What is the histogram telling me?

[PrivateJoker64]

I don't know what I should use it for.

 

["Umm fish?"]

The big deal with the histogram is to make sure that both ends go down to zero before they run off the graph. If either end is greater than zero, that means that you'll lose detail in parts of your photo (one side means that you'll lose detail in the whites, one side means you'll lose detail in the blacks).

Good luck!

 

[PrivateJoker64]

Thanks!

 

[IBASSFSH]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks, I wondered about the chart also.

 

[afex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8874067#post8874067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by "Umm, fish?"
The big deal with the histogram is to make sure that both ends go down to zero before they run off the graph. If either end is greater than zero, that means that you'll lose detail in parts of your photo (one side means that you'll lose detail in the whites, one side means you'll lose detail in the blacks).

Good luck!

that isnt true in every case. depending on the shot there may be alot of black/white in something other than the subject. the main thing to avoid is overexposure in both your subject (loss of detail) and the background (draws attention away from the subject)

heres an in-depth reference: http://www.ximinasphotography.com/lessons/lesson04/lighting_3.html#The Histogram

 

[BlueCorn]

Your sensor also captures the most detail in the upper range of the histogram. Ideally you want to get as much data on the right side of the histogram as possible without blowing out highlight detail.

 

[ssbreef]

http://www.shortcourses.com/how/histograms/histograms.htm

 

[PrivateJoker64]

heres an in-depth reference: http://www.ximinasphotography.com/lessons/lesson04/lighting_3.html#The Histogram [/B]

WOW! I've been reading that whole site, and it was well worth the read! I have it set as a "favorite" now.
Thanks for the link!
I have Photoshop 6 that was given to me, but I don't know how to work it. I bought a book that was supposed to help learn about it, but the book assumed I knew too many things already. Do you know of a beginners book, on online tutorial for it?

 

[MCary]

Go to amazon.com and search photoshop 6. A good beginners book is the photoshop bible by Deke McClelland. Although he thinks he's funny and parts of the book can get a little cheesy. They're still some good info. I also like photshop books that are exclusively for digital photos and the classroom in a book books.

Mike