What is Bracketing in Photography? How to Use, When to Use

What is bracketing in photography?

Bracketing is a technique whereas we can overcome an issue within the scene. Let’s assume the sky in our planned photo is too bright, or the ground is too dark. We can take a series of photos at different exposure levels and combine the photos later in post. Thus, ensuring that the photo does not have any underexposed or over exposed issues. This technique often replaces the need for a graduated neutral density filter.

Bracketing helps us to get the optimal exposure for each element of the photo and yields a more detailed, toned, and realistic photo. Therefore, bracketing serves as a fail-safe for photographers to capture a lot more information in the highlights and shadows.

5 Types of Bracketing in Photography

There are a few different types of exposure bracketing in photography, each with their own unique purpose. Here are five types you should know about:

Standard Bracketing: This is the most basic form of bracketing, where you take multiple photos at different exposure levels. Useful if you want a variety of alternatives but are unsure about the right exposure.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Bracketing: This type of bracketing is used to capture a wider range of tonal values in a scene. It’s useful when you’re shooting in challenging lighting conditions or when you want to capture a lot of detail in both the highlights and shadows.

Focus Bracketing: This type of bracketing is used to capture multiple photos at different focus points. It’s useful when you’re shooting macro or landscape shots and want to ensure that the entire scene is in focus.

White Balance Bracketing: This type of bracketing is used to capture multiple photos at different white balance settings. It’s useful when you want to experiment with different colour tones or when you want to capture the same scene with different colour temperatures.

ISO Bracketing: This type of bracketing is used to capture multiple photos at different ISO settings. It’s useful when you want to experiment with different levels of noise, or to capture the same scene with different levels of sensitivity.

What settings a beginner photographer know for bracketing?

As a beginner photographer, there are a few key settings you should be familiar with when bracketing photos. Here are a few to keep in mind:

1. Exposure Value (EV) or F-stop: The exposure value (EV) or f-stop is the setting that controls how much light is let into the camera. When bracketing, it’s important to know how to adjust this setting, so you can take multiple photos at different exposure levels.
2. Shutter Speed: The shutter speed controls how long the camera’s shutter stays open. When bracketing, it’s important to know how to adjust this setting, so you can take multiple photos at different shutter speeds.
3. ISO: The ISO controls the camera’s sensitivity to light. When bracketing, it’s important to know how to adjust this setting, so you can take multiple photos at different ISO levels.
4. White Balance: The white balance setting controls the colour temperature of the image. It’s important to know how to adjust this setting, so you can take multiple photos at different white balance settings.
5. Focus: The focus controls the point of the image that is in focus. When bracketing, it’s important to know how to adjust this setting, so you can take multiple photos at different focus points.

It’s important to note that not all these settings will be used while bracketing photos, and some cameras have different ways of adjusting the settings. So, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your camera’s manual and settings.

How to use bracketing in photography?

Step 1: Selecting manual mode or aperture priority mode

When bracketing in photography, selecting between manual mode or aperture priority mode is an important decision. It will determine how much control you have over your exposure settings, and ultimately the quality of your photos.

• To select between manual mode or aperture priority mode for bracketing, follow these steps:
• If you’re using Aperture Priority, set your aperture and ISO, then let your camera select a corresponding shutter speed.
• If you’re using manual mode, set your three exposure variables ISO, shutter speed and aperture. Note Adjust your initial exposure to make up for any underexposure or overexposure the camera is likely to produce. Check the histogram on the back of the camera.
• Locate the button labelled either AEB or BKT on the back of your camera or within the menu and use the scale to show where you would like to set your stops. You can choose either full stops or fractions of stops. (I prefer 0.7)
• Press the shutter (typically three times) to take your bracketed shots.
• Manual mode gives you full control over your exposure settings, so if you’re looking for precision and accuracy, manual mode is the best option. However, it requires more skill and knowledge of exposure settings.

It’s important here not to change the F-Stop settings. You want to photo to have the same depth of field throughout this process.

Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your skill level and desired results.

Step 2: Selecting the camera’s recommended exposure settings

Use your camera’s recommended exposure settings to get the best results. Here is a step-by-step guide to selecting the recommended settings:

• Set your camera to either Aperture Priority or Shutter Speed Priority, depending on which you prefer.
• Set your ISO to a low setting. If shooting in bright daylight, set it to 100. If the light has dropped, or you’re shooting indoors, try ISO 400 or 800.
• Set your aperture to f/8 or f/11, as this will give a lot of depth of field, which is great for landscape and interior photography.
• The shutter speed will be determined automatically by your camera. Take a photo, “normal” exposure.
• Without moving the camera, slide the Exposure Compensation dial to -1. This will be your under-exposed image.
• Turn the dial to +1. This will be your over-exposed image.
• Take your three bracketed shots and then combine them together using editing software.

Check your histogram for all three shots. It should be different for each photo.

Step 3: Taking an “overexposed” and an “underexposed” bracketed photo

I believe the best approach is to take 3 photos, 1 properly exposed and then an overexposed and an underexposed photo. You will need to take at least three photos with varying exposures.

First, take one photo of the “best” natural exposure. Your camera’s light meter should be set to Weighted-Average metering for this series.

Next, take a photo slightly underexposed. Use a negative exposure, such as -1/3EV. This ensures the image is slightly darker than what your camera’s light meter suggests.

Finally, take a photo slightly overexposed. Use a positive exposure, such as +1/3EV. This image should be slightly brighter than what the camera’s light meter suggests.

Once you have taken the three photos, you can compare them to see which one has the ideal exposure for your needs. If needed, you can also combine all the images with their varying exposures into one image using Lightroom or Photoshop.

By taking three photos with different exposures, you can make sure your final image is properly exposed and capture the scene in the best way possible.

Step 4: Taking any additional photos

If you feel the need to take additional photos. Don’t be afraid. You are not limited to 3 photos; you can take 5 or 7 or more.

Step 5: Repeating steps 1-4 to test different exposure settings

This technique is great for landscape. Why? Landscapes don’t move, therefore you can take your time shooting a landscape with different exposure levels.

You could start by setting your camera to Aperture Priority mode, compose your shot and take one photo with the default exposure settings (EV0). Then, dial in +1 exposure compensation for the overexposed image, and -1 exposure compensation for the underexposed image, and take two more photos.

Finally, observe your scene and check the histogram for any spots of overexposure and underexposure. If your scene still has a significant dynamic range that isn’t fully captured, you could capture additional images at +2/-2 stops, +3/-3 stops, and so on, until the desired results are reached.

When to use Exposure bracketing in photography?

1. To increase the chances of capturing a well-exposed photo

Exposure bracketing can increase your chances of capturing a well-exposed photo. This technique captures three or more frames, with the photo exposed for the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows.

By merging the different photos in post, you can produce a full tonal image. Exposure bracketing in photography is especially useful when dealing with difficult lighting conditions, such as shooting landscapes during the golden or blue hour. Bracketing photos is a low-risk, high-reward skill for capturing moments that cannot be recaptured.

2. To create HDR (High Dynamic Range) images

Exposure bracketing can create HDR images by taking multiple photos of the same composition at multiple exposures, then blending them together in post-processing software. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

• Set up your camera on a tripod, and use a remote shutter release if you are doing long exposures.
• Select the correct settings for your exposure bracketing. It is usually best to vary your shutter speed, but you could also vary your ISO. Just be aware of the noise if you go too high on the ISO.
• Take three or more photos of the same composition at different exposures (e.g., one at -1 EV, one at 0 EV, and one at +1 EV).
• Import your photos into your favourite HDR software, and then use the blending feature to combine the images into one.
• Use layer masks to adjust the intensity of the HDR effect on different parts of your image if needed.
• Finally, make any final adjustments to the image in post-processing as needed.

By following these steps, you can use exposure bracketing to create High Dynamic Range (HDR) images with richer details and a more realistic look.

3. To achieve more creative photographs

Exposure bracketing is a method of taking multiple photographs of a scene with varied settings, (like shutter speed and aperture) to optimize the exposure of the scene. This practice helps to ensure that photographers have captured the best exposure possible, creating a more dynamic and interesting photograph. This technique can also be used to create HDR images, which provide a larger tonal range to create a more dramatic look. Additionally, focus bracketing can be used to combine multiple frames that have different focus points, resulting in an image with stunning details and sharpness. Through the use of bracketing, photographers are able to achieve more creative photographs with better exposure and detail.

4. To capture detailed photos with low ISO, and high DOF

Exposure bracketing is a great way to capture detailed photos with low ISO and high depth of field (DOF). The process involves taking a series of photos of the same scene, each with different exposure settings. This can be done by adjusting the shutter speed, or ISO. I do not recommend adjusting your F-stop.

• Set up your camera on a tripod and compose the shot.
• Select a low ISO setting. This will help keep the amount of digital noise in your photo to a minimum.
• Select a small aperture (high f-stop) setting. This will help increase the DOF and keep more of your photo in focus.
• Take your first shot with these settings.
• Adjust the ISO or shutter speed while maintaining your aperture (F-Stop).
• Take your second shot.
• Adjusting the shutter speed while keeping the same aperture until you have taken a series of shots.
• Take the series of photos and blend them together in editing to create the final.

For example, if you are shooting a landscape, you could use exposure bracketing to take photos with different shutter speeds and a small aperture (high f-stop). This will allow you to capture a photo with a large depth of field and a lot of detail, without increasing the ISO, which would add digital noise.

5. To create panoramic photos

Exposure bracketing is a great technique for creating panoramic photos. This technique allows photographers to capture a wide range of details in a scene, from the shadows to the highlights. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating panoramas using exposure bracketing.

• Set up your tripod and camera. Make sure it is secure and at the desired angle.
• Choose the exposure settings you want to use. Select an exposure that will capture the shadows and highlights in the scene.
• Take the first shot. Take a wide shot of the whole scene.
• Change the exposure settings and take another shot. This time, adjust the exposure to capture the highlights.
• Take a third shot with the exposure adjusted to capture the shadows.
• Open the images in photo editing software such as Photoshop.
• Select the “Merge to HDR” option. This will combine the three images into a single, high dynamic range photo.
• Adjust the levels and other settings to create the desired effect.

Using exposure bracketing is a great way to create panoramic photos with a wide range of details. With a bit of practice, you can use this technique to capture stunning landscape shots.

Conclusion about bracketing in photography

In conclusion, bracketing in photography is a powerful technique that can help you achieve the perfect exposure in those difficult situations. By taking multiple photos at different exposure levels, you can ensure you have a range of options to choose from, and can find the best one for the scene you’re shooting.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand what bracketing is and how to use it in your photography. Remember to experiment with different exposure levels and test out the techniques covered in this post to find which works best for you and the scene you’re photographing. The more you practice, the better you’ll get! So, get out there and start bracketing!