The histogram

[jgredline]

Hi Folks
Recently, I have set up my camera to show me the histogram right after I shoot the pic. I have found this especially helpful on bright sunny days as it shows me pretty quickly if it is over exposed...I wonder if there are any tips that you folks can share?

How to read one properly for example. I am sure there are many amateurs that would benefit from this info.
Thanks and I look forward to your responses,
javier

Note: edit for type's

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

here is a guide to reading the histogram written by our very own "Sebastian" very good read - well written

http://www.photographyreview.com/histogramguidecrx.aspx

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

here is another short course on them

http://www.shortcourses.com/how/hist...histograms.htm

biggest thing I have found to remember is that they are never the same. Always depends on the shot and what range of colors are in it. If its mostly dark it will be skewed to the left and vise versa.

[Xia_Ke]

Another excellent tutorial...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...stograms.shtml

[jgredline]

Thanks folks.
I have some reading to do

[Frog]

Thanks for asking jg.
One of the things I keep meaning to ask someday but hadn't got around to it yet.
And thanks for the answers Ben and Aaron.

[mn shutterbug]

Those were some great reads. I certainly learned a few things. Thanks all, for sharing.

[Xia_Ke]

Not sure if all cams have this but, for those that have color histograms...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/yrgb.htm

[jgredline]

Not sure if all cams have this but, for those that have color histograms...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/yrgb.htm

Xia
I just finished reading this article, actually both both of them...They are simple to understand and have already learned allot. Thanks,
javier

[another view]

I didn't check the other two, but Sebastian's article does a great job of explaining that a perfect bell curve does not equal a great photo. His shot with the swimmer would have been massively overexposed to get anywhere close to a bell curve (or as close as you could get to it).

By understanding how a histogram works, you should have an idea of what you want it to look like before you see it. Really, the histogram is about the best tool for photography since the advent of Tri-X film as long as you know how to interpret that information.

[jgredline]

Sebastian's article is really good. Simple and short...Ken Rockwells article kind of fills in the blanks...Especially in the color histograms...

[another view]

I don't tend to worry too much about the individual color histograms, but a lot of more technical photographers can tell you why it's important. Like a lot of aspects of photography there are some things that are important to you and some that aren't; and really I think it's a case of whatever works.

My point was that I have read articles about what a histogram is in the past, and they would have you believe that any shot with clipped shadows or blown highlights is one for the recycle bin (or Trash, as us Mac geeks call it). This really is not the case, IMO, and as explained in Sebastian's article. Know what you want your shot to look like, think about what the histogram should look like, and then check it to confirm that you have the results that you want.

[brmill26]

I had gotten a vague idea of what the histogram was, but didn't really know how (or why) it should change. Very good articles; thanks for the information.

[drewphotograph]

Thank you.
the articles have enlighten me too.
it helps me to understand how to make a good photo