Balancing bright and dark areas in a single photo can be tricky. Understanding dynamic range—the difference between the darkest and brightest parts of an image—is key to handling this effectively.
Coming to you from David Bergman with Adorama, this insightful video explains the concept of dynamic range and why it matters when photographing complex lighting conditions. Bergman breaks down how modern cameras, while impressive, still can’t match the human eye’s ability to see both bright highlights and dark shadows at the same time. Using examples from wedding photography to sports events, he explains how failing to control dynamic range can mean losing important details in both the highlights and shadows.
Bergman also dives into practical tips for overcoming this challenge. One strategy he recommends is shooting in raw format, which allows your camera to capture more tonal information than JPEG. Raw files give you the flexibility to recover lost detail in post-production without introducing too much noise. For those shooting in JPEG, he advises using a technique called bracketing, where you take multiple exposures at different settings and later combine them in post. This approach, known as HDR (high dynamic range), can help bring out detail in both the shadows and highlights of your image.
Another important point Bergman covers is the use of HDR software. While it can be tempting to crank up the effects and create dramatic images, Bergman cautions against over-processing. He prefers a more natural look and suggests using manual layers in Photoshop to maintain control over which parts of the image are adjusted. This way, you can make subtle enhancements without making the photo look artificial or exaggerated.
For those working in fast-moving environments, such as sports or events, Bergman points out that bracketing can be difficult without a tripod. Misalignments in the images can cause problems, especially when combining them later. For these situations, he reiterates the importance of shooting raw to capture the most dynamic range possible in a single exposure, making post-processing adjustments easier and more efficient. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bergman.
