Midtones/Grey point help

ZippyDee

Hello! Does anyone know of any tutorials or guides on how to find the grey point/ mid tones? I'm having trouble finding them in my own photos.

I like the way this photo turned out and i think its the tones?? Compared to this one
They're not great examples and I'm prob not being clear, but I think its the tone - both were taken with the same camera I just find the first one more pleasing. Any advice or suggestions would be brilliant

SdoowSirhc

I'm totally new to photography but I would guess the reason that you find the first one more pleasing is the content Flowers are naturally more appealing than the slightly messy or poorly composed second picture. Just my opinion

kelly1

Hello, are you trying to get the exposure right?

ZippyDee

kelly1 wrote: »

Hello, are you trying to get the exposure right?

I think so! Whoops:D I guess thats what I should be working on! Thank you, I wasn't sure how to describe what I was looking for:)

Rainbowsend

I think the first looks better because it is better exposed, the light is better
and in the second it is underexposed, I found that the easiest way to get to
know how exposure works was by putting the camera into either shutter or
aperture priority and starting at the lower end of the scale and taking a shot
then increase by one stop and take a shot all the way through. By looking
back on them all you can easily see the differences.

Looking back on what you have done and reading the exif on them, you can
see what "works" and what doesn't. It is all a matter of practise the more you
do it the more you will understand what is happening and the easier it will become.

Digital is a great way of learning, shots cost nothing but time.

ZippyDee

Rainbowsend wrote: »

I think the first looks better because it is better exposed, the light is better
and in the second it is underexposed, I found that the easiest way to get to
know how exposure works was by putting the camera into either shutter or
aperture priority and starting at the lower end of the scale and taking a shot
then increase by one stop and take a shot all the way through. By looking
back on them all you can easily see the differences.
...

Thanks very much for the advice:) I will def be trying that:D

kelly1

ZippyDee, to my eye the 1st shot is a bit over exposed and the 2nd is just right. Personally I think over-exposure is one of the most common mistakes and it lessens contrast and saturation.

Trying to find a mid-tone in a scene before your eyes is quite difficult (for me anyway). But you can learn some tricks like exposing off (green) grass which is about 1 and 1/3 stops below mid-grey. I recently bought a lastolite grey "card" and I find it very useful.

Numerous times I've been out shooting for the day and found that nearly every shot was over-exposed by nearly a stop because I used the histogram to judge exposure.

The only accurate ways to expose correctly are with a meter or a gray card.

Hope that's of some use.