Exposure bracketing is a technique in photography where you take multiple photos of the same scene with different exposure settings. This is done to capture a wider range of tones in the scene, which can be helpful in situations where the dynamic range is high, such as when there are both bright highlights and dark shadows in the same scene.
There are two main types of exposure bracketing:
- Automatic exposure bracketing (AEB): This is the most common type of exposure bracketing. With AEB, the camera automatically takes multiple photos with different exposure settings, typically 3 or 5 photos. The exposure settings are usually spaced out in third-stop increments, so you’ll get one photo that is correctly exposed, one that is underexposed, and one that is overexposed.
- Manual exposure bracketing (MEB): This is a more advanced type of exposure bracketing. With MEB, you manually set the exposure settings for each photo. This gives you more control over the results, but it can also be more time-consuming.
To use exposure bracketing, you’ll need a camera that has this feature. Most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have exposure bracketing, but some point-and-shoot cameras do as well. Once you’ve enabled exposure bracketing, you can set the number of photos to take and the exposure increment. Then, just press the shutter button and the camera will take the photos for you.
Once you’ve taken your bracketed photos, you can combine them in post-processing software to create a HDR image. HDR images have a wider range of tones than a single photo, which can make them look more realistic and dramatic.
Here are some tips for using exposure bracketing:
- Use a tripod to keep your camera steady. This will help to ensure that the photos are sharp.
- Use a fast shutter speed to avoid camera shake. This is especially important if you’re hand-holding the camera.
- Use a low ISO to reduce noise. This is especially important if you’re taking photos in low light.
- Experiment with different exposure settings to see what works best for you.
Exposure bracketing is a great way to capture a wider range of tones in your photos. If you’re looking to improve your photography skills, then this is a technique that you should definitely learn.