Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today! bcgforums.com/index.php Bonus - I also post exclusive tips, tricks, and techniques to the forum you can't get anywhere else! Check it out!
Why pay for camera school when I can just watch you? Great job! I was kinda avoiding using histograms cause I thought they were hard to use. Thank you soooooo much!!
Steve greatest tutorial on histogram right here. Nailed it as usual. I was teaching my son on understanding histograms and you bro made my life a whole lot easier THANK YOU. Oh and BTW send a link of this video to Ken I think he needs to be reminded how the hell the histogram works..... LOL
Eleftherios Kritikakis, well said sir, he deleted my comments all together too, obviously he cannot handle the truth, people who have good knowledge could see how elementary his shots were. I do thank Steven though for his tutorials, both on YT and on his website, he is a wildlife photography Guru, very modest with acute sense of humor always to the point and away from infomercial BS. Thanks Steven well done my man.
coolpix or non of any available camera would have the GFX dynamic range ...(Girl on a fence ) its all about Dynamic range.... the mind blowing dynamic range of the GFX ,... the Dynamic range.... Not a tourist shots ... not a portrait shooting skills competition ... its the Hi Dynamic range ... thats whats all about it ( girl on a fence).....
How am I just finding out about you now?!?! Your video's and teaching style is by far the best I've watched/followed on UA-cam. But, not only that your photography is simply amazing and I feel much better following the advice from someone who not only can talk the talk but can walk the walk. I will be buying your ebooks, but I sure do wish you had them in print as I'm a very tactile person and love books lol....I'm just curious, do you do workshops?
Thanks! I've looked into printing the books, but it's prohibitively expensive due to the length and all the pics. I don't currently do workshops, but that may change in the future. Right now, too busy with books, articles, and videos!
I agree Mona. Could be the level we shoot at. I could see this being too advanced for novice shooters (That most aim at), and the most experienced advanced shooters often don't watch these videos LOL
The best photography teacher I’ve found on UA-cam so far! You make everything so easy to understand by giving many examples and very clear explanations which assume no prior knowledge but have a high level of detail! It makes me want to watch all your videos
My question about histograms has to do when you're editing the RAW file in ACR. When I'm adjusting a file with lots of midtone information, I'll make a slight adjustment in any of the basic panel tools. Suddenly, my midtones just shrink down but there is no corresponding move in either highlights or shadows. The data just "disappears." Where are those pixels going? The image was barely adjusted yet the histogram becomes quite flat. Am I making sense?
Victor Goodpasture try bringing them back in tone curves? I personally don’t like using the basics panel from adjusting shadows, whites, highlights. It seems too destructive for my work
This is the second or third video I have watched, trying to understand histograms, and the ONLY ONE that has been helpful to me. Your explanations are clear and easily understood by this new photographer. Thank you so very much.
Thank ❤ sir for making such wonderful videos. Sir did you make the video of colourful histograms you had mentioned at the end of this video? If yes pls provide the link of the video.
Reading histogram is the best skill a budding photographers can learn. I practiced a lot of photography exercise but didn't get satisfactory result. But once I learnt the language of histogram, my photos came out outstanding quality. The best way to gauge the photography skills is to watch the jpeg file straight out of camera. If it comes out right, you get maximum data out of sensor and as a result, you need to work less on RAW files. You just need to avoid over exposure by watching the right side of histogram peaks. If the mount is clipped on the right sides and you see blinkies on some areas of the captured pic on the camera screen, you have most probably overexposed. Dial in 1/3rd step of exposure compensation and again look out for blinkies and clipped highlights as per histogram. The best histogram is the one which has peaks spread all over the range of highlights, mid tones and shadows. This way you can capture full range of photographed data in your raw file and need very slight adjustment for final printing.
Thank ❤ sir for making such wonderful videos. Sir did you make the video of colourful histograms you had mentioned at the end of this video? If yes pls provide the link of the video
I like you - I like you very much, You have an outstanding presentation style. I've looked at many "tube videos on photography subjects and yours are heads and shoulders above the rest. I feel like I do when I see a great street musician and I have to put some $$ in his/her can. I don't even do nature photography - I do urban landscapes and portraits - but your videos are about the only ones I actually watch all the way through. Thank you
Thank you for posting. I do more cine work or broadcast work and really prefer Waveform Monitors.. I really really wish DSLR’s and Mirrorless cameras had that option. Even live histograms would be welcome (only available on higher end DSLR’s and Mirrorless... should be standard on every model, but oh well.). I assume waveforms are far more taxing on small camera CPU’s?
I think histograms are the one thing that people get confused about. There is no right or wrong to histograms. Just keep your exposure so you don't have spikes in the shadows or highlights which usually means clipping. That's all I pay attention to at least. I mean they are useful, but they just tell you about the distribution of light in your photo (from light to dark). But I tell people there is no real right or wrong histogram, or perfect histogram (unless you photograph a gradiant from white to black... maybe then we could say that's a perfect histogram (evenly balanced) but it's not a very impressive or compelling composition. I just look for the blinkies (highlight warning and spikes on the right) and spikes on the left (shadows) and that's really it. Once I've accounted for those (or adjusted for them) then I don't dwell on the rest of the histogram that much.
Nice job. I'm amazed at how many photographers (even pros) don't really understand what the histogram is, or how it works. Too many times I have heard the phrase, "if it's to the right, it's over exposed", as if it is a light meter not a pixel graph.
Like most photographers on UA-cam, I watch a number of different reviewers/instructors but I find you're perhaps the best one. I learned so much in this video that I didn't think I'd learn beforehand! Great graphics, clear explanations, plus learning about things that didn't make sense to me before like choosing a flatter picture profile. I also like how you show how to change settings; most others just talk about it and that makes no sense. One of the best photog videos I've ever watched!!
The histogram is totally over rated..........Regardless if the histograms say your picture has to much or little highlight or shadow in the end you're going to look at the picture and either going to like it or not. It might say there is too much highlight but the picture might look great to your eye.
Another great video, already subscribed, downloading the book, looking forward to getting stuck in, I've been a Nikon user for many years now, long before digital, I don't think digital was even science fiction back then. Cheers Steve. Definately the definative site for Nikon users...
I have my Df setup to see the histogram on playback (and also my previous Nikon DSLRs) but honestly with my GH5 it's much easier because I see the image before I capture in the EVF and the histogram live at the bottom left of my EVF. ;-)
What is your software workflow? Near the end, you mentioned that when back home, you can change the picture control and you displayed the Nikon software. I just completely ignore the Nikon software in favor of others. Should I be including it?
Your tutorials are easily one of the best. Very interesting, lucid and to the point. I have a question to ask. How do I control the clippings in the histogram ? Looking to your early revert. Thanks & Regards.
If you're clipping, your exposure is too bright so you have to drop it down, either with exposure compensation or using manual mode. (I have a video somewhere on exposure comp too :) )
Thanks Steve, not sure how you don't have more subscribers as your videos are incredibly detailed and extremely informative. Keep up the great work, thoroughly enjoy each and every video you produce. You're single-handedly making us all better photographers with your in-depth videos.
Thanks :) I think the lack of subs is because I don't put out videos at the rate other channels do. I try to leverage the format as much as I can, so there's a lot of b-roll and it takes time. That, and I'm out shooting and running workshops all the time :)
Just wanted to say this is a level of understanding the Histogram I had not had before. Excellent video and a game changer in my photo world. Thanks, SUBCRIBED.
Excellent video! I learned so much in such a short amount of time. You speak in "people" language instead of tech talk. It was extremely clear and informative. Thanks again!
Dear Steve, perfect... I mean perfect explanation and with graphical support ! I am working with histograms for a long time with all my Nikon and Fuji cameras ! This is the trick to keep in mind for newbies as well for experts, I never ever trust any of my LCD screens, only the histogram is talking. Thanks for your time, I will show this video to a friend of mine, who is really into exposing to the left on every photo, which is not good at all.
Absolutely TO THE POINT...without aaaaaaaaah....hmmmmmmms.... helping people to understand it using simple and logical way like teaching little children...I have known many of the info about histogram and that makes me to even more appreciate the way you explain things in your videos...since English is my secondary language. Really - Great Job. michael
I know you mentioned that you would cover the color histograms in another video but they can be very helpful to tell us when you are clipping a red channel when photographing a red flower for example. We can totally blow out one channel when there is a lot of reds or blues in an image and the B&W histogram will look normal.
Yup - but the thing is, they can be tricky. They are influenced by both exposure AND white balance. So, if you have the WB set too warm, it can look like you're blowing he red channel - although the same thing can happen with over exposure. It's enough that I think it needs its own video :)
You are a lot smarter on these things than I am. I have just noticed there are times when I lost all the detail in a red flower though the B&W Histogram looked fine. Look at the color one and the red was totally blown away. I don't trust auto white balance but that comes from the days before I was shooting all RAW. Sometimes the camera gets it totally wrong and it is hard to fix in a JPG file. Now I shoot all RAW but I keep my white balance set to daylight so I know it will act similar to the days I was shooting daylight film. I had used flash WB before but I don't notice much difference. Perhaps it is a tad warmer. I know a guy that shoots only JPG and he is an awesome photographer. He thinks it is the same. I have to disagree. It is the same maybe if you get everything right in camera as far as exposure and WB but if there is a lot of contrast or the WB is off it is a lot harder to fix after the fact. I think JPG shooters are throwing away a lot of the capabilities of their equipment. But what do I know? Maybe I am just not good enough to always get it perfect in camera.
Excellent explanation of histograms. I watched several other videos on this topic and yours is the best. I appreciate the examples you give. Thank you and all the best!
Once again. I really like your videos. They’re entertaining without the flash and dash and I can easily understand your information. Well done! You’re making me enjoy my new d850 so much more.
Good presentations. I like how each video handles a particular setting. I wish I'd had these years back but they will be useful for my safari trip to South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe in October 2019.
Thank you so much for these videos! I'm a rookie photographer that used Instamatic's and just bought a Nikon 5600. I'm so overwhelmed. I don't know a f-stop from a ISO, lol. Struggling but having fun. I do a lot of outdoor activities and so many times wished I had a good camera. Now if I can just figure out what 'm doing, this will be fun.
Try taking a raw image of anything, a forest scene etc, that has no clipping or blinkies on the histogram but if you increase the exposure by a third of a stop then you get blinkies and/or clipping. Now take the image into photoshop. You will have the same histogram, but then try pushing the exposure slider up until you get the clipping warnings and back off until they stop. See a difference? That is the headroom a raw file gives you. It's a nice surprise if you don't know about it! 😀 One caveat - I'm a Canon shooter. I don't know if the same applies to Nikon, Sony etc but I don't see why it shouldn't.
Kick ass. Ive watched a few videos, but this one made the best argument and/or sense for using histograms to get quick useable info. Its also made me understand why I can to shoot one disc in JPEG BUT still do RAW on the other as a Dog Sports photographer. Ive encountered pretty much every problem you described and the added info on cameras settings was a bonus to add to the education base :)
💥I always greatly enjoy your content, Steve. After watching this I’m convinced that I can’t go by what I’m seeing in my histogram since as you said every scene is different based on the amount of overall highlights or shadows. It doesn’t know what part of the scene I had intended on exposing properly.
If you're looking at every single photo on the preview screen after you take it you're not ready to be a photographer. Learn basic photography and trust your skills.
Thank you so much! This was by far the clearest and most appropriately nuanced explanation I have seen. Typically, the advice I have run into was to keep everything in the middle and have nothing climbing the walls...actually not helpful with dark and light tones, as he points out.
such a simple explanation oh my god, finally. people wrote long tiring articles, long videos, but you just explain things so well. thank you steve, i always love your videos.
Yup - that's why I recommend using a flatter profile (starting at about 7.45) in the video for a closer approximation of what you'll get in the RAW file. It's not perfect, but it gets you close.
There's a sort-of solution: flat profile and Unified WB (WB where R,G, and B are all close to 1). This leaves you with a green tint in your embedded jpg, which I found distracting enough to switch to a flat B&W profile. Bright side on B&W: it seems to help my composition evaluation a bit.
With a good understanding of metering you'll know what your image & histogram will look like before you take the shot. I'm glad you said it needs to represent the tones in your image rather than the other 'experts' on youtube saying it always has to be even. They should be kicked off youtube for misleading people.
Back in the film days. We developed (no pun intended) an eye for exposure and compostion. When we saw pictures in a forest . Quite a few could hit it on the nose. I am going to try it. I think it is a useful tool.
Have nature and wildlife photography questions? Check out the BCG Forums! Ask and answer gear and technique questions questions, post photos and more. Check it out and sign up today!
bcgforums.com/index.php
Bonus - I also post exclusive tips, tricks, and techniques to the forum you can't get anywhere else! Check it out!
Why pay for camera school when I can just watch you? Great job! I was kinda avoiding using histograms cause I thought they were hard to use. Thank you soooooo much!!
Steve greatest tutorial on histogram right here. Nailed it as usual. I was teaching my son on understanding histograms and you bro made my life a whole lot easier THANK YOU. Oh and BTW send a link of this video to Ken I think he needs to be reminded how the hell the histogram works..... LOL
+Christos, whos Ken ? :)
Eleftherios Kritikakis, well said sir, he deleted my comments all together too, obviously he cannot handle the truth, people who have good knowledge could see how elementary his shots were. I do thank Steven though for his tutorials, both on YT and on his website, he is a wildlife photography Guru, very modest with acute sense of humor always to the point and away from infomercial BS. Thanks Steven well done my man.
coolpix or non of any available camera would have the GFX dynamic range ...(Girl on a fence ) its all about Dynamic range.... the mind blowing dynamic range of the GFX ,... the Dynamic range.... Not a tourist shots ... not a portrait shooting skills competition ... its the Hi Dynamic range ... thats whats all about it ( girl on a fence).....
How am I just finding out about you now?!?! Your video's and teaching style is by far the best I've watched/followed on UA-cam. But, not only that your photography is simply amazing and I feel much better following the advice from someone who not only can talk the talk but can walk the walk. I will be buying your ebooks, but I sure do wish you had them in print as I'm a very tactile person and love books lol....I'm just curious, do you do workshops?
Thanks! I've looked into printing the books, but it's prohibitively expensive due to the length and all the pics. I don't currently do workshops, but that may change in the future. Right now, too busy with books, articles, and videos!
your teaching is the best and ez to understand. Many thanks
I agree Mona. Could be the level we shoot at. I could see this being too advanced for novice shooters (That most aim at), and the most experienced advanced shooters often don't watch these videos LOL
🙏🌹🇮🇳 PSSPPP 🇮🇳 PALOJU JAI SRIRAM 🇮🇳🌹🙏
The best !!!!!!!
The most simple and greatest explanation for histograms. Thank you friend 😊
I definitely agree.
The best photography teacher I’ve found on UA-cam so far! You make everything so easy to understand by giving many examples and very clear explanations which assume no prior knowledge but have a high level of detail! It makes me want to watch all your videos
Hi Steve,
looking forward to watch your next Colour Histogram video.
Thanks.
-T.
My question about histograms has to do when you're editing the RAW file in ACR. When I'm adjusting a file with lots of midtone information, I'll make a slight adjustment in any of the basic panel tools. Suddenly, my midtones just shrink down but there is no corresponding move in either highlights or shadows. The data just "disappears." Where are those pixels going? The image was barely adjusted yet the histogram becomes quite flat. Am I making sense?
Victor Goodpasture try bringing them back in tone curves? I personally don’t like using the basics panel from adjusting shadows, whites, highlights. It seems too destructive for my work
This is the second or third video I have watched, trying to understand histograms, and the ONLY ONE that has been helpful to me. Your explanations are clear and easily understood by this new photographer. Thank you so very much.
Such a good vid! Thanks :)
Thank ❤ sir for making such wonderful videos. Sir did you make the video of colourful histograms you had mentioned at the end of this video? If yes pls provide the link of the video.
Reading histogram is the best skill a budding photographers can learn. I practiced a lot of photography exercise but didn't get satisfactory result.
But once I learnt the language of histogram, my photos came out outstanding quality.
The best way to gauge the photography skills is to watch the jpeg file straight out of camera. If it comes out right, you get maximum data out of sensor and as a result, you need to work less on RAW files.
You just need to avoid over exposure by watching the right side of histogram peaks. If the mount is clipped on the right sides and you see blinkies on some areas of the captured pic on the camera screen, you have most probably overexposed. Dial in 1/3rd step of exposure compensation and again look out for blinkies and clipped highlights as per histogram.
The best histogram is the one which has peaks spread all over the range of highlights, mid tones and shadows.
This way you can capture full range of photographed data in your raw file and need very slight adjustment for final printing.
Thank ❤ sir for making such wonderful videos. Sir did you make the video of colourful histograms you had mentioned at the end of this video? If yes pls provide the link of the video
I like you - I like you very much, You have an outstanding presentation style. I've looked at many "tube videos on photography subjects and yours are heads and shoulders above the rest. I feel like I do when I see a great street musician and I have to put some $$ in his/her can. I don't even do nature photography - I do urban landscapes and portraits - but your videos are about the only ones I actually watch all the way through. Thank you
Thank you for posting. I do more cine work or broadcast work and really prefer Waveform Monitors.. I really really wish DSLR’s and Mirrorless cameras had that option. Even live histograms would be welcome (only available on higher end DSLR’s and Mirrorless... should be standard on every model, but oh well.). I assume waveforms are far more taxing on small camera CPU’s?
Very good voice, good speed, good explanation, great graphics, super clipping - subscriped
Better than the last eight videos I've watched explaining the histogram. Thanks!
I think histograms are the one thing that people get confused about. There is no right or wrong to histograms. Just keep your exposure so you don't have spikes in the shadows or highlights which usually means clipping. That's all I pay attention to at least. I mean they are useful, but they just tell you about the distribution of light in your photo (from light to dark). But I tell people there is no real right or wrong histogram, or perfect histogram (unless you photograph a gradiant from white to black... maybe then we could say that's a perfect histogram (evenly balanced) but it's not a very impressive or compelling composition. I just look for the blinkies (highlight warning and spikes on the right) and spikes on the left (shadows) and that's really it. Once I've accounted for those (or adjusted for them) then I don't dwell on the rest of the histogram that much.
Helped me a lot with understanding a histogram. Each photo will be different. Thank you
Thank you! Such a helpful video
Nice job. I'm amazed at how many photographers (even pros) don't really understand what the histogram is, or how it works. Too many times I have heard the phrase, "if it's to the right, it's over exposed", as if it is a light meter not a pixel graph.
Wow, what a great video you had produced! I had learn a lot from it. Please keep up the Good Work!!!
Love your tutorials! Very good instructional video. Thank you very much for the same 👍😎
Thank you Steve. I always enjoy watching your videos.
this video was very informative to me ,Im brand new to photography,and this video is much easier to understand, thank you steve perry,
My histogram keeps touching the top of my graph. How do I bring the peak back down into range?
Like most photographers on UA-cam, I watch a number of different reviewers/instructors but I find you're perhaps the best one. I learned so much in this video that I didn't think I'd learn beforehand! Great graphics, clear explanations, plus learning about things that didn't make sense to me before like choosing a flatter picture profile. I also like how you show how to change settings; most others just talk about it and that makes no sense. One of the best photog videos I've ever watched!!
Great video. I also enjoy your 'style' in the delivery of the subject matter. Very informative and relaxed viewing.
Thank you very much for your tutorials, for they are most helpful. I do like your presentation.
The histogram is totally over rated..........Regardless if the histograms say your picture has to much or little highlight or shadow
in the end you're going to look at the picture and either going to like it or not. It might say there is too much highlight but the picture might look great to your eye.
You’ve just explained something that has baffled me for a long time. Thanks so much! :)
Great video but where is the RGB version that you said you were going to make
HI i have the Nikon D7000 and cannot get the histogram to show on live view is this normal on this model , Regards Mick
Another great video, already subscribed, downloading the book, looking forward to getting stuck in, I've been a Nikon user for many years now, long before digital, I don't think digital was even science fiction back then. Cheers Steve. Definately the definative site for Nikon users...
i rarely comment but man youre so fucking good at explaining stuff
I'm impressed. I always enjoy your videos but your graphics were particularly good this time. Good job!
Still think Histograms are unnecessary hype
Steve... Do you find yourself shooting over expose?
great video. you might consider talking a little slower.
you can slow the video down with the settings
Pure knowledge. Informative.
You took me one step further in understanding histograms.
thanks.
Excelent, hardest for understand your language.
I have my Df setup to see the histogram on playback (and also my previous Nikon DSLRs) but honestly with my GH5 it's much easier because I see the image before I capture in the EVF and the histogram live at the bottom left of my EVF. ;-)
So when i should change the histograms than the pictures change?
Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge
What is your software workflow? Near the end, you mentioned that when back home, you can change the picture control and you displayed the Nikon software. I just completely ignore the Nikon software in favor of others. Should I be including it?
I use Lightroom - I can just change to a different profile if I like with the little drop menu.
Your tutorials are easily one of the best. Very interesting, lucid and to the point. I have a question to ask. How do I control the clippings in the histogram ? Looking to your early revert. Thanks & Regards.
If you're clipping, your exposure is too bright so you have to drop it down, either with exposure compensation or using manual mode. (I have a video somewhere on exposure comp too :) )
Thanks Steve, not sure how you don't have more subscribers as your videos are incredibly detailed and extremely informative. Keep up the great work, thoroughly enjoy each and every video you produce. You're single-handedly making us all better photographers with your in-depth videos.
Thanks :) I think the lack of subs is because I don't put out videos at the rate other channels do. I try to leverage the format as much as I can, so there's a lot of b-roll and it takes time. That, and I'm out shooting and running workshops all the time :)
Quick question- How does using external flashes (aka speedlites) affect histograms?
The light source doesn't really matter - they still show you the distribution of brightness in the image.
Just wanted to say this is a level of understanding the Histogram I had not had before. Excellent video and a game changer in my photo world. Thanks, SUBCRIBED.
Awesome vid! Great explanation!
Finally a video that helps me understand. I've watched several others and they just don't explain it as well as you did. Thanks so much! :)
Very informative.. Thank you..
pretty helpful. Thank you so much
Finally a video that explains histograms properly thank you. 😊 Subscribed!!
I've been scouring youtube for good photography tutorials. You, Steve Perry, are the best I've found. Thank you thank you! I've just subscribed.
Excellent video! I learned so much in such a short amount of time. You speak in "people" language instead of tech talk. It was extremely clear and informative. Thanks again!
This was priceless to me thank you
Nice Video. Thank you Steve
Brilliant explanation. Thank you!
Start a photography school sir
And thank you
Dear Steve, perfect... I mean perfect explanation and with graphical support ! I am working with histograms for a long time with all my Nikon and Fuji cameras ! This is the trick to keep in mind for newbies as well for experts, I never ever trust any of my LCD screens, only the histogram is talking. Thanks for your time, I will show this video to a friend of mine, who is really into exposing to the left on every photo, which is not good at all.
This lesson, like your books, is excellent.
Absolutely TO THE POINT...without aaaaaaaaah....hmmmmmmms.... helping people to understand it using simple and logical way like teaching little children...I have known many of the info about histogram and that makes me to even more appreciate the way you explain things in your videos...since English is my secondary language. Really - Great Job. michael
Steve, I never fail too learn something IMPORTANT when viewing your video’s and this one “Histograms” is no exception, Thank You.
Really informative. Great video
Wonderful explanation and video!
I know you mentioned that you would cover the color histograms in another video but they can be very helpful to tell us when you are clipping a red channel when photographing a red flower for example. We can totally blow out one channel when there is a lot of reds or blues in an image and the B&W histogram will look normal.
Yup - but the thing is, they can be tricky. They are influenced by both exposure AND white balance. So, if you have the WB set too warm, it can look like you're blowing he red channel - although the same thing can happen with over exposure. It's enough that I think it needs its own video :)
You are a lot smarter on these things than I am. I have just noticed there are times when I lost all the detail in a red flower though the B&W Histogram looked fine. Look at the color one and the red was totally blown away. I don't trust auto white balance but that comes from the days before I was shooting all RAW. Sometimes the camera gets it totally wrong and it is hard to fix in a JPG file. Now I shoot all RAW but I keep my white balance set to daylight so I know it will act similar to the days I was shooting daylight film. I had used flash WB before but I don't notice much difference. Perhaps it is a tad warmer. I know a guy that shoots only JPG and he is an awesome photographer. He thinks it is the same. I have to disagree. It is the same maybe if you get everything right in camera as far as exposure and WB but if there is a lot of contrast or the WB is off it is a lot harder to fix after the fact. I think JPG shooters are throwing away a lot of the capabilities of their equipment. But what do I know? Maybe I am just not good enough to always get it perfect in camera.
Excellent explanation of histograms. I watched several other videos on this topic and yours is the best. I appreciate the examples you give. Thank you and all the best!
Awesome video and tutorial 👌
Histograms are a valuable source of information. If you can, however, always shoot in RAW. Lots you can do in post production.
Thanks, great video! Now i actually feel that I understand how histagrams work.
Absolutely loved it. Good explaining, authentic and some real good knowledge. Thank You Steve!
thank you for very informative video
Once again. I really like your videos. They’re entertaining without the flash and dash and I can easily understand your information. Well done! You’re making me enjoy my new d850 so much more.
Good presentations. I like how each video handles a particular setting. I wish I'd had these years back but they will be useful for my safari trip to South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe in October 2019.
I also like to use the blinkies as they will give me a quick indication.
Same here - they're on the agenda :)
As always, you are an invaluable resource
Thank you so much for the histogram tutorial, brief, simple and very informative.
Thank you so much for these videos! I'm a rookie photographer that used Instamatic's and just bought a Nikon 5600. I'm so overwhelmed. I don't know a f-stop from a ISO, lol. Struggling but having fun. I do a lot of outdoor activities and so many times wished I had a good camera. Now if I can just figure out what 'm doing, this will be fun.
Try taking a raw image of anything, a forest scene etc, that has no clipping or blinkies on the histogram but if you increase the exposure by a third of a stop then you get blinkies and/or clipping. Now take the image into photoshop. You will have the same histogram, but then try pushing the exposure slider up until you get the clipping warnings and back off until they stop. See a difference? That is the headroom a raw file gives you. It's a nice surprise if you don't know about it! 😀 One caveat - I'm a Canon shooter. I don't know if the same applies to Nikon, Sony etc but I don't see why it shouldn't.
Kick ass. Ive watched a few videos, but this one made the best argument and/or sense for using histograms to get quick useable info. Its also made me understand why I can to shoot one disc in JPEG BUT still do RAW on the other as a Dog Sports photographer. Ive encountered pretty much every problem you described and the added info on cameras settings was a bonus to add to the education base :)
Enjoyed the tutorial, always good to remind yourself of the basics.
Cheers
💥I always greatly enjoy your content, Steve. After watching this I’m convinced that I can’t go by what I’m seeing in my histogram since as you said every scene is different based on the amount of overall highlights or shadows. It doesn’t know what part of the scene I had intended on exposing properly.
cant stand the self promotion.. it is NOT what youtube was made for !
If you're looking at every single photo on the preview screen after you take it you're not ready to be a photographer.
Learn basic photography and trust your skills.
Can you have your histogram live in your viewfinder to make adjustments prior to taking the photo? In a Nikon D5100 model…
Not a DSLR's, but you can't on mirrorless.
Thank you very much for this informative video... I am brand new to photography and you just helped me a great deal. Thanks again, Nancy
This is by far the best explanation on YT. Thank you for making such a concise video!
Thank you so much! This was by far the clearest and most appropriately nuanced explanation I have seen. Typically, the advice I have run into was to keep everything in the middle and have nothing climbing the walls...actually not helpful with dark and light tones, as he points out.
i subscribed. Youre welcome
such a simple explanation oh my god, finally. people wrote long tiring articles, long videos, but you just explain things so well. thank you steve, i always love your videos.
Hi Steve. Isn't the Histogram deceiving since it's a representation of the camera's JPG rendition and not taken from a RAW (NEF)?
Steve explained exactly this in the video. so yes the histogram is based on the JPEG image generated within the RAW file itself.
Yup - that's why I recommend using a flatter profile (starting at about 7.45) in the video for a closer approximation of what you'll get in the RAW file. It's not perfect, but it gets you close.
Thanks. I jumped ahead of time... After 4:15 minutes into the video :)
There's a sort-of solution: flat profile and Unified WB (WB where R,G, and B are all close to 1). This leaves you with a green tint in your embedded jpg, which I found distracting enough to switch to a flat B&W profile. Bright side on B&W: it seems to help my composition evaluation a bit.
Sharon Leibel :
I love this, thanks
this was the most informative, straight to the point video about histograms. no need for gimmicks. thank you!
Well explained. Thanks!
With a good understanding of metering you'll know what your image & histogram will look like before you take the shot. I'm glad you said it needs to represent the tones in your image rather than the other 'experts' on youtube saying it always has to be even. They should be kicked off youtube for misleading people.
Back in the film days. We developed (no pun intended) an eye for exposure and compostion. When we saw pictures in a forest . Quite a few could hit it on the nose. I am going to try it. I think it is a useful tool.