Histogram...why can't i do this with the camera?

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:02 am

Whenever i take pics inside especially, hte histogram always has a flat 'tail' on it that i adjust through photoshop. The image improves dramatically.

Why can't the camera TAKE the picture like that to begin with? I hate having to adjust the levels ALL the time.

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 190

The camera CAN take the pictures like that, but you need to know how to make it do it.

Have you read about metering? If not, I suggest that would be a good place to start.

You need to learn how to use your camera's meter to get the exposure you're after. After all, the histogram is just a reflection of the data you captured during your photo's exposure. If you have to always adjust your levels, well then it's your fault as the photographer...it's not the camera. The camera is the tool, and quite capable of getting a good exposure, but you need to control it to get the RIGHT exposure.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:54 am

OK, so, altering my exposure compensation should make that adjustment? Thats the only metering and exposure adjustment im aware of.

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 190

your camera has a meter built into that selects the shutter speed and aperture needed to expose what it thinks is the optimal exposure. The thing is, it's not always right. You need to understand how it behaves so you can adjust it to get the exposure YOU think is optimal.

If you point your camera at a someone standing in front of a large bright window, you will most likely underexpose the person because the camera's default meter mode will be set to what's called "evaluative" metering which will take an average reading of all the light entering the lens. If you have a fair amount of that window in your frame, then the camera is going to be fooled into thinking there is way too much light in the scene and pick a shutter and aperture that will control the excessive light and the result will be an underexposed subject/person because the camera doesn't know that you want the optimal exposure to be only for the subject.

So what you'd want to do is set your meter mode to "spot" metering, point it at the subjects face, use the meter lock function to lock in that shutter/aperture combo, recompose your shot and fire away. This will result in an optimal subject exposure, (but you sacrifice the background in this particular scenario because the window will be overexposed and most likely have little or no detail left).

I strongly suggest reading your camera's manual, as boring as it sounds to find out what features it has available.

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:47 pm

I am very aware of how the camera works, and i have read the manual and still use it to the point the pages are worn, its a great reference.

I am familiar with the metering that you mentioned. I have the ability to use a SPOT, and then a CENTER WEIGHTED and then the General, or matrix metering.

Even with spot metering, the image STILL has a dead spot on the right side of the histogram. Ill try to get some pics, but no matter which meter method i use, i still get this and the only way to remove it is to go through photoshop.

Here is what the camera does with spot or center weighted +.3 exp. comp.

This is what i do in PS that i can't get the camera to do.