

BebuLamar

Data??? What kind of data? You go to a museum and ask for data?

btbg

Of course straight out of camera will be the same, assuming that both photographers have the same body and lens. No one is questioning that. I was only explaining Bob's reasoning why the in camera data will potentially be misleading to another photographer. The reality is that post processing or lack thereof needs to be taken into account when making exposure decisions.

I used to do some HDR, when shooting for personal use rather than for work, because I like to shoot in situations that have more dynamic range than my camera can capture. More recently I have started using exposure blending in those situations and gone away from HDR. The results look more natural. The decision on how I am going to blend photos needs to be already made before I take my initial shots. So, I am shooting deliberately with the final post processed result in mind. Giving someone else the exposure information for my shots without also taking the time to explain the post processing that I plan to do will just lead to them taking a badly underexposed image to maintain highlight details, likely also a badly overexposed image to preserve details in the shadows. There may also be an image in the middle exposed for the midtones.

That means that giving someone else who has no intent of doing exposure blending the information on the shots I am taking, or even on the finished results will be very misleading to them, and will lead to that individual taking photos that they will have no use for.

Bob regularly exposes to the right, knowing that he can accomplish his desired vision through post processing. Telling someone else his exposure information will only lead to them taking a shot that they will be extremely unhappy with.

That doesn't mean that I don't give people that information when they ask. But, it does mean that if I am going to give them a reasonable answer that I had better also explain that my exposure choices may well not work for what that individual is trying to do.

I regularly have kids from the yearbook staff at the high school that I cover most frequently for the local newspaper ask for advice on exposure and shutter speed at sports events. What I have found is that if all I do is tell them what settings I am using that is of no benefit to them as I am using a 2.8 or in some cases even faster lens and they do not even have that option. So, no matter how badly they would like to they are unable to use my settings.

You will find that in many real world situations even with the same make of camera because of different lenses, or because of other limitations you and I may well get very different final results even with the same basic initial settings. Because how or if you are going to post process dramatically impacts what settings you should be using when you take your initial shot or shots as does what lens or lenses you have available. As a result basic exposure information without an explanation of the entire process may well be very misleading.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I WILL help someone that wants to learn and help themselves, But I will not waste my time or energy to hand everything to them on a platter!!
And I am not a teacher.

IGBTQ2 Loc: California

I don't mind the question, and I always have the same answer....

The reason a photograph grabbed your attention and wowed you had nothing to do with the settings. It's not about the settings. It's about leading lines, the rule of thirds, the golden ratio. It's about telling a story. It's about composition. Put the world's finest camera in the hands of an amateur and get amateur photographs, even if you provide them with the 'perfect settings'.. whatever that even is. Put a cell phone with all of its automation in the hands of a published, award winning photographer and get publish worthy award winning photographs. Learning 'the settings' is the easy part. It's rudimentary, and today's cameras are actually pretty darned good at giving you that answer; or at least a fair starting point. If you want to take better pictures, stop concentrating on the settings and learn the rules of composition. Practice seeing the world around you that way. Learn to identify them in the photos you see, or the lack thereof. Make a conscious effort to incorporate them into every photo you shoot. And stop asking about the settings. It's not about the settings. It never was.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

True!!!
My teachers only taught me how to find out for myself .and I still remember what I learned from 4th grade on. Okay well a lot of it.
This post has taught me how over sensitive to the truth people are today!!!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

LOL