Exposure bracketing is a technique that can significantly improve your landscape photography by helping you deal with difficult lighting situations. If you've ever struggled with blown-out skies or muddy, noisy shadows, bracketing might be the solution you're looking for.
Coming to you from Gavin Hardcastle of fototripper, this practical video dives into the ins and outs of exposure bracketing, focusing on why and how to do it efficiently. Hardcastle starts by addressing the common reliance on Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB). While AEB might seem like a convenient tool, Hardcastle prefers manual bracketing for its control and precision. He explains that many photographers automatically reach for AEB, thinking it's the best way to capture a scene with a wide dynamic range. However, Hardcastle argues that you can often achieve the desired result with just two manually bracketed shots, rather than the three or more that AEB typically produces. This approach not only reduces the number of images you need to manage but also makes the editing process more straightforward.
One of the key reasons to bracket your exposures is to handle scenes with extreme contrast—where the highlights are too bright, and the shadows are too dark to capture in a single exposure. Hardcastle demonstrates this with a challenging subject, a sea arch in Newfoundland, where the bright sky contrasts sharply with the darker cave interior. By manually bracketing his exposures, he ensures that he captures both the detail in the bright highlights and the depth in the shadows. Hardcastle also shares a tip for dealing with lens flare when taking an overexposed shot: simply use your hand to block out the sun or other bright light sources. This small adjustment can prevent unwanted flare and make the blending process easier in post-production.
The video also covers the importance of reducing the number of frames you shoot, especially when working with panoramas or focus stacks. Hardcastle points out that using AEB can quickly fill up your memory card with unnecessary images, particularly if you're trying to capture a high dynamic range scene. He gives an example from a recent shoot where he manually bracketed a panorama. On one side of the frame, he needed only two exposures to capture the full range of light, while the other side, which included the sun, required three exposures. By bracketing manually, Hardcastle was able to tailor his shots precisely to the needs of the composition, avoiding the clutter that comes with automatic bracketing. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Hardcastle.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"
