Real World Digital Photography, 2nd edition

Evaluating Exposure: Using the Histogram

The histogram is the primary tool for evaluating exposure, allowing you to check exposure either before or after (depending on your camera's features) you take the picture. This tool is incredibly useful for deciding whether or not you need to retake the shot with corrected exposure settings. Although the histogram is typically not offered on the least expensive digital cameras, it is available on all digital SLRs, many prosumer models, and even some deluxe point-and-shoot cameras as well. For serious image making with a digital camera, the histogram is an essential tool for making better pictures. In fact, on the few occasions that we do shoot film, we tend to find ourselves taking the picture and then ...