light or shadow?

I wonder which is better between 2 ways in case of a difficult light in photography.

1) Try to underexpose a little the photo so that all the highlights in the picture are safe and not burned.... but the shadows will be too black.

2) Try to overexpose a little so that the shadows will be transparent but the highlights will be white.

Take 2 or 3 shots and create an HDR because it sounds like it's necessary.

56SN0 wrote: I wonder which is better between 2 ways in case of a difficult light in photography.

1) Try to underexpose a little the photo so that all the highlights in the picture are safe and not burned.... but the shadows will be too black.

That's best for transparency film.

56SN0 wrote: 2) Try to overexpose a little so that the shadows will be transparent but the highlights will be white.

That's best for print film.


With digital you have to worry about both. If a compromise needs to be made which way to go will depend on the subject, the goal of the photographer, and processing options.

DevilNAngel wrote: Take 2 or 3 shots and create an HDR because it sounds like it's necessary.

Beside hdr any other technique or solution?

Henry Peach wrote:

56SN0 wrote: I wonder which is better between 2 ways in case of a difficult light in photography.

1) Try to underexpose a little the photo so that all the highlights in the picture are safe and not burned.... but the shadows will be too black.

That's best for transparency film.

56SN0 wrote: 2) Try to overexpose a little so that the shadows will be transparent but the highlights will be white.

That's best for print film.


With digital you have to worry about both. If a compromise needs to be made which way to go will depend on the subject, the goal of the photographer, and processing options.

Well that's just great, why can't it be as easy as 123. lol

In the film days the saying was "Expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights"
Now, with digital it's "Expose for the highlights, develop for the shadows" or "Expose to the right"..

There are a few ideas, depending on the dynamic range (dark to light values) of the scene you're shooting..
Always, if possible, shoot in RAW - you can make wonderful adjustments later..
If the dynamic range is beyond the capability of your camera's sensor, shoot a set of bracketed images (+/- a half or 2/3 stop) and blend them in post-processing..
Use fill-flash to add light to very dark areas..
Use neutral density filters while shooting to bring down strong highlight areas..
Dodging and burning areas of the image..
Cropping poorly exposed areas that can't be "fixed" conventionally..
Apply layer masks and gradients to lighten or darken areas needed..

Here's a very good (but lengthy) article:

www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photoshop-ba...-tutorial.15970.html

There are ways to adjust the lighting, but I assumed "difficult lighting" meant you can't really change it much. For some subjects fill flash or reflectors work wonders. It can be difficult to fill flash a vast landscape with a speedlight or two.

What is your personal taste? If you had to go one way or the other (light or dark) which do you prefer? Or does it depend on the subject, the situation, your whim...? Look to the work of the masters. They were dealing with the same dynamic range issues. Sometimes you can use processing techniques to push the limits of the gear and materials. Sometimes you have to work within the limits of the tools.

DestinDave wrote: In the film days the saying was "Expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights"
Now, with digital it's "Expose for the highlights, develop for the shadows" or "Expose to the right"..

There are a few ideas, depending on the dynamic range (dark to light values) of the scene you're shooting..
Always, if possible, shoot in RAW - you can make wonderful adjustments later..
If the dynamic range is beyond the capability of your camera's sensor, shoot a set of bracketed images (+/- a half or 2/3 stop) and blend them in post-processing..
Use fill-flash to add light to very dark areas..
Use neutral density filters while shooting to bring down strong highlight areas..
Dodging and burning areas of the image..
Cropping poorly exposed areas that can't be "fixed" conventionally..
Apply layer masks and gradients to lighten or darken areas needed..

Here's a very good (but lengthy) article:

www.webdesign.org/photoshop/photoshop-ba...-tutorial.15970.html

Wow, Thank you Dave.