exposing to the right

[reemas]

ive heard on a few websites to overexpose or expose to the right is a good technique. here is a sample excerpt:
Within the first F/Stop, which contains the Brightest Tones 2048 levels available

Within the second F/Stop, which contains Bright Tones 1024 levels available

Within the third F/Stop, which contains the Mid-Tones 512 levels available

Within the fourth F/Stop, which contains Dark Tones 256 levels available

Within the fifth F/Stop, which contains the Darkest Tones 128 levels available

If you don't use the right-hand fifth of the histogram for recording some of your image you are wasting fully half of the available encoding levels of your camera, and it would give you a major advantage to bias your exposures so that the histogram is snugged up to the right, but not to the point that the highlights are blown.

My problem is, all my images are exposed in the center or to the left. Anything else always blows out highlights. I find this technique impossible. Any advice?

[randalcandari]

Try experimenting with exposure compensation and auto bracketing. If your subject is close enough, use fill flash.:)

[jimsolt]

ive heard on a few websites to overexpose or expose to the right is a good technique. here is a sample excerpt:


My problem is, all my images are exposed in the center or to the left. Anything else always blows out highlights. I find this technique impossible. Any advice?

Have you also heard the advice, "There's no such thing as a bad histogram."? You can try more exposure time and it might help, but if there is no really bright object in your subject, then it ain't there and overexposing it to try to make it bright will result in . . . well, overexposure.
If you take a picture of an 18% gray card it will show up on your histogram as a spike. It won't have a bright or dark side of the histogram because it isn't there. All that information that can be contained in the right hand fifth isn't there to start with.

Jim

[scottbergerphoto]

ive heard on a few websites to overexpose or expose to the right is a good technique. here is a sample excerpt:


My problem is, all my images are exposed in the center or to the left. Anything else always blows out highlights. I find this technique impossible. Any advice?
I shoot raw, maintain my histograms as far to the right as possible without clipping, and adjust the exposure in ACR. I don't have any problem with overexposure. If you give a step by step in your method, maybe we can tell what the problem is.

[PhotosGuy]

Post a 'problem' pic.
If there is a flat white object in a properly exposed shot, it's peak should be at the right. An object, like chrome, that reflects a bright sky in a shot might give you an incorrect low exposure if you bring that peak down to the right. A pic only composed of darker, non-white objects should not be pushed to the right.
Reading these might help.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58677