As a photographer, have you ever struggled with capturing the perfect shot in challenging lighting conditions?
Or, have you ever found yourself in a situation where the subject is either too dark or too bright, and you’re unable to capture it the way you want?
If so, then bracketing may be the solution you’re looking for.
Bracketing is a technique used by photographers to capture multiple images of the same scene with different exposure settings.
By doing so, photographers can blend these images together to create a single, well-exposed image that captures all the details in the scene.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the concept of bracketing, the different types of bracketing, and how to use it in your photography.
What Is Bracketing In Photography?
Bracketing is a technique where a photographer captures multiple images of the same scene with different exposure settings.
The exposure settings include aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
The purpose of bracketing is to ensure that at least one exposure captures the entire dynamic range of the scene.
Dynamic range refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of a scene.
In some cases, the difference may be too much for the camera to capture in a single shot.
This is where bracketing comes in.
By taking multiple shots at different exposure settings, photographers can ensure that they capture all the details in the scene.
Types of Bracketing
There are three main types of bracketing: exposure bracketing, focus bracketing, and white balance bracketing.
- Exposure Bracketing
Exposure bracketing is the most common type of bracketing used by photographers.
It involves capturing multiple images of the same scene at different exposure settings.
These images can then be blended together to create a single, well-exposed image.
To use exposure bracketing, set your camera to the bracketing mode and select the number of shots you want to take.
You should also set the exposure increment or the difference between each shot.
For example, if you set the exposure increment to 1 stop, your camera will capture three shots at -1 stop, 0 stops, and +1 stop.
- Focus Bracketing
Focus bracketing is a technique used to capture multiple images of the same scene with different focus points. T
his is useful when you want to capture a scene with a shallow depth of field, but you want all the details in the scene to be in focus.
To use focus bracketing, set your camera to the bracketing mode and select the number of shots you want to take.
You should also set the focus increment or the difference between each shot.
For example, if you set the focus increment to 1 inch, your camera will capture three shots with the focus point set to 1 inch, 2 inches, and 3 inches.
- White Balance Bracketing
White balance bracketing is a technique used to capture multiple images of the same scene with different white balance settings.
This is useful when you’re shooting in challenging lighting conditions and you’re not sure which white balance setting to use.
To use white balance bracketing, set your camera to the bracketing mode and select the number of shots you want to take.
You should also set the white balance increment or the difference between each shot.
For example, if you set the white balance increment to 100K, your camera will capture three shots with the white balance set to 3000K, 3200K, and 3400K.
How to Use Bracketing in Your Photography
Now that you understand the concept of bracketing and the different types of bracketing, let’s look at how you can use bracketing in your photography.
- Landscape Photography
Landscape photography often involves capturing scenes with a wide dynamic range.
For example, a landscape shot may include a bright sky and a dark foreground.
By using exposure bracketing, you can capture all the details in the scene and blend them together to create a single, well-exposed image.
- Portrait Photography
Portrait photography often involves capturing subjects in challenging lighting conditions.
For example, if you’re shooting a portrait in bright sunlight, the subject’s face may be too dark.
By using exposure bracketing, you can capture multiple shots at different exposure settings and blend them together to create a well-exposed portrait.
- Macro Photography
Macro photography often involves capturing subjects with a shallow depth of field.
By using focus bracketing, you can capture multiple shots with different focus points and blend them together to create a single, well-focused image.
Bracketing In Photography – Wrapping Up
Bracketing is a powerful technique that can help you capture the perfect shot in challenging lighting conditions.
By using exposure, focus, or white balance bracketing, you can capture multiple images of the same scene with different settings and blend them together to create a single, well-exposed image.
So, the next time you’re struggling to capture the perfect shot, consider
