A firm understanding of Dynamic Range is super important for achieving optimum results, yet this key element  is often ignored. In fact, this crucial concept is one key to capturing well-balanced, high-quality images that make you proud.

Today’s quick explainer comes to us from the Great Big Photography YouTube channel, a popular network of experienced creatives who share a wide range of courses catering to both amateurs and professional shooters. This three-minute episode explains Dynamic Range in simple terms and demonstrates why is particularly important if you’re struggling with overexposed highlights or crushed shadows that are virtually devoid of detail.

Our unnamed instructor begins with this definition: “Dynamic Range is the ratio between the maximum and minimum light intensities that your camera can record in a single frame,” and it’s a value that can differ significantly from one model to another.

Consider this interesting fact: “The scope of tones that your camera can record is far more limited than what our eyes can see” (although the disparity has narrowed somewhat as sensor technology has evolved). This is one reason why what you see in the field isn’t always what you get.

When shooting contrasty scenes in harsh sunlight, for example, even the best cameras can fail to deliver a sufficient range of tones from bright highlights to deep shadows. And this dilemma often holds true when photographing in low light.

In either case, there are techniques for dealing with these issues to achieve properly balanced exposures. You’ll learn how file format (i.e. Raw or Jpeg) affects dynamic range, and why our instructor recommends shooting in Raw for maximum post-processing flexibility. He also describes how the metering mode you select factors into the equation—specifically with regard to Spot vs. Evaluative metering.

Another topic of discussion involves using a technique known as “HDR photography” to blend multiple exposures into one perfect shot, and another method used in bright conditions when the trick is exposing for the highlights.

You’ll also see why our instructor recommends shooting in diffused light whenever possible to capture a naturally balanced tonal range. The Great Big Photography YouTube channel has thousands of subscribers and many more how-to lessons like this one.

And don’t miss the explainer we featured recently with another accomplished pro who demonstrates why Photoshop’s new Hue/Saturation tool is a game-changing upgrade for creating photographs with perfect colors.

Do you understand the benefits of shooting in Manual mode, but you’re still struggling to achieve the right combination of settings when photography birds?  If so, this tutorial from the Flying Parrot Photography YouTube channel will quickly simplify the process.

Today’s instructor Sonia is a “nature-obsessed” Australian pro whose how-to videos are designed to help you find art in nature, take bird photography to the next level, and approach all conditions with confidence. She summarizes today’s nine-minute episode like this: “I’ll walk you through how I choose the best manual settings for bird photography so you can stop guessing and start capturing well-exposed shots.”

The tips in this nine-minute video fly by in a hurry so you may want to prepare to jot down a few notes before clicking the “Play” button. Sonia covers her entire process from arriving in the field to understanding how to handle ever-changing light and avoid missed shots while fumbling around with your settings.

The bottom line is this: Whether the subject is stationary, you’re chasing small fast-moving birds, or photographing large raptors, you’ll know exactly how to configure the camera for success. There’s also a link in the description beneath the video for downloading Sonia’s free guides and other helpful assets.

Sonia also explains why this genre of nature photography poses unique changes, and she demonstrates straightforward solutions for getting the job done to perfection with whatever camera you own. She prefers shooting in early morning when many birds are most active and recommends setting your lens to maximum aperture.

Step number two is dialing in a setting of ISO 2,500 and taking a look at the shutter speed that this gives you. Sonia is aiming for a speed of 1/1,600 to 1/2,000 so her preliminary ISO setting may need to be modified accordingly depending upon available light. As she explains, “If the day is particularly dull I may have to boost my ISO up to 4,000 or even 5,000 to get a fast enough shutter speed.”

Sonia takes a deeper dive into the foregoing and several other important settings and considerations, and you’ll pick up some enlightening tips on camera angles, lens choice, and composing bird photographs for maximum impact.

Her popular YouTube channel includes many more instructional videos for photographing our feathered friends, so be sure to check it out.

We also recommend watching the video we shared recently from another accomplished pro who presents a beginners guide to Exposure Bracketing that will enable you to capture outdoor photographs with perfect tones in challenging light.