Do you know what the histogram is and are you using it in-camera when you shoot and in Lightroom as you edit images?  The histogram is a graph that gives you lots of information about your exposure and tones in your image, and I recommend learning about it and using it both in-camera and in Lightroom.

In this video tutorial from my Lightroom 5, 6 and Classic CC: The Fundamentals & Beyond V. 8  video series, I cover how to read the histogram, whether there is an optimal shape for a histogram, whether there is an optimal placement for the histogram (ETTR, Expose to the Right), how to show what portions of your image are blocked up (under-exposed) or  blown out (over-exposed), and how I use the histogram as I edit in Lightroom. You’ll also learn about the information displayed below the histogram, including Red, Green and Blue percentages. Despite the histogram being a graph, using it doesn’t require that you be a math wiz, so if you’re math-averse, do still watch the video!

This content is for Lightroom Classic (aka Classic CC) and for the cloud-based Lightroom (aka Lightroom CC).

For best quality, after hitting Play click on the sprocket wheel in the bottom right and choose 720/HD.

What Lurks in the Shadows: The Case of the Black Cat, or Why You Should Expose to the Right

The Perfect Exposure, or When Good Things Don’t Look So Good, or Why You Should Expose to the Right

The Easy Way to Expose to the Right in Digital Photography