burkphoto wrote:
... you have to be careful .... if you're photographing
low key or high key subject matter.
A correct exposure of a low key subject will have a
histogram skewed far to the left, because only a few
tones define the subject. ...........
If you decrease exposure of a high key subject much
below that of a normally exposed gray card, you may
dull the background that you spent so much time
lighting evenly to render it just barely white.
A histogram does not indicate correct exposure. It
just tells you the *relative* distribution of tones in
the image.
............
br ... you have to be careful .... if you're phot... (
show quote)
The above is excellent advice clearly stated. Yet the
obvious ... and easy ... approach to getting USEFUL
in-camera histograms is not mentioned.
Since the situation in question is a well controlled
studio session, approach the subject so to fill the
frame with only significant portions of the overall
scene ...
small hints of any very dark or very bright
backgrounds,
mostly skin tones plus the subject's
garments, etc. Frame really tight, and then back
up to not so tight. Reading the histograms of these
test frames will be VERY usefully informative, with
most, or all, misleading tones eliminated. Acoarst
don't be a robot ... apply some judgement !
---------------------------------------------------
Ancient advice from the film era:
"Use your meter creatively, not slavishly".
Following thru to the digital era:
"Used creatively, a digital camera is the
best, most informative, light meter ever
put in a photographer's hands".
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