Comments on: Photography – Controlling Highlights?

By: Steve P

Steve P — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:03:43 +0000

There really is not a solution to your problem. The basic problem is you are using DIGITAL. it is just an unfortunate truth that digital has MUCH LESS dynamic range than negative film. The highlights are the worse to overexpose with a digital sensor. That is why the HDR thing is catching on so much, though agreed, it is not a useful feature in general shooting. You just can’t always be on a tripod and take the time to do several shots at various exposures.

You may want to get a graduated neutral density filter to help control blowing out skys or other extremely bright areas. It is all you can do except expose for the highlights, but then you will often have much too dark midtones and lost shadows.

Basically, you are dealing with a technology that is just not there yet in broad dynamic range.

steve

By: Devon H

Devon H — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:34:29 +0000

You sound like you really know what your doing. I am a REALLY amateur photographer but I found this program by google that will let you fix the highlights and contrast and stuff. Try this out, its free too

By: Nick vanderwaarden

Nick vanderwaarden — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:01:55 +0000

Try taking a reading from a neutral gray card.

I always shoot in RAW mode and found that this way I can always recover highlights. The RAW possibilities in Photoshop are amazing.

By: SDS

SDS — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:23:53 +0000

Obviously you didn’t give the 510 a good chance cause you have the same problems going to a Canon… 510 also has a highlight mode but anyway to help yo with the problem…. try pointing at something around medium gray if possible and AE lock on it and take your picture… I too had/have trouble with the 510 on white balance… but I found most of it operator error.. another photographer with one took a picture of the same thing I was trying with my camera after he did the white balance and it was like night and day. Felt stupid