Need help with Histogram: I am a newbie on the site and have been just lurking and learning from this great site. I would like to learn to use the histogram feature on my canon. I have...

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

I am a newbie on the site and have been just lurking and learning from this great site. I would like to learn to use the histogram feature on my canon. I have bought a field guide for it and it does not cover it. Is there a book or site you could recommend. Just trying to figure the controls on it(Canon 5D MK2) are almost to much for my old head.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

A histogram (brightness/contrast, not color) shows you the dynamic range of light for an image. Ideally, what you want is the typical "Bell shaped curve". Peaks on either edge indicated too much shadow (on the left side) or too much brightness (on the right).

If you take a shot and there's too much curve to the left, you need to adjust the exposure to brighten things up. If there's too much on the left, you need to back down a bit.

Your 5D is a superb piece of technology and will produce spectacular results with the correct setup and human input.

Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia

Again Photojosh hits the mark with a great explanation. I knew this, but this site is a huge help for the novice...There are so many people on this site willing take the time to help///we applaud you for that....

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Artsmith wrote:

I am a newbie on the site and have been just lurking and learning from this great site. I would like to learn to use the histogram feature on my canon. I have bought a field guide for it and it does not cover it. Is there a book or site you could recommend. Just trying to figure the controls on it(Canon 5D MK2) are almost to much for my old head.

The recommendation from Photojosh is one good source, and here are two more.

Go here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

After you read that one, read this one:
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/digital/histogram_101/

The second one is on a Nikon site, but the concept is identical across all brands.

PhotoJosh Loc: Brighton, UK

Donald Green wrote:

Again Photojosh hits the mark with a great explanation. I knew this, but this site is a huge help for the novice...There are so many people on this site willing take the time to help///we applaud you for that....

Thank you, I'm happy to do it. :)

hornblower Loc: bayfield, wi

Thanks, Cliff. Found the websites very helpful. Can't wait for the sun to come up to get out and try it out!

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

Thank you all very much the sites were very helpful. As my grand daughter would say "UHH Rocks". I will overcome my fear of this beast and start posting some shots for some more advice. Thanks all.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

One other thing about a brightness histogram that often confuses beginners, more due to the example pictures often posted to go along with the histogram, is that the Left-to-Right layout of the histogram has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the Left-to-right layout of an image.

For example, if you take an image with a very bright LEFT hand side, and then a gradual darkening towards the right, but not a real BLACK right hand side, the histogram for that image will have a 'gentle' or rising slope, going from left to right and than a big spike on the RIGHT hand side. The right-hand spike corresponds to the BRIGHTNESS of the image, not necessarily the right hand SIDE of the image.

It can be rather confusing until you accept the fact that the LEFT to RIGHT histogram has no direct relationship to the LEFT to RIGHT orientation of the image. Here's three examples - Bright LEFT, Bright CENTER and bright RIGHT. But the histogram hardly changes at all, because its only charting DARK and BRIGHT, and it doesn't matter WHERE in the image the dark area or bright area is.

larrycumba

Artsmith wrote:

I am a newbie on the site and have been just lurking and learning from this great site. I would like to learn to use the histogram feature on my canon. I have bought a field guide for it and it does not cover it. Is there a book or site you could recommend. Just trying to figure the controls on it(Canon 5D MK2) are almost to much for my old head.

http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Canon-Digital-Photography/dp/1435454332/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325781440&sr=1-9

Do yourself a favor and get this book. Best out there.

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

Artsmith wrote:

I am a newbie on the site and have been just lurking and learning from this great site. I would like to learn to use the histogram feature on my canon. I have bought a field guide for it and it does not cover it. Is there a book or site you could recommend. Just trying to figure the controls on it(Canon 5D MK2) are almost to much for my old head.

The links were great. But I often waite till PP and on Photoshop Elements or Photoshop you hit Ctrl-L and the histogram comes up and you can push the sides in real easy.

LoniDena

Lucky you! I found an article in LA Times Sunday 1/8/2012 which was about the great classes you can take in Yosemite, CA National Forrest. Some are free & some for a fee & they all sound great.
Anyhow, your looking for "Hstogram information" the gentleman sharing his experience actually added a link which teaches the histogram. Well here goes & I hope it helps. It's a long one too!
Www.ehow.com/how_4523400_use-histogram-photography.html this is better know as the "ehow website" I've never heard of but do look forward to checking it all out.

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

Now if I could just figure a way to get to LA for the course. I am sure the Yosemite Forest is a lot more photogenic and the weather a little kinder than it is here. Thanks to a the UHH members for coming to my aid. I think I am able to grasp the concept now. The illustrations and web sites were very helpful.

LoniDena wrote:

Lucky you! I found an article in LA Times Sunday 1... (show quote)

Dontrain Loc: Chicago suburb

This a great demonstration of the histogram and what is does and does and does not do. I wish I had thought of it for my classes.

I am beginning to use the histogram more and more. I just returned from a month in San Diego where the sun is intense and makes viewing the shot in the camera's viewer difficult. However, I found that the histogram is more visible that the shot itself so I look at the graphic instead of the photo. Of course there are composition and focus issues that the are beyond the histogram. But the technique works for me.

Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia

not all camera's have the histogram...some say they do, but my friend has a camera that does not have this feature...call the company....

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

JimH, why did you not explain the RGB histogram with your example?