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These terms should not be new to photographers. There is an old rule of thumb with film, "expose for shadow, develop for highlight". So many of us had learnt to expose our B/W film and develop according to this principle. In simple words, highlight detail is between mid tone and white, shadow detail is between mid tone and black. They are important for photography. Without details, the image would look like a painting or ever a graphical work.    The word detail means that object in such tones can be recognised by our eyes. The highest level of B/W photography is the tone control. Whether one follows the Zone System of Ansel Adams or other tone control methods, the highlight and shadow details are important part that one could not neglect. Metering and exposure Photographers have used meter since a long time ago with film. The meter is based on neutral gray, the middle tone, so that when our exposed image for neutral gray produced the same tone, all highlight and shadow details were recorded properly. Average metering is just a substitute because no every one would use the neutral gray card and in normal situation the bright and dark area for metering will have an average close to neutral gray. One should have experience when using average metering for taking photo of bright area leading to under-exposure and of dark area leading to over-exposure. Therefore the metering as well as our choice of exposure must take care of highlight and shadow details. With negative film, we have higher latitude because the printing process allows a higher adjusting level. With positive film, we have lower latitude because the processed slide is the final image. Digital imaging is close to taking positive film for most users. But for serious or advanced photographers, the digital image captured would be better taken as digital negative. Adobe is great for using this name that is the exact meaning that one should know. Digital negative means that it is not the final image. RECOVERABLE AND IRRECOVERABLE ERROR Most digital camera users will rely on the camera's metering. Most would rely on the LCD display to confirm if an image has been properly captured. For those who will spend time in reading the manual or specification, it should be easy to know that the LCD display cannot give us the exact image, especially not the true color of 16,777,216. Therefore it is impossible to judge if the highlight and shadow details are recorded properly or not. If these details have slightly over-exposed or under-exposed, we can recover them with software. If the error is greater, it may not be recovered by any means. Some experienced photographers always say that digital image is inferior to film image. In fact, it is the details that cause the difference. Of course, even if we have all the details, it is still a flat image by nature. But, at least, it is better than without. That is why we say that the most common mistake in digital image is the loss of these details. Therefore, the most important thing is to know at the spot whether we have the exposure right to keep these details. We may not be able to have everything in every situation. For taking a photo, we should know what is important. If our subject will look washed out without the highlight details, then we must find the necessary exposure compensation. That is why I spent about nine months trying to find a way to advise the readers of my book, "DigiPhoto Guide for Beginners", how to judge the exposure compensation easily. MYTCARD APPLICATION The Mytcard Method is the solution. After taking a test shot, we can check from the LCD display for the white and black BEST and follow my table to adjust. Due to the fact that everything in the frame would affect the exposure, so we must position the Mytcard in proper ratio without creating the difference for the metering. I have suggested taking white and black cards in case of need. If our intended composition is comprised of more light area, then use the white card with about half the size of the Mytcard in front of the camera and occupies about one eighth of the frame. Same type of application should be arranged for subject with darker tone. By doing so, the metering for testing will maintain the same as the actual composition.   For further information about Mytard or download the Mytcard, please go to www.mytcard.com Also, you can get the Mytcard from Download.com  |