A Photo!

When I've taken photos, I've never have the opportunity to compare the photo with the original scene. So I thought it would be a good idea to take a photo of something I can see from my computer chair. Just out of interest I took a sunny (contrast) scene with the 3 cameras (all on auto matrix exposure) as a taster for this second part - "how true this is to what I photographed"

Coolpix 4500: Wide angle converter (small sensor)
Completely lost the sky and not much shadow visible either! That is a grey card propped up on the bush.

D70: 19mm lens (DX format frame)
Sky is a funny colour, but the shadows are good

D700: 28mm lens (FX full frame)
First image is with Auto settings and then next with High Active D-Lighting set.
Good colour everywhere, deep shadows and blue tint on the shadow grey card

I have to say this was an extremely interesting experiment.

My eye could happily see detail in the bright fence at the end of the garden and also the shadow area above it - none of the photos approached this.

Here are the 9 +/- 1ev bracketed D700 exposures and one can combine them (for stationary subjects!) to show exactly what one wants.

But WOW -

this image is the -4ev raw exposure (1st image top left above) just 'corrected' in ViewNX.
I am so impressed, even though there is a bit of noise in the shadows and halos. Where did all those colours come from!

and this one is the +2ev exposure (2nd from the left on the bottom row) similarly corrected.
This really demonstrates that if the lighting is difficult and one can only take one exposure, then always go for Raw and if anything, under-expose.

So sensors/camera-software is continually improving in this young medium and we might be forced into upgrading, every few years, to keep up! However with each camera I have been happy with the results (of most photos) and continue to take shots with the 4500 that are 'good' and worth keeping.

It is at this point that I am completely confused - the purpose of these experiments is to learn and change what I am doing.

I have measured what the cameras will do, how great raw can be and I know we can alter the image in post-processing, but this is not helping me change/improve my methodology when taking a shot.

What about Zones - it is in the title and at the back of my mind that this concept should help me...

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