Histogram Basics and using them in Lightroom to be a lot Cooler!

Many of us know what the histogram is, and many of us simply know what it looks like but have no idea how to use it, or what it can do for us. We won’t delve into the deep dark depths of the histogram today, but rather talk about it’s basics and how you can use a cool feature in Lightroom to make quick corrections to images. You can also watch the video for an actual walkthrough.

One guy lost 27 pounds by using the histogram…

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Above we see the Lightroom RGB histogram, and as you see in the bright red letter left is darker, and right is lighter. Starting with that basic idea you can learn a lot about an image. Using LR however you can go a step further.

Video

 

As it says in the photo just put your mouse cursor over the histogram at various positions and you can control setting by simply dragging left or right. Excuse the editors blaitent use of macho ideas.

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We’ll we’ve skipped a little, and here is a finished product. What this all done using the histogram? Of course not. But we felt the impact would be better if we showed it this way. Just play around yourself, and see what the histogram can do for you. Oh and the wait loss thing! As far as we know it’s just a myth. Have fun!

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About the Author

Glad you're here.

I'm from WA State USA and started studying photography in 97. I started work as a pro (using that word loosely because I sucked) using film at age 16. I learned fast but was not as easy to find training then. Sometimes I beat my head against the wall until I figured stuff out.

As digital dawned I went all in and got to study with masters like Ken Whitmire. In 09 I founded the Pro Photo Show podcast. I started promoting tone-focused editing. When Lightroom arrived, I started developing tools to make editing and workflow better.

20 years of study and photography around the country earned me a Master of Photography (M.Photog) from PPA. I got to see my workshops and tools featured in publications across the industry. Once I even won the prestigious HotOne award for my "EXposed" light and tone workshop.

Wanting something calmer, I moved to Mexico in 2017. It's a land of magical light. I'm here now exploring light and trying to master my weak areas. I make videos of that for my Youtube channel, sharing what I learn. I hope you'll stick around and be part of Light Hunters Tribe... Gavin

Gavin Seim

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