To bracket, or not to bracket, ...
Dec 3, 2011 07:51:14 #
Dec 3, 2011 08:22:23 #
GDRoth wrote:
So when you are standing in a sunny field taking a photo into a shadowy woods, your Nikon D7000 will give you all the details of the sunny area and all the details in the shadows too? Just wondering
Possibly. The whole idea for bracketing is so that the camera takes multiple exposures (minimally 3 to more than 9 I believe, depending on the camera); -1, 0, +1, or in other intervals (again, depending on the camera) so that the higlights and shadows are recorded.
So, if you're pointing your camera into a wooded area, but also have the sun facing you, the camera will expose for the highlights (+1), the 'normal exposure' (0) and the shadows (-1). Theoretically, you are now able to 'stack' these seperate exposures in your software and blend them into one final image that will show all the dynamic ranges.
Now, truthfully, the sun staring directly into ones camera may provide challenges as it is far too bright and blown out highlights cannot be recovered as easily (or at all) as shadow information. However, the underexposed image may be added back into the stack and the sun masked back in as a less intense highlight.
But, of course the best thing to do would not aim your camera in the direction of the sun, but at an angle.
Dec 3, 2011 08:24:00 #
rivernan wrote:
I bracket...sometimes both ways...so I can see later what I like better on my screen. Im still of the mind set that the boor you shoot the better your chances of getting exactly what you set out for.
Shooting boor in my state is illegal.
Dec 3, 2011 08:54:43 #
If you click on this link http://bit.ly/nAWQEq, you can view several before (normal exposure) and after (multiple exposures to make a HDR image) of my HDR processed photos. Arnold
Dec 3, 2011 09:09:15 #
New2blog wrote:
Who likes to use bracketing, and why, please? Seems like an attractive crutch, yes?
I generally don't. If it's a scene that might "trick" the meter, or a scene I might like to tone map, yes.
Disposing of the technical can free one up to focus on the visual (pun intended!)
Dec 3, 2011 09:16:45 #
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but bracketing originated with film photography where you don't have the luxury of seeing your photographic results immediately. So, photographers would take their shot, then stop down/up and take another or two, just to make sure they had the result they were wanting. Of course, they still wouldn't know for certain until they came out of the darkroom. The concept is a carried over into the digital world, and many have found creativeness in the realm of HDR (high dynamic range) photography, which requires bracketing.
Dec 3, 2011 10:13:09 #
My rule of thumb is when unsure of lighting conditions BRACKET your shots. Never hurts
Dec 3, 2011 10:23:29 #
Dec 3, 2011 10:31:35 #
rivernan wrote:
I bracket...sometimes both ways...so I can see later what I like better on my screen. Im still of the mind set that the boor you shoot the better your chances of getting exactly what you set out for.
I agree rivernan. how many of us get the best shot on the first and the only try. And, we may only have one try of course... depending on the situation
Dec 3, 2011 10:51:06 #
rexxal wrote:
What is HDR again?
High dynamic range. It's essentially tone mapping. Taking a bracketed series of the same shot (ideally on a tripod) to increase the tonal range possible in the final image
Dec 3, 2011 10:56:59 #
Fstop12 wrote:
quote=New2blog Who likes to use bracketing, and w... (show quote)
I remember reading that the human eye can see detail in both hilite and shadow areas simultaneously over a 10-stop range (1000 to 1), while film was good for only about 6 stops. ( 128 to 1) That's one reason to bracket - to get detail in the lightest and darkest areas.
I don't know what the range is for digital sensors, however, but it's apparently still not close to what God gave us in our own eyes! Anybody know?
Dec 3, 2011 11:04:48 #
Frank T wrote:
Bracketing is pretty simple. You take one exposure at the recommended setting and then one under exposed and one over exposed. You can also do more exposures one 1/2 stop under, one 1 stop under, 1 2 stops under and the same for over. Most DSLR's can be set to do this automatically. It simply gives you a chance to get the best exposure under tricky lighting condtions.
Thanks, this explains it. But it seems the name "bracketing" is not explanatory.
Dec 3, 2011 11:07:40 #
It's quick and easy to bracket, so why not. It doesn't cost anything with digital and you have a choice of exposures when you get to the computer and maybe one less step in post.
Dec 3, 2011 11:07:44 #
Dec 3, 2011 11:11:04 #
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