GOT A FANCY CAMERA? With an expensive lens attached?
Great. Now pop outdoors on a November afternoon and, with the sun quickly dipping behind a house, grab yourself a photo like the one above.
Any luck?
No. None whatsoever.
Depending on how you set up your fancy camera, you’ll end up with an image as the camera sees it or – if you intentionally under- or overexpose the shot – the image will have some very light areas or very dark patches.
No matter how much they cost, cameras are designed to average light out. This means, if the sky’s relatively light, other areas of your photo, like the stonework in the foreground in the above photo, will be relatively dark. The camera ‘balances’ those two things to produce a photo that is ‘correctly’ exposed. If you want to keep a bit of detail in the sky, you’re likely to end up with an image like my original below, captured with about four grand’s worth of photography equipment.
Good news, bad news
You could make adjustments. You could increase the exposure just before taking the shot or in a software package after you’ve taken the shot.
Whichever way you go with that, the good news is you’ll reveal some of the details in the stonework.
Unfortunately, bumping up the exposure will also lighten the sky. To the point where it will wash away to nothing if you want to reveal plenty of stonework detail.
Now, before you start kicking yourself for spending a lot of money on an expensive camera that doesn’t do what you want it to do, there is a solution.
It’s called bracketing.
Bracketing is the technical term for taking multiple photos of the same thing using different settings. You need to set your camera up in advance to do it. It’s also best to set your camera up on a tripod so it doesn’t move at all between those shots.
Three is the magic number
Usually, three shots (overexposed, correctly exposed and underexposed) will be enough for you to work with.
Once you’ve captured three images of the same thing, you can merge them together during post-production in a software package like Photoshop or Affinity Photo.
How to use a phone correctly
The latest iPhones are capable of bracketing. So, it is possible to get three shots of the same subject at different settings with your phone. As well as a sturdy tripod and some even steadier patience, you’ll also need a decent software package and the skill to produce the results you want.
Sound like a bit of a faff?
Well, there is another solution.
Instead of taking photos with it, you could simply use your iPhone for its primary purpose and call me to do the photography for you.
With correctly edited images, you can be sure more people see your property details. And the more they can see, the more interest you’ll generate.
Please drop me a line if you have any questions. I’d be happy to chat to you about photographs that help sell properties in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Let’s create content with even more kerb appeal.
– Lucas
Editor
Spick Brick Pics
Info@spickbrickpics.co.uk