Expose to the Wrong

Why it's wrong to expose to the right. Maarten explains with samples and demos.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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0:00 Intro
1:35 How to Expose
5:14 Expose to the right
6:02 Sample image analysis
7:20 Test chart analysis

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CREDITS
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Producer and Host: Maarten Heilbron
Theme music: Adam Sakiyama

ABOUT ME
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DISCLOSURE
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This video was produced with the Nikon Z7, on loan from Nikon Canada.

I am not sponsored or compensated by any manufacturer, I have not accepted payment to review this or any product. Even if a product was provided at no cost to me, I don’t allow the provider to review the script or video prior to posting. 
 
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[Destructor]

Maarten is the best photo friend I never knew I needed in my life. Thanks, Mr. Heilbron! A true gentleman and a class production.

[patrickfitzgerald]

LMAO! "Random, generic advice from strangers . . ." Maarten, you consistently nail that bone dry humor that I so thoroughly enjoy. Thanks! 😂

[TheShakeBoss]

I’m an amateur photographer. I’ve read about “exposing to the right” several times, and I can say, very proudly, that I came to your same conclusions just from experience. Great video, as usual.

[jdave]

As a musician, it's Interesting to hear the audio analogy. I never really consciously thought about how similar light exposure would be to audio levels. Interesting stuff, and good video!

[CallMeChato]

I never understood expose to the right except for that time I accidentally wandered into a leather bar. But, personally, I prefer under exposing a stop or two in video. No recovering that sheen on my forehead. Perfectly exposed video.

[jimrobyk]

Calm, clear and informative, maybe most informative presenter here.

[mattslaboratory]

I generally expose a tad to the Left -- 1/3 stop under, to try to keep highlights decent. And speaking of analogies, hue is like pitch.

[randall.chamberlain]

Indeed, I've been wondering about this for some time. Great topic and very well explained. You earned a sub!

[drewdavis]

Maarten, you have the best photography videos. Thanks for your devotion to this art.

[oren.kirschenbaum]

In my opinion when exposing to the right one should avoid clipping the highlights (sky, white areas etc.), otherwise you're exposing to beyond right. In some cases exposing to the right might even mean that the image is underexposed, because the highlights were protected (to avoid overexposing and clipping). I think the method of ETTR that you're showing is in fact overexposing, since your highlights are exposed beyond the right (right being the maximum brightness value that the camera can record).

[almostinfamous]

I am sure that ETTR has its suitable application as all techniques do, but I haven't run into them. Thank you for making such clear and straightforward videos

[fredlouw]

Thank you Maarten for this amazing tutorial lesson...

[sukjai_mainoi]

Thank you for another great teaching. Comparing to clipping in audio make it so clear.

[jettysplash]

Thank you Maarten. Amazing video with valuable information I never found anywhere else. Liked and subscribed.

[GhanaTableTennis]

Always refreshing and insightful listening to you.

[marekq]

I normally start with overexposure + 1.3 EV (set in custom settings). In the viewfinder I have overexposed pixels converted to intense orange and underexposed converted to intense blue. So it is easy to avoid overexposure - just rotate the dial to the left until almost all orange dissapears and that's it. This technique significanlty reduces noise especially when using smaller sensors and when printing very large. Of course exposure time or aperture should be changed - not ISO. For small prints or internet: just forget it.

[Stone]

I mentioned this on a photography FB page once and it caused a bit of histogram hysteria ‘nope you must expose to the right especially for landscape ..’ . I take your stance on exposure and that’s what they didn’t like, maybe I didn’t explain as eloquently as you. Anyway, I’ve closed my FB account now, not for the reason above I might add! I’m with you on this topic.

[JEK]

This helps a lot. Can't wait to try this out. So glad I came across this while bing watching your videos.

[paulus]

Thnx for making me reconsider Maarten.

[scarborosasquatchstation]

Thanks Maarten for the important lesson on how to properly expose an image ! Scarboro