Rule of thumb when shooting out door portrait with grass?

12 years 11 months ago #74113 by Jeffster
Interesting... I just meet a photographer who was telling me that every outdoor portrait he does, he uses between -1 and -2 negative exposure? "it brings out the greens better". Is this true? Anyone else tried this, I'm going to give it a try but thought I would throw it out and get others opinions.


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12 years 11 months ago - 12 years 11 months ago #74119 by MLKstudios
There are no "hard and fast" rules that work for every scene. He probably means one or two "clicks" and not stops. Two full stops under would make a very dark image.

It is true that a slightly underexposed image has better color saturation, but you should ALWAYS expose for the subject.

Matthew :)

BTW digital SLR's have more "bits" for data on the bright end of the histogram. Exposing to the right (ETTR) is a trick (or skill) used by most digital pros. In other words, push your histogram "mountain" as far right as possible without climbing the right edge.

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 11 months ago #74123 by crystal
I can see how he would say it brings out the greens. You are making the photo darker. If you shoot during the day on a sunny day, the sun can wash out the picture, so -1 or -2 will bring down the exposure....on the whole picture, not just the grass.
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12 years 11 months ago #74165 by Jeffster
Ehhhh good stuff guys and gal, I'm going to give it a try this weekend :whistle:


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12 years 11 months ago #74283 by Henry Peach
Darkening mid-tones can make colors look more saturated. It was common practice to underexpose slides a bit to make them look more saturated. I would agree that I doubt he means one or two stops. Probably -1/3 or -2/3 stop.

It's also easy to adjust in processing. I'd do it there where I can specifically target the grass, and not darken the rest of the photo.
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12 years 11 months ago #74315 by QueenB
I understand one would like to saturate the image, but is it really worth it, when the picture overall gets darker. Isn't it better to have a correct exposed bright image, instead of a dark image?


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12 years 11 months ago #74383 by Henry Peach

QueenB wrote: Isn't it better to have a correct exposed bright image, instead of a dark image?


It just depends on the photographer. There are different paths to similar results.

I shoot raw following the expose to the right school of thought, so I would rather have as bright a photo as possible (without blowing out the highlights). In my workflow I want as much signal (exposure) in the camera as possible. Then I can bring it down in processing if need be.

Some photographers prefer to get as much as possible done in the camera. As long as they and their clients are happy more power to them. :thumbsup:
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12 years 11 months ago #75207 by Kenya See
You could do the same in Photoshop


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12 years 11 months ago #75213 by Nikonjan
I would prefer getting the subject exposed properly and do the rest in Photoshop,shoot RAW. I also have been taught the expose to the right a bit.

www.betterphoto.com?nikonjan
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