Blog
High key and low key in photography
Two stylistic devices with a big impact
In photography, high key and low key shots are among the most exciting lighting styles when it comes to conveying emotions and controlling the impact of an image. Both techniques play with extreme brightness ranges, but lead to completely different results.
The histogram in photography
Benefits, interpretation and critical points
The histogram is one of the most important tools in modern digital photography. It provides a graphical representation of the brightness and colour distribution in the image and helps photographers to assess exposure and contrast more objectively than by simply looking at the camera display. But as helpful as it is, the histogram can also be misleading if you don't know its limitations.
The two-triggering on cameras
One of the most common problems I encounter in my workshops is the question of why my camera's autofocus fails so often. You have the most modern camera with eye autofocus, but rarely are the eyes in focus. My answer is always the same: because the camera doesn't know when the photographer wants to press the shutter release. The camera's shutter release is actually a two-step process. The mistake lies precisely in how you release the camera.
Getting started in advanced photography
Getting started in any demanding activity requires an investment. In photography, this means buying a camera and lenses. This is an area that has seen enormous developments over the last 10 years. After the most innovative companies of the 1970s disappeared from the market, development stagnated. The SLR camera was the tool of the ambitious photographer. But for several years now, all the major manufacturers have been focusing on mirrorless systems. That's why it's important to do your research before buying a camera, otherwise you'll regret many bad investments later on.
The right exposure
Good exposure is the foundation of every successful photograph. It determines whether your image appears vivid and rich in detail or flat and difficult to recognise. But what does ‘correct exposure’ actually mean?
The human eye has a fairly high dynamic range, which is related to our complex nervous system. This influences our viewing habits in such a way that we are often disappointed when we see the results of a photograph. With film, the dynamic range was quite small because it was based on the subtractive colour model, whereas digital photography now uses the additive colour model. The difference between these two colour models is quite significant: the subtractive colour model uses colour pigments, while the additive colour model uses light. When colour is added in the subtractive colour model, the colour becomes darker, while in the additive colour model, the colour becomes lighter.
