teacher: kenji tachibana digital photography i. correct exposure 19 slides

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I..

Correct ExposureCorrect Exposure

19 slides19 slides

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ICorrect ExposureCorrect Exposure

NNormal Exposure:ormal Exposure:

1.1. Normal exposure is a combination of Normal exposure is a combination of science (histogram) and art (eyeball).science (histogram) and art (eyeball).

2.2. There is also special high-key (light) to There is also special high-key (light) to low-key (dark) acceptable exposures.low-key (dark) acceptable exposures.

3.3. Ultimately, normal exposure is tied Ultimately, normal exposure is tied directly to your story needs.directly to your story needs.

4.4. Although, normal exposure does have Although, normal exposure does have a few technical requirements such as a few technical requirements such as maintaining important highlight and maintaining important highlight and shadow detail and to contain jet black shadow detail and to contain jet black and crisp white in the image.and crisp white in the image.


EExposure Nomenclature: Photoshop lingo…xposure Nomenclature: Photoshop lingo…

1.1. Deep jet blackDeep jet black ‘0’‘0’

2.2. Shadow with detailShadow with detail ‘0 to 9’ range‘0 to 9’ range

3.3. Gray scaleGray scale ‘10 to 245’ range‘10 to 245’ range

4.4. White with detailWhite with detail ‘246to 253’ range‘246to 253’ range

5.5. Crisp whiteCrisp white ‘254 to 255’ range‘254 to 255’ range

6.6. Blown out whiteBlown out white ‘255’ paper white‘255’ paper white


MMonitor Calibration Reference:onitor Calibration Reference:

Grayscale : All the tones from 1 to 10 Grayscale : All the tones from 1 to 10 should separate. If 1 & 2 don’t should separate. If 1 & 2 don’t separate, your monitor is too dark. separate, your monitor is too dark. If 9 & 10 don’t separate, your If 9 & 10 don’t separate, your monitor is too light. monitor is too light. Not separating Not separating can also be an issue with Contrastcan also be an issue with Contrast..

Coin: It should look as though it can Coin: It should look as though it can be picked off the screen. If it be picked off the screen. If it doesn’t, your Contrast may be set doesn’t, your Contrast may be set too low.too low.

Hand/Grayscale: The hand color Hand/Grayscale: The hand color should look believable. If it looks should look believable. If it looks too warm or cool, you will probably too warm or cool, you will probably have to adjust your monitor RGB have to adjust your monitor RGB color settings if possible.color settings if possible.


DDynamic Range: See it…ynamic Range: See it…

Tonal values are easier to see when the color Tonal values are easier to see when the color is stripped from the image. Compare is stripped from the image. Compare example images example images 11 and and 22. Notice that the red . Notice that the red blouse is vivid in color but it’s actually a dark blouse is vivid in color but it’s actually a dark tone. tone.

In example In example 33, the tones are skewed towards , the tones are skewed towards high-contrast. It has more visual punch but high-contrast. It has more visual punch but the highlights are blown-out and much of the the highlights are blown-out and much of the shadow details are lost. Now the red blouse shadow details are lost. Now the red blouse is black.is black.

Don’t set your camera to shoot in B&W. It’ll Don’t set your camera to shoot in B&W. It’ll only gives you 1/3 the tonal information. only gives you 1/3 the tonal information. Shoot in full color instead and ‘Desaturate in Shoot in full color instead and ‘Desaturate in Photoshop’. This will give you a highly Photoshop’. This will give you a highly detailed B&W image.detailed B&W image.

11

22

33


MMy Personal Style:y Personal Style:

My personal tonal tasteMy personal tonal tasteruns in the high contrast runs in the high contrast side as shown in theside as shown in theexample to the right.example to the right.

This low-key ‘punchy’ This low-key ‘punchy’ style works especiallystyle works especiallywell for this ‘well for this ‘Friendly PersuasionFriendly Persuasion’ story. Although this ’ story. Although this style takes a lot of custom darkroom style takes a lot of custom darkroom dodging and dodging and burningburning to make it work. to make it work.


CChanging Brightness:hanging Brightness:

For the compact digital user, controlling For the compact digital user, controlling brightness is about either adjusting aperture or the brightness is about either adjusting aperture or the shutter speed. ISO must not be changed.shutter speed. ISO must not be changed.

DSLR users can adjust the ISO because of their DSLR users can adjust the ISO because of their larger sensor chip which actually has larger pixels larger sensor chip which actually has larger pixels too.too.

Increase the aperture size to brighten the image. Increase the aperture size to brighten the image. Decrease aperture size to darken the image. Slow Decrease aperture size to darken the image. Slow down the shutter speed to brighten the image. And down the shutter speed to brighten the image. And increase the shutter speed to darken the image.increase the shutter speed to darken the image.


AAperture: Lens openingperture: Lens opening

There are fixed points to lens opening called There are fixed points to lens opening called f/stops. In a compact digital, it usually goes from f/stops. In a compact digital, it usually goes from f/2.8 to f/8.f/2.8 to f/8.

f/2.8 is wide open which let’s the maximum amount f/2.8 is wide open which let’s the maximum amount of light into the camera. f/8 is fully stopped down of light into the camera. f/8 is fully stopped down which lets in the minimum amount of light.which lets in the minimum amount of light.


AAperture: Whole stopperture: Whole stop

The change between f/2.8 and f4 is a whole stop. The change between f/2.8 and f4 is a whole stop. Whole f/stop change either doubles or halves the Whole f/stop change either doubles or halves the amount of light entering the lens and reaching the amount of light entering the lens and reaching the sensor chip. The compact digital is limited to a sensor chip. The compact digital is limited to a three stop f/stop range.three stop f/stop range.

DSLR usually has a five stop f/stop range.DSLR usually has a five stop f/stop range.


HHard Facts: Apertureard Facts: Aperture

The hard facts are that you The hard facts are that you can’t let in more light than f/2.8. can’t let in more light than f/2.8. And you can’t let in less light And you can’t let in less light than f/8. than f/8.

Please remember this when Please remember this when you are shooting. It’s especially you are shooting. It’s especially important when the light level is important when the light level is low.low.


Soft Facts:Soft Facts:

There are other things that can be done There are other things that can be done to alter the amount of light reaching the to alter the amount of light reaching the sensor.sensor.

1.1.Place a neutral density filter over the Place a neutral density filter over the lens to reduce the amount of light.lens to reduce the amount of light.

2.2.Add light to the subject by using fill-Add light to the subject by using fill-cards.cards.

3.3.Decrease shutter speed to add Decrease shutter speed to add brightness and increase shutter speed to brightness and increase shutter speed to darken the image.darken the image.


SShutter Speeds: Whole stophutter Speeds: Whole stop

To ‘To ‘effectively’effectively’ let in more or less light is to change let in more or less light is to change the shutter speed. The shutter speed has a much the shutter speed. The shutter speed has a much broader range going from 30 full seconds to 1/2000 broader range going from 30 full seconds to 1/2000 sec. Better digitals have even wider range going sec. Better digitals have even wider range going from 60 seconds to 1/8000 sec.from 60 seconds to 1/8000 sec.

The recommended ‘safe’ shutter speed range is The recommended ‘safe’ shutter speed range is colorized in orange.colorized in orange.

4 sec 2 sec 1 sec ½ ¼ 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000


SShutter Speed: 1/3 stop Incrementshutter Speed: 1/3 stop Increments

The 1/3 stop speeds are bold and colorized to orange.The 1/3 stop speeds are bold and colorized to orange.

1/30 1/40 1/50 1/60 1/80 1/100 1/125 1/160 1/2001/250

Start paying attention to the shutter speed settings when shooting. If you don’t see the information on the LCD, toggle through the camera Display Options.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

AAperture Increments: 1/4, perture Increments: 1/4, 1/31/3, and 1/2 stop, and 1/2 stop

1/3 stop is the default compact digital increment. 1/3 stop is the default compact digital increment. DSLR cameras often have 3 different (1/4, 1/3, DSLR cameras often have 3 different (1/4, 1/3, and 1/2) f/stop increments.and 1/2) f/stop increments.

Example: EC -1.5Example: EC -1.5

If the aperture is If the aperture is f/4f/4, the correct EC adjusted f/stop , the correct EC adjusted f/stop is between f/5.6 and f/8, which is is between f/5.6 and f/8, which is f/6.7f/6.7..

2.82.8 3.23.2 3.63.6 44 4.54.5 55 5.65.6 6.36.3 7.17.1

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AAperture Increments: perture Increments:

EC adjustment can affect both the aperture and EC adjustment can affect both the aperture and shutter speed. In the previous example, only the shutter speed. In the previous example, only the aperture was changed.aperture was changed.

Combined: EC -1.5 exampleCombined: EC -1.5 example

The camera might choose to take half-stop from The camera might choose to take half-stop from the aperture and the rest (1 more stop) from the the aperture and the rest (1 more stop) from the shutter speed (1/30 sec might be changed to 1/60 shutter speed (1/30 sec might be changed to 1/60 sec). sec).



ECEC Adjustment: Two stop range by aperture or shutter speed Adjustment: Two stop range by aperture or shutter speed

+ 1+ 1 +.7+.7 +.3+.3 NN -.3-.3 -.7-.7 -1.0-1.0

Aperture Changes OnlyAperture Changes Only

f/2.8f/2.8 3.23.2 3.63.6 f/f/44 4.54.5 55 f/5.6f/5.6

Shutter Speed Changes OnlyShutter Speed Changes Only

1/301/30 1/401/40 1/501/50 1/601/60 1/801/80 1/1001/100 1/1251/125



BBeyond The Basics: Learn to see light…eyond The Basics: Learn to see light…

1.1. QualityQuality – use soft and forgiving light. Don’t – use soft and forgiving light. Don’t use hard direct sunlight which is hard to work use hard direct sunlight which is hard to work with.with.

2.2. QuantityQuantity – use bright light level. Don’t work – use bright light level. Don’t work with dim light which will cause noise (grain), with dim light which will cause noise (grain), lack of contrast, and poor color.lack of contrast, and poor color.

3.3. DirectionDirection – use side light for form. Don’t use – use side light for form. Don’t use front light which is flat. Back and top light is front light which is flat. Back and top light is also on the not recommended list.also on the not recommended list.


SSee The Light: Keep it simpleee The Light: Keep it simple

If you can see the light, it’ll be easy enough to let If you can see the light, it’ll be easy enough to let your expensive toy take care of the basic your expensive toy take care of the basic exposure. Avoid challenging your tool with things exposure. Avoid challenging your tool with things like:like:1.1.Direct sunlight or harsh indoor lighting.Direct sunlight or harsh indoor lighting.2.2.Black, white, shiny, or transparent subject or Black, white, shiny, or transparent subject or background.background.3.3.Light source like the sky, candle, hot reflection, or Light source like the sky, candle, hot reflection, or any other bright thing in the composition.any other bright thing in the composition.


MMore Rewarding Challenges:ore Rewarding Challenges:

While the camera can set the exposure ‘by the While the camera can set the exposure ‘by the numbers’, only you can make the aesthetic and story numbers’, only you can make the aesthetic and story decisions about the exact f/stop or the shutter speed.decisions about the exact f/stop or the shutter speed.

Getting beyond the basics can also mean to learn Getting beyond the basics can also mean to learn from your camera ‘Scene Modes’. Use the scene from your camera ‘Scene Modes’. Use the scene modes to shooti Portraits, Day or Night Scene, modes to shooti Portraits, Day or Night Scene, Fireworks, to Sunset. And learn by studying the EXIF Fireworks, to Sunset. And learn by studying the EXIF information about the ‘so called’ best settings.information about the ‘so called’ best settings.


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teacher: kenji tachibana digital photography i. correct exposure 19 slides

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