Author Topic: What is Expose to the Right? (Read 730 times)

Em5 Pete · « **on:** January 05, 2012, 08:40:43 AM »

I found and very good blog on what "Exposing to the right" (ETTR) means, and how it greatly reduce noise in all your photographs,

How to Expose to the Right

snip....
ETTR is one of the most efficient ways of minimizing noise in shadows and elsewhere......
snip....

mynameisjonas · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2012, 08:51:14 AM »

Didn't we have a thread recently that basically wrote ETTR off as bullsh*t..?

I personally don't find it a good method, I end up with way too much clipped highlights. Shadow detail can always be brought back in post, and noise can be supressed (to a point), but nothing can bring back clipped highlights.

voyager · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2012, 12:42:24 PM »

I always wondered what that meant. I've tried it before, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:32:10 PM »

The key I think, is not to expose too close the right... leave some "Air Space" at the highlight end of the Histogram (Expose to the right)..
If you are "Blowing Highlights".... do 2 things.... lower the "In-Camera" contrast AND don't let the Histogram get too close to the right edge....

Every camera is different, so, try to find your camera's sweet spot on the right side of the histogram, for most photographs.

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:33:11 PM »

The problem with the E-P1 is that bringing underexposed areas back up, while working great in every other camera, leaves incredible amounts of smearing and noise in the E-P1.

overflow · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:52:54 PM »

I feel like it depends on the picture... I accidentally shot some pics at iso 1600 in broad daylight out of an airplane window, and by the time I realized it, the subject was out of view. All my pictures were over-exposed because they were hitting 1/4000s shutter speed. But my highlights weren't clipped much cause it was a fairly non-contrasty scene (shooting through the window and atmosphere, and everything being lit directly by the sun...) Once I brought the exposure down and adjusted the contrast it was a noticeably noise-free image, comparable to iso 100/200

So depending on the situation, I feel like it might be useful approach... When you have a low-contrast situation, but want super noise-free images (better than the lowest iso on the camera) and have enough light to work with to keep shutter speed and aperture where you want them.

maybe

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2012, 02:00:56 PM »

Quote from: voyager on January 05, 2012, 01:33:11 PM

The problem with the E-P1 is that bringing underexposed areas back up, while working great in every other camera, leaves incredible amounts of smearing and noise in the E-P1.

You mean that IN-Camera "Proper Exposure" ETTR", causes smearing and noise?

In Camera ETTR will give you a lighter image to work with.. (open shadows with less noise) but, if you go too far to the right, Blocking Highlights will result IN CAMERA....

You should be Bringing up the underexposed images back with a IN CAMERA "Exposure Compensation" ONLY! Bringing them back up in LR or PS, or whatever you use, will not give the same shadow/noise results. IE: less noise in the shadows. ONLY "In Camera" adjustments can lessen that noise. Using a Noise Reduction program will not give you the same results as starting with a low noise image from the start.

What is Expose to the Right?