DPP: Exercise 6: Highlight Clipping

The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate the process of highlight clipping.  This happens when at least part of an image is overexposed to such an extent that visual details are lost in what appears to be a bright light, or bright spot.  It may also be said of such an image that it is "blown out," that is detail is blown away by bright light.

The brief calls for finding the exposure settings at which highlight clipping first appears in a contrasty scene (some light and dark elements), then shooting one image one-step higher, followed by three images each one step lower than the preceding.

Simple as it seems, I am having some difficulty.  What my Sony RX100 and Lightroom tell me are not the same.

This is a rather poor capture from my iPad, but it serves the purpose as it shows the camera reading a large area of highlight clipping on the left near a window.  This flashes black in camera.  Note that the histograms show minimal clipping in blue.  Also note that this is not a live view available while shooting, but viewable only after capture.

Film Review: An Expert Guide to Street Photography, with Zack Arias (2013)

An Expert Guide to Street Photography, with Zack Arias
Kelby Training, 2013

Arias quotes Capa on the need for photographers to get close to their subjects and says he prefers wide to long lenses when street shooting.  He says shooting with a long lens feels someone voyeuristic, the implication being that shooting wide and close means being part of the experience being captured.  His appearance and his practice, though, seem to belie his intention.

The photographer wears a black t-shirt with the word Minimalist printed in white, but even a glance reveals a personality not particularly modest or restrained:  large belly, long goatee, earrings, exposed pale flesh of the arms and legs, tattoos.  His approach to street shooting requires being able to remain somewhat anonymous and unobserved.  He wears sunglasses to keep from making eye contact and tries to disguise himself with a baseball cap sporting the local team logo.   Were he going to a tattoo convention  or a rock concert he would not be particularly notable.  He seems to fit in after dark in Times Square, for example, but when he’s out on the Coney Island beach he can’t help but stand out.  He notes everyone at the beach is walking around in the equivalent of underwear, but he doesn't even bother to take off his shirt. He feels equally out of place in China Town, but never considers it might be because of his own appearance.  Long sleeves and trousers might be less conspicuous.  As for getting tight, I don’t recall any examples of him talking to, let alone getting close to, a subject.