Histograms

Gillybaby

Gillybaby

Messages
56
Name
Gillian
Edit My Images
Yes
Ok, I understand that too far to the left and the photo is underexposed, too far to the right and it is overexposed. But what does it mean when you've got a lovely central range but the top of one peak has disappeared off the top of the graph?

Have been taking photos with a single colour theme and it is usually the peak of that colour that has disappeared. Am wondering if it simply means that there is an awful lot of that colour in the photo. Can't seem to find any info on this in any of my books or on the net :thinking:

Ta
 
Good link on histograms here http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/HistogramsLightmetersWorkTogether.pdf

Bear in mind that what shows on the histogram is generated from the JPEG and is subject to the camera pre-sets (Picture Styles, white balance etc) and you can change it to show pretty much what you like. The Raw (if you're shooting Raw) is untouched underneath.

The important thing when you're working critically is to know how the pre-sets affect the graph. Contrast in particular shifts it right/left by more than a stop, even though actual exposure is unaffected. Once you know where you stand with that, you can properly interpret what the histogram is telling you.

TBH, I'm not sure that the colour histograms are actually very helpful.
 
Thats a great link for the histogram, i've never used one!! :)
 
the edges show whats 'clipping' ie too light or too dark to be picked up and goes black/white

the bit in the middle shows where most of the tones are, kinda to taste tbh as long as nowt is clipping
 
Gillybaby said:
Ok, I understand that too far to the left and the photo is underexposed, too far to the right and it is overexposed. But what does it mean when you've got a lovely central range but the top of one peak has disappeared off the top of the graph?

Have been taking photos with a single colour theme and it is usually the peak of that colour that has disappeared. Am wondering if it simply means that there is an awful lot of that colour in the photo.
Click to expand...

Yup that is more or less what it means.

Histogram peaks show that one colour has more pixels than another.

Also they are RELATIVE - if you have a predominance of colour the whole histogram will be depressed downwards to accomodate that peak and show the amount of other pixels - other colours - relative to it.

There's nothing at all you can do about it - it's designed like that and can't be altered.

You can use the colour histograms just to make sure that no single colour is clipping - the overall histogram won't show that.

If you find one colour clipping then you will have to underexpose to stop the highlights on that colour burning out - assuming that won't cause the shadows to block - if so you will have to decide which is more important and expose for that.

Properly used, histograms are much better to show the overall exposure of the picture rather than trying to gauge it from the lCD screen - if you also set the picture to "blink" when highlights are burnt out you will find it much easier to get better pictures.
 
nb the whole better pictures and exposure doesn't matter if the highlights and shadow tones are good is really only valid for raw shooters ;)
 
Thanks for all your responses, and the links, very much appreciated. Knew I could count on you guys :thumbs:

I only ever shoot in raw and have found that my photos have become way better since I started checking & interpreting the histogram. Its a really useful tool and a lot easier to understand that I thought it was going to be. Am much happier now I know there's nothing wrong with a disappearing peak :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top