CHIAROSCURO - The Dynamic Range Mistake

CHIAROSCURO - THE DYNAMIC RANGE MISTAKE //
I think the emphasis on dynamic range in contemporary camera reviews can plant a seed in your mind (especially if you’re new to photography) that losing details in the shadows and highlights is something to be avoided at all costs. And that is a mistake in my opinion.
Darkness in your images is not something that automatically needs to be corrected. It can be used to evoke atmosphere, to draw the viewer’s eye in order to tell a story or to simplify a composition.
Try using darkness as a canvas to showcase light. Really think about what you can do with light. Look for shafts of light cutting through gaps, look for reflected light from buildings, look for diffracted light where sunlight is passing through some glass and the colour spectrum is separated. The more you practice this, the more you’ll start to see and understand light.
But darkness is just as important as light. There’s no such thing as a ‘correct’ exposure. The right Exposure is not an objective truth, it’s a matter of opinion. Use exposure to create the feeling you want.
Less can be more. Don’t be afraid of the dark.
♫ Music
● CherneBeats, "Last Train" - chernebeats.com/
● Music during animated essay: Composition performed by me.
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[@Erumesson]

That 80's KZbin intro is absolutely GORGEOUS.

[@brianpaton6687]

You can get the luts and mogarts in the retro pack on Jamies site.

[@JasonONungesser]

"The right exposure is subjective" is probably the most profound things said in this video.

[@andreik3096]

+ exposure to the right is objective necessity in digital :-P

[@IgnacioDure]

Jason O. Nungesser photography is subjetive, photography is art and you can use it how you want...

[@NGameReviews]

@@andreik3096 one could argue exposure to the left is a necessity as it allows you to bring up in the exposure in post. There's no right or wrong answer.

[@sitka15]

I agree, it is hugely significant to remember this

[@Garacha222]

I cringe viscerally when I hear an instructional video use the term "correct exposure". (which suggests that anything else is 'wrong', regardless of intentional placement of values.) Personally, I am black and white film centric, so the application of intentional development technique is intentionally applied in conjunction with the exposure settings for my purposes.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That intro was gold, I thought I had time traveled to the 1980's!

[@cybr600]

5:48: Try using darkness as a canvas to showcase light. Brilliant!

[@aleksandras146]

Jamie Windsor. Making people with a camera understand fundamentals of photography. Brilliant.

[@timgomes4810]

most youtubers make me want to go out and buy new gear. you make me want to go out and shoot. I love this CHIAROSCURO. But I need high dinamic range for real state photography. I shoot a single raw and my pics get good enough dinamic range by this tecnique. But as for my other work I love shadows. And I rarely click on lens correction on lightroom because I want those shadows on the corners.

[@cocatezz]

Nicely put.

[@FachyMarin]

My thoughts exactly

[@dharlow5810]

You and me too.

[@Vladimiradventurephotography]

Talking about gear is so much easier than to have creative ideas.

[@atistiltins6163]

Tim Gomes, as a professional interiour, RE, shooter, i would recommend not relying on pushing a single raw if you want to go next level. Learning how to light with flash in a way, that feels natural, will do you more good, than 20 stops of DR

[@dominey]

"Use darkness as a canvas to showcase light." Fantastic video Jamie. Love how you connected this topic to long arc of art history.

[@kris4637]

I'm not a photographer. I'm a filmmaker. I've been watching content like this for the past 6 years and this simply THE BEST advice I've ever gotten. Thank you.

[@patmcdonnell7784]

So important of a lesson, thanks Jamie. And by the way your retro intro, and sound at the beginning was brilliant! Please keep’m coming!

[@ManuKa122]

I would actually like to learn more about how to achieve these effects. Jamie is very much on a theoretical level of content. I appreciate this a lot(!)but I feel that Jamie could also share a bunch of practice as well. I am a photography trainer myself and I know talking about things you know is quite easy. Much easier than actually showing how to do these things and explain the steps of why and when. And - if you are not only a trainer but also a photographer - you don't want to share your tricks easily with potential competitors. So I guess that's the reason why Jamie doesn't share his tricks easily with KZbin, since these special effects are essentially what makes his videos special compared to other more "theoretical" channels.

[@emmaloushoare]

I agree!! (To the original comment) Brilliant intro!!

[@bluefilmsltd]

A lot of it is key framing and transform (distortion) techniques in Premiere Pro. They are easier to than than he makes it look, though he does use these techniques very well. @@ManuKa122

[@thenicflynn]

I also really loved that haha I was thinking "OoooooOOOooo" :D ahahah

[@chrisbaker8533]

"Learn the rules, so you know how and when to break the rules". Not sure where I picked this quote up, but its served me very well.

[@randomcommenter6734]

It's van gogh I think, he said learn the rules like a pro to break them like an artist

[@danzbeard]

👌

[@lyingeyes5579]

A quote from Picasso

[@peterrosa34]

"There's no need to be afraid of the dark." WOW. So obvious, yet so important to learn. Thanks!

[@01r1sh]

As a vampire I concur!

[@samjankins6119]

The 80s intro is eerie and beautiful at the same time. This guy knows stuff!

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

I'd go with '70s Open University. I thought it was great!

[@davidcunicelli1430]

you have a very witty and offhanded way of explaining pretty complicated subjects. really entertaining and educational.

[@mohamedraafat9248]

Wow! With this quality, how haven't you hit 1m subscribers already?!!!!

[@tonychaar6780]

He will and very soon

[@andrewford80]

@@tonychaar6780 Yeah, he will. He really does fantastic videos and has such a refreshing perspective.

[@thomassandfield835]

Totally agree!

[@JamesClark1991]

My thoughts exactly. These videos are actually really helpful in learning some of the principles of photography. Most other channels just go by news/trends and tips/tricks (which is fine, but different)

[@scottyzepplinphotography1188]

Quality over quantity.

[@Ybaa]

Thank you for actually teaching us something rather than just rambling on about techy-stuff and blaming it all on the equipment.

[@jakesgreatesthits]

Needed this video, thank you so much. I’ve been guilty of pulling out the shadows too much and have always admired those who have more mood. Time for a change. Great channel. Keep it going

[@DarthissGameplays]

That selection of images it's so awesome. One of your best videos! Keep it up! 💪💪💪

[@fragmentoresco]

The poems are remembered, the descriptions of the dictionaries are easily forgotten. Thanks for your video.

[@colypuzzuoli5906]

I love how you put the philosophy and feeling of photography first above all. This is a fantastic channel, thank you.

[@marvJarv]

I didn't think your videos could get better and more interesting, and yet they did. Thanks a lot Jamie, you really are one of the best out there making me want to know and learn more and more about photography

[@chrismulholland6202]

Your videos are always a welcome sight! Looking forward to this one.

[@rodhill6091]

You have just explained why one of my photographs just didn't look right. I couldn't figure out why! Thank you

[@tanawhaadventures6091]

In the past I have fallen into the boost shadows approach, but I noticed my photos lacked the weight and depth of others work I admired. I recently realized my mistakes and have really embraced “the dark side” and it has made my work 100 times better. Great explanation as always Jaimie on something a lot of photographers need to know, remember, and work on. Including myself

[@jvrkruger]

Absolutely LOVE your channel. Thank you for inspiring me to rethink my photography once again. Really appreciate the focus on creativity rather than the endless rambling on equipment. The quest for a creative fresh idea or approach is so much more challenging, and when it happens, much more rewarding!

[@claymould8700]

As always your videos are intelligent and thought provoking - you really are a natural teacher. I must admit the over sharpened, uniformly shaded and over fussy photos seem to be everywhere. Nice video 👍

[@papajupri1070]

Love the motion graphics. Love the knowledge shared. Love the content!

[@ArnaudG92]

Beyond the fact that your videos are always interesting and insightful, I would always watch them for the sheer cinematographic work you put into them. Thanks a lot for sharing your art with us through KZbin Jamie 🙏

[@sampledude8846]

The way you follow a red thread in your videos, the segways and transitions, it's so professional! We are blessed to have you Jamie!!!!

[@gregstevenson7401]

Your content is so good. Man, you make everything interesting even if the context is not new. Great stuff - I mean really great stuff. Your edit is pretty much better than anything else I watch. And it continues to get better. Keep going, I think you are walking the right path.

[@TooManyKangaroos]

What a great lesson! Absolutely love this. Thanks for making this video Jamie. It's going to change my photography

[@flexable9256]

I've watched several videos of yours. Got to say you have a great sense of art and a unique capability to diffuse it, in a very creative way. Great job!

[@bilalbawab5568]

This short video really changes the way how I see things, as always, much appreciated

[@howardhsiao7917]

Protect the highlights and embrace the shadows. Sean Tucker vibes here

[@flatulent-1]

I was thinking the same thing. The blackness in his images is gorgeous.

[@madnessbydesign1415]

Without darkness, light loses its meaning... Love the video. Lots of great examples. Well done! :)

[@Metralhas3000]

Thanks so much Jamie! I love this type of videos, keep the good work! You deserve everything

[@Mimokat2]

Your videos are always worthy to watch. Thank you for all the hard work.

[@vikassm2383]

Finally someone talking sense instead of specs!! Thank you, subbed.

[@tonychaar6780]

Agree with you 100% I think you are one of a million I was once impressed with dynamic range editing but realized lately that I’m loosing the mood And the subject of my image

[@jonnytelcoin1924]

thank you again Jamie, your videos are some of the best on youtube, content, educational and inspirational. please keep up the great work

[@DenisThibeault_inci]

Thank you Mr Windsor, very interesting content and thoughts on pushing my establish boundaries on composition. Glad to hear there is no perfect exposure. As usual, your videos are an inspiration. Awesome channel!

[@jasonandrews7355]

Great video! Sean Tucker has a two part series on shadows and highlights that are some of my favourite videos on KZbin. We definitely need to study light more and gear less as a photo community :).

[@amitabhsrivastava1255]

Was looking for this comment.

[@hakonsoreide]

I often use the chiaroscuro effect myself. Having something black in a photo also makes the colours seem more colourful without actually adding more saturation to them, and I often end up even reducing dynamic range in my photos, blocking up the shadows rather than opening them up. It is still useful to have the wide dynamic range available to you so that you don't miss out on the details that you did want to preserve - something that many impulsive photographers would decide on later. I like being in full control of which parts of my photo go to black and which turn white. Especially for B&W photography. There's a reason it's called "Black and White" and not "Grey".

[@blakkhrs]

Jamie, I just wanted to tell you how much I look forward to your videos. I can get a lot of advice or expertise from several of the Photographers here on KZbin, but your POV on several topics really reminds me to focus on what I really love about Photography and the reason I love it so much...THE ART.

[@tomweston3239]

I really can't say enough how impressed I am with all of your newer videos. I really enjoy your video essays and I find myself using your language in the annotation of my own work. I also love that you so rarely put your own photos into the videos which I think shows a certain element of modesty that's missing in so many other photography based channels. You're one of the few people I follow online that if you were to release a book tomorrow in something I'm even slightly interested at less than £40 or so, I'd buy it in an instant. I can only say that about a very select few. (That said I haven't bought your presets - purely because the photos I take just don't want presets applied to them)

[@GuillaumeLemay]

Funny that you covered this topic because this is something I've also had on my mind lately. Couldn't agree more!

[@wonder7139]

Same here!

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I have a list of technical terms to learn. This is one of them.

[@matiasnruffa]

I agree a 100% with you. New technologies blinds us from the real meaning of photography; from it being a tool of expression. I think the same happens with over sharpening an image. Brilliant videos, going into the soul of our beloved job.

[@jakobhovman]

Ciao Jamie Chiaroscuro...Yes yes yes, Great story, video and editing...! Dynamic range: Some feelings dwell down there in the dark mystery...!

[@danthelakerfan32]

Thanks so much for the video. Fantastic job and I appreciate the subtleties of your editing.

[@hendrik007007]

Your video's are among the best Jamie! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@fahadbashraheel1187]

the best who ever talked about dynamic range

[@thenightcamera2605]

Finally someone talking about the value of darkness in a photo. I deal with it everytime I edit my night shots. In this case, the night as to keep being the night, not some day surrogate.

[@jurgentrockenbau9321]

Thank you so much! This just showed me I'm on the right way after watching so many videos where they tell you to boost shadows and lower lights etc... Too often the outcome looks overly artificial to me... In the last couple of days I played around with the level of underexposure and DRO in my a6000 and found less to be more... Great examples and great video!👌

[@mikaelwardhana2839]

thoroughly enjoyed this video and your channel in general, Jamie. It's refreshing to see that there are some photography KZbinrs that talk about history of photography and the thoughtfulness of it.

[@HesselFolkertsma]

Dynamic range is good to fix under of overexposure, but I agree people are slightly overdoing it with compressing the tonality of an image. Just because you CAN pull back shadows, doesn’t mean you should. Well done, Jamie.

[@ManuKa122]

You cannot blame the people. Rather you should blame marketing teams that like numbers, since they are easy to understand and to compare. It is easier to understand (or believe) that ISO up to 4 million is better than ISO only up to 250.000, it is easier to think that 14 stops of dynamic range is better than 11 - on the other side it is very hard to sell unique features like "live view on long time exposure pictures" on the Olympus cameras or "live crop FHD out of 4K" on Panasonic cameras. Most consumers are no photographers, they are just "consumers". They want to buy (invest in) a product that is "up to date" and is "the best" for a long time, since they don't want to be outdated with other cameras from the moment they put a lot of money on the table - hence the "better numbers". They don't know that pictures with 4 million ISO will look like the hardest crap they ever took or that they don't even know how to understand dynamic range and in the same way they don't understand all the special features of special cameras. They have no time to understand this. They might have a hard job or two, a family to support, friendships to maintain ... you cannot blame people for all the marketing shit. Camera manufacturers want to sell their products. Marketing teams sell numbers.

[@andreik3096]

everybody should read at least once that good wiki on ETTR

[@kevindiaz3459]

@@ManuKa122 "Most consumers are no photographers, they are just "consumers"" Word brother. This is why so many people will buy a new camera without ever once investing in anything other than the lens that comes with it, let alone learning good shooting techniques. They hear what people are saying about things like DR while having an imperfect understanding of why experienced shooters appreciate it.

[@RohanGillett]

I've been taking photographs for nearly 10 years now, and while I've felt I've made improvement in many areas the use of shadow has not been one of them. To be honest, I've been one of the crowd who usually tries to open up every shadow they can find in a photo. I've watched this video a few times now but never really got what you were saying. However, after visiting an art gallery here in Tokyo that exhibited Meiji era Japanese painters I noticed they used no shadow in their paintings and it looked really weird (like your HDR comment), once I realised they used zero shadows!! So using shadows in a photo is just like we see in real life! Not everything needs to look bright and sunny.

[@joshuacamacho9755]

THIS is why I love your channel and will always watch all of your videos the second they drop, you always explain your topic simply but effectively even on basic subjects you still have a wealth of great technical advice!

[@francolaria]

Another fantastic piece of content - a very good lesson for me, I had to watch this twice. I've been looking for some inspiration, your videos have given my that urge to get back out there and shoot - for myself, not just for work. Thank you.

[@christophmunch4796]

When I took a photo because I liked specifically how the scene actually looked for my eyes, then of course I recover shadows, pull down highlights etc. to get an image as similar as possible to how I remember the scene. For that, a big dynamic range is very helpful, and that's one big reason I upgraded from my little Olympus to the Sony A7III. But in other cases of course working with dark shadows and perhaps even blown-out highlights can make for a better, clearer, simpler photo. It DEPENDS, and therefore a camera with high dynamic range is the best tool because then you have the widest array of choices!

[@IvoPavlik]

He doesn't contradict that, does he?

[@Albanez39]

7:05 "The courses are done by professionals" Matti Haapoja appear xDDD

[@williamferris961]

Brilliant! Love your KZbin videos. Thought-provoking, informative, inspiring presentations with fantastic editing. Keep them coming.

[@anzelo]

Thank you for your videos! I loved this one as I struggle with this subconscious pull to recover hilights and shadows everytime! and I always find myself going back a bit to a more contrasted look before moving forward with the edits.

[@dasp125]

Completely agree after all we are “painting with light” (photography).

[@staLkerhu]

My sis is a good painter (well, in my opinion), and while she had the time she painted some of my photos (mainly landscape). Sometimes I find myself thinking about the picture I'm about to take "How should I do it to work as a painting?"

[@Po-Oc]

Sean Tucker once said "Embrace the shadows". I keep that in forefront of my mind when shooting now.

[@atticautos484]

Love your videos. So very helpful. Please keep them coming.

[@JontySG]

Great post. Very insightful. Thanks for sharing Jamie.

[@GreenMorningDragonProductions]

6:48 I'd love to sign up, Jamie, to play a small part in keeping you in the flat caps to which you've become accustomed, but something weird keeps happening. Each time I watch one of your excellent vids, which I think I am well advised to do, because I've only had a camera for six months (although I get out and about taking pics alot), the vast majority of tips that you give are things that I've adopted instinctively already. I think I've inadvertently stumbled across something for the first time in my life that I have a natural aptitude for. And I'm only fifty! Love the vids!

[@ErickRedcloud]

I love your channel. Where a lot of photography channels go over technical skills you bring me back to my training at art school. Although I studied graphic design I get to apply art theory to my photography.

[@TomWhild]

Another great lesson Jamie, really love the depth of thought that you bring to things. Keep it up!

[@phoenixgaming.8083]

I get angry when i see jamie has 171k subs and tony northup has 1.5m. Life is not fair .

[@danadrian2752]

PhoeniX Gaming. Don’t know who that is, is it a photography channel I should avoid and why?

[@TheSullenDude]

Oh why, don't you like comparing pErcEptUaL MeGapiXeLs?

[@MyBinaryLife]

Them butthole eyes are hard to look at lol

[@Taykorjg]

They don't even do the same thing so I don't know why you'd be upset.

[@strixxx896]

@@danadrian2752 there's no reason why u should avoid them,they're great ,and as someone said in the comments theirs type of content is not similar to this channel....

[@rootstudio247]

I get your point, but it seems to me that deep shadows with beautiful highlights is the very reason why you would want a camera with a wide dynamic range.

[@epictetus9221]

Which sounds a bit like you didn’t get his point :)

[@Jeemdeecreations]

I agree tbh. Of course he makes a good point, but the point of a wide dynamic range camera is not just to show the entire range in every photo.. The point is to be able to capture it all bottom to top, and upon postprocessing AFTER taking the photo having the freedom to go for the blacks - or the whites if you feel it'd be more fitting.

[@epictetus9221]

@@Jeemdeecreations You're absolutely correct, but a lot of people don't understand that and get the wrong idea. Hence this video

[@daxvolfan]

I really learned something in this video. Thanks so much for posting. Subscribed!!

[@PMcDonnell]

Probably my favourite photography video of the last 12 months! Thanks so much @Jamie for reminding us to concentrate on content and meaning/expressing feeling rather than *just* on technique!

[@uglyigor3055]

what? No we need absolutely more HDR sunset picture of a boat on a lake in front of a mountain. How dare you!

[@kennyjonespiquero7791]

Well, in Landscape photography you want to highlight the whole image so HDR is useful. What he's trying to is that use light to focus the subject, ex : Portraits

[@denisboschiero6938]

CHIARO - SCURO In Italian "chiaro" is the opposite of "scuro". Thank you for your videos, they really inspire me.

[@oscarcastillo116]

What an excellent video! Watched it some time ago and have been searching for it for ages! I have thought of it many times during Art history lessons and when shooting.

[@Devopsmasood]

This is one of the best photography lesson video I have ever seen! You just opened up a different dimension in the thought process! God knows how many days I wasted just thinking about the dynamic range of a camera.

[@lcador9]

Outstanding! I love the way you anchor your photographic points within the context of classical art.

[@x4rd]

That is withut doubt the best video You have made so far Jamie. Wonderfully thought out and executed.

[@mychannel-lp9iq]

What I like more about your vids is that they are nor just tips and tricks but lessons amazingly explained

[@CatalinGulan]

Owesome video lesson! Thank you very much for sharing it! Great job you do all the time Jamie! Big Congrats! ❤

[@pxbtube]

Jamie, this video is truly inspiring! You explain the concept very well, alongside the video representation and it has really help me understand what I love about some of my favourite street photographers.

[@josephtayloruk]

Great video Jamie. This style of photography/art is what I enjoy making......and now I have a word for it!! Thanks. Your editing is fantastic. Thanks for creating.

[@PaulHanley]

Excellent video. It inspired me to think again about what and how I shoot. I really enjoy your videos.

[@JohnHReed-xp4dy]

Great approach and wonderful addition of explaining the art side of the topic. Thank you for the videos, as always.

[@TheJohnnieMedina]

OMG, Jaime, what an amazing video! I am stunned, not only by the beauty and artistry of the photos, but by your knowledge of the subject! You made the concept interesting and easy to understand. Well done mate!

[@MrTeebaum]

i love your videos because they broaden my horizon and lead me to abandon conventions and try new things - apart from that, you have a very sympathetic personality. thank you!

[@Sam-ch9mn]

Jamie, a big big thank you for making this video. I didn’t know the term before but the chiaroscuro look is what I’ve been trying to capture for some time... so far with little success. Heartened by your advice, I’ll keep trying. Brilliant to have someone who can really convey the artistry of photography beautifully as well as technical advice.

[@renemens24]

Thank you for another good and valuable video. Keep em coming Jamie!

[@billgreen4514]

Well said, love this video, so well put together and with a strong clear message.

[@damiancanteros]

Great quality content! Your videos are allways a joy to watch and and a source o good information to me. Thank you.

[@dahappychappy]

Well said. Appreciate all the work you put into videos like these

[@billymurphy3]

I became obsessed with this stuff after a video Sean tucker did a long time ago about exposing for the highlights. This is a fantastic video Jamie!

[@obryobry]

Brilliant Jamie. I love your insights into the history of creating images.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Another stellar video James! So well thought out and so well articulated. Bravo, Sir! ....and as for that retro intro: a touch of genius!

[@MaquiCastelo]

I love this video! Great insight. I’ve always wanted to explain this concept but didn’t know the words to say. Now I have "Chiaroscuro" in my vocabulary. Thanks for sharing!

[@tomastapia8078]

Great Video!! Thank you for that important lesson, never thought about that and it makes a lot of sense!!!

[@TommyKronholm]

Jamie I love the history and science behind the topics you bring us! I get so much out of your videos.

[@dimitrisadamopoulos]

Thanks a ton for this great video! Keep em coming! 🙏🙏

[@nightfury4756]

Love your videos, man. Keep up the great work

[@murinechan1061]

EVERYTHING about this video was worth the watch and captivated my attention!!! You've definitely got a new subbie!!!

[@robinnogisto]

just love that talk. painting, photography, cinematography all is love. But painting is greatest of them all. Thank you Jamie! AWESOME