Using histograms in photo competition will let you determine if there is enough detail in the highlights, midtones and shadows of your image. As long as there is enough data to work with, Photoshop can correct the image to look great on the screen or after you print it. This way you can guarantee the quality of your photo competition entry without wasting time for retakes.
Two things you should consider to get proper correction in Photoshop is the image’s “black point” and “white point.” The black point is the darkest portion of your image and the white point is the brightest highlight of your image. (This is not the blackest black or whitest white your camera can record, but the blackest black and the whitest white in a particular photograph.) The information between the black point and the white point is known as the dynamic (or tonal) range of your photograph.
According to Scott Bourne is the author of “88 Secrets to Selling & Publishing Your Photography” and “88 Secrets to Photoshop for Photographers.” – The Levels dialog box in Photoshop provides five places where you can adjust the distribution of brightness in your image. These are represented by small triangles. There are three on the input side of the dialog box and two on the output side of the dialog box. This is true and most photographers use the three triangles located in the input side of the dialog box (located just below the histogram.) You can actually use this technique for photography contests by dragging the left (all black) triangle to the right darkens the image shadows. Dragging the right (clear) triangle to the left lightens the image shadows. Dragging the middle triangle (gray) to the left or right lightens or darkens the image midtones.
There are two additional triangles in the output side of the dialog box. They have nearly the opposite effect of the triangles located above. Dragging the left (all black) triangle to the right lightens the image shadows. Dragging the right (clear) triangle to the left darkens the image highlights. To be more confident on picture contests, Bourne’s advice is to keep practicing how to evaluate picture histograms by using the methods discussed above.
The histogram is one of the basic components of digital imaging and could also be the most significant tool of a photographer on winning picture contests. Understanding histograms from every angle will greatly benefit photographers whether or not they intend to go digital or not. If you want to have better chances on photography contest, trusting your image histogram is a wise choice.
To see how John Warton, senior photo editor at Photo Laureates reviews photographs and meet, go to www.thephotochallenge.com
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