Histograms - An Infomercial

I have made updates to my articles on Histograms - for those interested check out the links below:

************Histograms​***************
A short Tutorial on Histograms:
http://www.zaffora.com …togram_What_and​_HowTo.htm
or download as a PDF:
http://www.zaffora.com …togram_What_and​_HowTo.pdf

A Tutorial on Reading Histograms:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/ReadingHistogra​m.htm
or download as a PDF:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/ReadingHistogra​m.pdf
[This is later than the one above]

Many thanks Robert. I'll give them a read. This is something i can sure stand to better understand. I've been trying the 'shoot to the right' but find it requires quit a bit more PP than getting it right the first time.

Thanks for putting the work into this and making it available Bob. This is good "need to know" information that digital shooters should be up to speed on. Much appreciated.

No disrespect intended, I find that it is information like this that takes all of the fun out of photography. I do not doubt the integrity of the information but what happened to bracket, bracket, bracket? I'm sure that the results I achieved in the darkroom relied on little data other than that for mixing the chemicals. It was all trial and error and that is how I learned. going to the camera club and having my efforts judged by my peers, corrective advice readily given, gratefully received and faithfully applied.

It was results that mattered, not data processing. The content of the picture was the goal, not the technical correctness of it.

As I am writing this I am relising in my head that there are distinct paralells so I'm going to stop now before I paint myself into a corner.

Thanks for that Bob!

Richard Lincoln wrote in post #4609964
No disrespect intended, I find that it is information like this that takes all of the fun out of photography. I do not doubt the integrity of the information but what happened to bracket, bracket, bracket? I'm sure that the results I achieved in the darkroom relied on little data other than that for mixing the chemicals. It was all trial and error and that is how I learned. going to the camera club and having my efforts judged by my peers, advice readily given and greatfully received.

It was results that mattered, not data processing. The content of the picture was the goal, not the technical correctness of it.

As I am writing this I am relising in my head that there are distinct paralells so I'm going to stop now before I paint myself into a corner.

Thanks for that Bob!

The histogram is quite important for some people. It's a graphical representation of the data you've captured. I use it to gauge if my eye is working to capture all that the camera can.

Don't dis the histogram, it is a key to understanding the difference between life in the darkroom and the digital age.

Thats part o the dawn of realisation that occurred whilst i was writing my reply!

Bob - I never realized you were a Ham. So am I - call is KA9DDN.

SkipD wrote in post #4610091
Bob - I never realized you were a Ham. So am I - call is KA9DDN.

Pse excuse the off-topic, but I am reading iWoz by Steve Wozniak and found out that he and his Dad studied for and got their tickets together.

bracket, bracket, bracket

I have not heard that for years.

I've been in photography for 54 years. Digital has changed photography and I like it.

With film I knew what camera settings I needed to get a good shot. However, there were times that I just had a feeling I should adjust and take another shot.

Today with a digital camera I still have a feel for the set-up and when I shoot I have a good idea what the out come will be. However, just as in my film days I sometimes get that feeling. That is when you will see me look down and check the histogram.

Bob, I've read and studied about histograms. Your articles are very well put together. They have given me a chance to refresh. Thank-You

P.S. I never bracketed. Film and processing cost to much.

P.S. P.S. I worked out of a MARS outfit (KH6WAG) in 1957 as KH6CTL (Hawaii)

Thanks Bob, I felt as if the tutorials were written especially for my understanding, i.e., I am a retired quality engineer. I discussed histograms with my son-in-law just the other day and he immediately tried it out on the camera, I only wish I had a copy of your pdf's when discussing this.

Denny G wrote in post #4611272
bracket, bracket, bracket

I have not heard that for years.

I bracket much more today and consider it one of the greatest benefits of digital. Especially in low light situations where the ISO is maxed out but my shutter speed is barely hand-holdable and a sharper but underexposed version might be better, it allows me to sort it all out at home and costs only time.

Richard Lincoln wrote in post #4609964
No disrespect intended, I find that it is information like this that takes all of the fun out of photography. I do not doubt the integrity of the information but what happened to bracket, bracket, bracket? I'm sure that the results I achieved in the darkroom relied on little data other than that for mixing the chemicals. It was all trial and error and that is how I learned. going to the camera club and having my efforts judged by my peers, corrective advice readily given, gratefully received and faithfully applied.

It was results that mattered, not data processing. The content of the picture was the goal, not the technical correctness of it.

As I am writing this I am relising in my head that there are distinct paralells so I'm going to stop now before I paint myself into a corner.

Thanks for that Bob!

Understanding how the tools you are using work enable you to better understand the limitations and capabilities of your equipment and can only lead to better images, which is what we all want.

Photography has always been about information processing, in the past photographers worked in a purely analogue information space. Today we have a choice to work in either analogue or digital. Although I might argue that even when working on digital images I am still working in an analogue space for 99% of the time doing the D/A conversion in my head.

So - thanks Robert for increasing my understanding of the media I am using.