What is Dynamic Range in Photography? | Ask David Bergman

Today's question is, “Capturing high-contrast scenes can be challenging. What are some strategies for pushing the limits of dynamic range in my photos?”

Adorama for all your gear purchases:

One-on-One consultations with David:

Adobe Photoshop

Canon Explorer of Light David Bergman is a NYC-based tour photographer and educator with more than 30 years of experience. Currently the official tour photographer for Luke Combs, he has also traveled the world with artists including Bon Jovi, Barenaked Ladies, and Sarah McLachlan. As a sports photographer, he covered numerous Olympics, Super Bowls, and World Series games and has 13 Sports Illustrated covers to his credit.

A passionate public speaker and photo educator, Bergman produces the bi-weekly show "Ask David Bergman" on the Adorama YouTube channel and hosts his unique "Shoot From the Pit" live concert photography workshops.

Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:47 What is dynamic range photography?
01:42 Highlights vs. Shadows
02:12 Dynamic Range Limits
03:17 JPEG Limitations
04:08 Bracketing for HDR
04:34 Avoid Over-Processed HDR
05:25 Layering in Photoshop
05:42 Challenges of Multiple Exposures
06:09 Why Shoot RAW?
06:39 Digital vs. Film Dynamic Range
06:59 Read the Light
07:28 Outro

SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:

__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama!

__________________________________
✘ GEAR USED:

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera

✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head

CLAR Illumi Max 500 High Power 5600K LED Light

Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48")

Prograde cards and readers

#dynamicrange #dynamicrangephotography #adorama

__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏

❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏

__________________________________
Follow David on Instagram:

__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[NoName-jqtj]

I’m not knowledgeable to fully comprehend dynamic range or bracketing or layering but I do agree with David about getting right in-camera when shooting. This is a skill.

[tsehampton]

Great video, thank you. A clear explanation of dynamic range and how to take advantage of the capabilities of our digital cameras.

[fountainvalley]

A couple of things. Some cameras can do in body HDR.

I’ve used graduated neutral filters to get some more dynamic range.

[olafzijnbuis]

You did not specifically mention that dynamic rage also depends on the ISO setting.
Using the native ISO (often ISO 100) is best for dynamic range.

[DonaldWMeyers-dwm]

I'm going to try out your masking suggestion.

[lightbox]

Shoot RAW. convert (save copy) to JPEG. Select desired image to print/publish then go back to that RAW to edit in Photoshop.

[andreasniggemann]

I've done it yesterday in a park with a model (no flash). Model in the shade, building in the background, slightly overcast sky. Exposure for the background building. In Lightroom I've raised the exposure value so that the model was exposed right. Then I've selected background mask and lowered the background exposure until both parts looked right.

[Lizerator]

Thanks for this information. I am going to shoot raw plus jpeg today and see what I come up with. I'm at Rocky Mtn NP, lots of contrast scenes.

[FelixRodriguez-vw]

I shoot with both raw plus jpeg and compare lighting when shooting some scenes to get a better idea of the light Thanks David

[LouCondon-jv]

Well in the OLD days of shooting 4x5 b& W neg film I used what I was taught in school, the old Zone System by Ansel Adams 🙂

[steve-]

I always shoot Raw, even with my Canon G5X II that I use when traveling. About the only time I bracket exposures is inside church buildings where I want the rich colors of the stained glass windows and some detail in the interiors. I was in Chartres Cathedral this summer and got great pictures with the small Canon. The windows are absolutely glorious, and pictures of them turned out surprisingly well. In most cases the pictures were of the windows, so no bracketing needed.

Back in 2017 I made some pictures in a chapel in St. Giles, Edinburgh. Then I used the Canon G7X II, but same principles applied. I did handheld shots, exposing for the windows and then for the interior. From the former shot I used just the windows image, and the latter for everything else. It worked so well that I printed it and had it framed. It hangs in my hallway gallery now.

[trogers]

I shoot in raw only, it is much easier to work with in post processing than jpeg, some folks may have different opinions and styles but I am sticking to raw only.

[aljawad]

Contrary to film, digital sensors are far more tolerant of under exposures. I always shoot raw, and when faced with a contrast situation, I underexpose to preserve details in the highlights and bring up shadow details in post.

[BrianKilgore-bd]

I photographed a book containing one exterior photo of 300 houses or small buildings, chosen from about 1000 subjects, I used maps to tell me what time of day the fronts of houses would be in the sunlight, and that's when I shot. If there were deep porches, that "sunken" part of the house would be too dark if the flat front was exposed properly. So the answer to that was to come back on an overcast day when the sky would be more like a giant softbox. --BAK--

[washingtonradio]

I almost always bracket but I will not hesitate to use exposure compensation if adjust the exposure. I shoot RAW and JPG. My main goal is to minimize editing I need to do

[b]

If you’re photographing with the camera’s raw file the histogram in the camera’s live view can show a tiny bit of high-tone and low-tone clipping that is really not occurring. That is because the live view image on the back of the camera is actually an image created from a jpg file. With practice using your camera though you learn how much of the camera histogram you can push. You will learn how to work with the raw file opened to an acceptable DR to edit it in an application like Photoshop.

[Plutoman]

Great question from ...The Unknown Photographer.... whoever you are !

[toddlower]

What is the dynamic range of printers?

[mikede]

Does anyone know why there are often two different dynamic ranges listed for cameras— one with the mechanical shutter and another with electronic shutter? I've no idea why there would be two different ranges depending on the shutter used. Why would shutter type matter?

[YPinus]

Honestly, in some scenarios with harsh light, I rather take my smartphone and take the shot. The HDR capabilities in modern smartphone cameras are amazing and I think camera manufacturers should learn from it.