Exposed! :: It's like Insurance for your Photos! ::

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Contents

• Bracketing
• Exposure Bracketing
• How much bracketing?
• Too good for bracketing?
• High Dynamic Range Photography
• Compositional Bracketing
• Pro Perspective
• Homework
• Final Frame

I don't like early mornings.
"But you're a photographer!" people gasp.

Mornings and I are not best friends. As a photographer there are times I need to be up far too early to catch the stillness and vibrancy of the early light. When I do get up before dawn I rely on insurance to protect my shooting investment and ensure spectacular and plentiful results!

In this month's Exposed! we discuss photographer's insurance or how to stack the odds in your favour for better photos and more sales.

Bracketing

The insurance I use is called bracketing. I use two types. One to help me nail exposure and one to ensure I get the 'correct' composition for the end user. Bracketing can:

• produce greater choices of imagery
• broaden your exposure tolerance
• boost your reputation
• make you and your imagery shine

Exposure Bracketing

Bracketing for exposure starts with your best guess at exposure - using manual or other 'tried and true' techniques - and adjusting from there:

• Take your best educated guess for a scene's exposure
• Take a picture
• Capture the same scene purposefully overexposing the subject slightly
• Take a third picture purposefully underexposing the scene slightly.

Over and under exposure can be achieved with aperture, shutter speed or, if using an auto exposure mode, exposure compensation.

Drums - ChelseaGallery.ca

The drum set photo was taken after shooting a rock band as part of my stock work. The band, Stuck on Saturn, had left the stage and I was gathering my equipment. I looked up and saw the drums sparkling magnificently. I knew I needed the shot but had NO IDEA how much time I'd have until the lights were killed. I scrambled and fired off a wide range of exposures to make sure I got the exposure. And I nailed it. Bracketing widely got me the shot.

How much bracketing?

The more confident you are of your exposure estimate' the less you need to bracket - 1/3 f-stop, over and under.
If you have no idea of the exposure bracket significantly - 1 and 2 full stops each way.
Even if you are quite certain of exposure, your final picture will benefit from a broader choice of subtle differences.

Too good for bracketing?

"I don't need bracketing. My digital preview tells me everything! "
Think again - your digital preview is a very rough estimate at best. The histogram will give you more info. However, the tiny screen will not give the full picture on exposure. Too bad if you return from Africa and find everything is slightly underexposed! Bracketing gives you tolerance. It is inexpensive insurance that helps you capture the best African light possible.

"I can just fix the picture in Photoshop or Lightroom"
Those post processing tools are amazing and can help. But bracketing will give you a wider tolerance that will give more leeway and a better final product.

High Dynamic Range Photography

Have you ever heard of High Dynamic Range Photography? HDR is a fancy name for a single image produced by creating layers of BRACKETED photos to show a wider range of exposure latitude. The benefits of bracketing used in HDR will improve your everyday photography!

Compositional Bracketing

Like exposure bracketing, compositional bracketing has benefits for your photography. Once you have your approximate subject defined it is always good to produce variations of the same scene, where possible:

• vertical orientation
• horizontal orientation
• adjust small details within the composition

Compositional bracketing will help you get most mileage out of your photo safari. After all the planning and expense of preparing a shoot it is wise to capture the scene in as many different ways as possible.

Asking your subject to change their outfit slightly, change their stance, hold flowers-book-backpack, can add value to your series of pictures. Shooting similar alternatives of the same theme or subject will ensure you get a successful selection of imagery.

A golf variation has done well!

I shot a series of golf for my stock work at my local golf course. The light was perfect. I had time on my side. And I shot every conceivable angle to make sure I maximized my chances of sales. A good job as one of the shots in this series has been a big winner for me!

Pro Perspective

In my assignment and stock work it is critical to bracket for exposure and composition. Once I have more time in my studio I can critically edit the shoot for small differences in exposure.

I can offer the client a variety of compositions that will accommodate more text, layout, and thematic differences. Bracketing can help produce more sales and happy, repeat clients!

Homework

Homework this month is easy and interesting. There are two parts.

• Find a scene with a variety of different light levels - a scene including shade, full sun and mixed light in between. Bracket a huge range of exposures. I chose a single pumpkin and the same lighting, below, to demonstrate the effects of bracketing widely. Import the files into your computer or develop the film. Notice how different elements of the photos have different exposures in the different variations of the same scene. Ask yourself often "what am I exposing for?"
  

Same pumpkin, same lighting - different exposures

• Choose a specific subject and frame it in many different ways while using the same lens, perspective and exposure. Include and exclude different elements within the scene just by using the viewfinder. Notice the effect of different framing variations when evaluating the pictures.

We explore the benefits of advanced exposure and composition details in my upcoming Urban Landscapes photo workshop!

Final Frame

Elements of photography are quite simple. Tuning into the subtle nuances available through bracketing will give you more choices, better photos and the peace of mind of a good insurance policy!

Take photos. Have fun!