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Mastering Photographic Histograms: The key to fine-tuning exposure and better photo editing Paperback – November 1, 2016

by Al Judge (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 549 ratings
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Histograms are the key to proper exposure and creating stunning images in the post-processing stage of DIGITAL photography.

Photographic Histograms are unique to Digital Photography.

Most books on the subject of Photographic Histograms only discuss the Luminosity Histogram that is projected on the LCD screens of Digital cameras. There are three other types of Histograms that you should know about -- RGB, Colors, and Color Channel.

Most books also only describe the basics of how to use the Luminosity Histogram to set exposure. In this relatively short but fact filled book you will learn how histograms are created and their significance to photography.

Though they did not exist in the days of film photography, they are closely related to the Exposure Zones System created by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer around 1939.

Can you identify with any of these experiences?

  • Do your eyes glaze over when people talk about histograms?
  • Do you feel that histograms are too technical for you?
  • Are you enthused about photography but confused by all the technical jargon?
  • Do you wonder how professional photographers get such great images?
  • Are you tired of well-intentioned friends giving you bad advice about photography?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, end the frustration. Just scroll up and grab a copy today.

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  1. Print length
    98 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 1, 2016
  4. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.24 x 11 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1539538222
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1539538226
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 98 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1539538222
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1539538226
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.24 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 549 ratings

About the author

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Al Judge

Al Judge

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Al Judge is a professional photographer and author living in Sedona, Arizona. In March 2012, the Sedona Area Guild of Artists (SAGA) included Al in their list of the Best Artists of Sedona 2012.

Al is a retired engineer and innovation expert. His first book was about his 23 years managing innovation for Black & Decker Power Tools.

Since then he has written more than twenty books about digital photography and frequently has several titles in the top 10 of that category. His most successful book has been the #1 Digital Photography Book in the Kindle store for the past 8 years.

Recently, he reversed diabetes and insulin resistance in less than 5 months at age 75. This experience inspired him to write books in the health and wellness category. His most recent book is THE DIET FALLACY. The book includes numerous links to YouTube videos by doctors to expand upon the material covered in the book. There are also links to products of interest. Al is also in the process of creating a YouTube Channel — More Alive @ 75 — to expand upon the information in his health and wellness books.

Al's photography books use numerous illustrations and clear explanations to take the mystery out of creating excellent images.

Although Al's books are quite comprehensive, they are written in such a way that no prior knowledge of photography is required. We all learn at different speeds and in different ways. For any skill developed, excellence comes with practice. These books will increase the effectiveness of your practice by steering you in the right direction and exposing the error of some common misconceptions. They provide a solid foundation for accelerated learning.

If you would rather be taking pictures than sitting in a classroom, these books are for you.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
549 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book concise and well-written, with detailed explanations of histogram utility. They appreciate the color accuracy, with one customer noting how definitions are identified by font and color. Customers consider the book worth its price. The book's length receives mixed feedback, with several customers noting it is short.

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136 customers mention "Information quality"125 positive11 negative

Customers find the book's information quality excellent, describing it as concise with a lot of good content that serves as a very good introduction to histograms.

"...combined with a wealth of accurate and useful information is extremely helpful. I strongly recommend this book and it will be read many times. Thanks!" Read more

"This book is great for photographic enthusiasts who have moved up to DSLRs...." Read more

"...of histograms and how valuable they are in helping you to express photographically and artistically what it is that you wish to convey through the..." Read more

"...This provides a quick and effective education, for me, around the information contained in histograms...." Read more

53 customers mention "Readability"53 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well written, with clear illustrations throughout, and one customer notes it includes a detailed walk-through of twelve images.

"...The author’s no-nonsense style combined with a wealth of accurate and useful information is extremely helpful...." Read more

"...It uses repetition to make sure that you fully understand the points but the only repetition that is really noticable is the mention that reptition..." Read more

"...I found this book to be very well written. It showed the similarities to the Zone System which I understand very well...." Read more

"...the detailed walk through twelve images and the related four histograms of each image to provide insight into how to use histograms as a tool, and..." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth its price.

"This book is definitely worth the reasonable price for which it is being sold...." Read more

"...version of the book is cheap, and I guess the few learnings was worth the price." Read more

"...This book is a clear and straight forward explanation of a valuable photography tool the does not need to be intimidating." Read more

"Informative and educational at a fair price. Great first step to get into ad-hoc histograms for amateur and professional digital photographers." Read more

4 customers mention "Color accuracy"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the color accuracy in the book, with one mentioning that definitions are identified by font and color, and another noting how colors are used in digital photography.

"...it covers the need for using histrograms, how colours are used in digital photography, how to read a histogram, and analyses a few photos, their..." Read more

"...I also like the way he writes a book: "Definitions are identified by font and color...; Significant terms are identified by a bold, italic..." Read more

"...He also addressed the differences how the cameras, monitors and printers handle color." Read more

"...This book goes beyond the color histogram most of us are familiar with." Read more

8 customers mention "Book length"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's length, with several noting it is short.

"...Al Judge is a great teacher! His books are short, sweet and to the point and the point is so well explained!" Read more

"...This book is short but it gets right to the point. I have read it twice now and i will read it again. I learn more with every reading...." Read more

"...Both liked and didn’t like that the book is short. Looking forward to trying others." Read more

"Simple, short and clear." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Timothy Donovan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful information.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am a film photographer since high school (57 years ago) and recently transitioned to digital. The author’s no-nonsense style combined with a wealth of accurate and useful information is extremely helpful. I strongly recommend this book and it will be read many times. Thanks!
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  • Nikita
    4.0 out of 5 stars Histograms primer
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It tells about what histograms are. But instead of teaching it from the "how to improve your technique" point of view, it rather explains technicalities behind them, more like "physics-of-light" point of view.

    There is little to no connection between the theory and the practice. Not in the book. Not in your mind after reading the book.

    What it does a good job at: explaining the importance of the histograms. You actually realize that if you understand the histograms, from the _practical_ point of view (which is not in the book) - you might advance in your photo technique. Or not, as final 25% of the book dedicated to "examples" which demonstrate that the level of understanding of the histograms the author possesses is barely enough; instead sheer luck is more often the main cause of a great picture.

    He again hints at a certain _practical_ technique that is possible without explanations why and any details of the technique whatsoever. (at least I learnt the technique is possible!)

    I gave it 4 starts because the book will be a very good one for somebody who had been taking pictures of the Vietnam War, around 1968. Since then the digital cameras appeared. So, for these people to learn the new technology somebody had to write a book like this and also explain what histogram is (not necessary a photo histogram, but in general). And this is a _very_ good book for that. Not 5 star though, as it a bit repetitive and not completely clear. I believe at least one fact about the physics of the light is off, which messes up everything else.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Ko_nai
    5.0 out of 5 stars Understand how Histogram works!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book because working with histograms was pretty foggy for me. Coming from an analog background and using the Zone method exclusively, I needed to understand how it worked. In the zone method, there are constraints between what we see and how film works. We don't have instant gratification, it doesn't come till later, way later. Only then, and if we take documentation, do we understand the criteria and constraints of film, development, and printing. With digital cameras and a histogram, it's easier to see where most of the information, shadows, and highlights, is and make corrections on the fly. Those who know the Zone method, the shadow zones that capture texture and shadows is set once you initiate the shutter, that's all you get. So, we concentrate on shadows, not the highlights. In the digital world, it is quite the opposite, most of the information is in the middle and to the right. I had to read this a couple of times, regurgitate the information, and then go out and experiment for a month. It has made such an impact because now I have more texture in the shadows and my highlights aren't totally blown out. Of course, there are times when I purposely put things into the shadows because in my mind's eye, it belongs there. The author put it out there 'that the histogram doesn't tell you everything and that it's perfect', you still have to choose what will be in the photograph. I know that referring back to this book over and over is a given but it's great to understand something that was a mystery to me!!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Joseph Or
    3.0 out of 5 stars All was going well till histogram examples
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Reviews made me leary of the authors book. There is little fluff in this book. I feel my understanding of digital histograms is better than when I started reading. I have a better understanding of the relationship between histograms and digital images. With practice, I should be able to make exposure adjustments based on the cameras histograms. I now see histograms in a different light.

    His histogram examples is where I feel the ball was dropped. This part left me wondering why he was spending time on the images. One was jpeg. He pointed out the shortcomings in the jpeg image and histogram. He could have said to correct this shortcoming I could do x with the exposure. Instead, he said the histogram wasn't an accurate representation because the image was a jpeg. In other images, he pointed out shortcomings, then followed up with it doesn't matter. That is the image I wanted and moved on. What if that shortcoming did matter? What strategy could be used to make it better.

    I felt I was getting value for my purchase up to the histogram examples. Not so much after that.
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  • Jim Norton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Basic book for understanding histograms.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book is great for photographic enthusiasts who have moved up to DSLRs. The automatic settings are great for maybe 90% to 95% of the pictures I take. It has helped helped me to recognize the value of taking RAW format as well as taking JPEG format for that 5% to 10%. that don't seem to come out like I hoped they would, Mastering Photographic Histograms has helped me predict how get the basic information with the RAW format (correct color exposure for Red, Green, and Blue exposures. Al Judge presents examples of how to interpret the RGB histograms that are displayed in the viewfinder and capture the most detail in the highlights and dark areas. On my camera it will simultaneously save both the Raw data and the JPEG data. So when I take print my images, I have been able to continue working as I have been (with the JPEG version) AND though using an imaging program like Photoshop learn to manipulate the RAW version to get better results. Al Judge assumes that you know very little about DSLR photography but he will help you to understand the information available within the viewfinder of the camera and how it will affect your final result. I have recommended this book to novice DSLR photographers and well as pretty experienced non professional photographers and everyone has found it extremely helpful. This book will NOT tell you how to use processing programs like Adobe Photoshop, but it will show you how to get a lot more out of your camera.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • John Donaldson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Now l understand Histograms
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Beginner photographers like me hear about histograms but are unsure how to use them. This book demystifies how histograms can help improve images with the last chapter using many practical examples to make the point. Easily worth five stars in my opinion.
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  • Leandro S Oliveira
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting reading
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Al Judge writes expertly about histograms in this book and in a way that any beginner photographers can understand. I highly recommend this book.
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  • V B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best on this subject
    Reviewed in India on February 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    For a beginner like me, this book was amazingly simple to read and understand. Far better than many other books I read
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  • Andre Bonneau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Histograms
    Reviewed in Canada on April 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Now I understand! Great Book. A must with photographing and post production. I will carry it in my phone on field trips.
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  • Miguel Heredia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Información muy precisa y útil
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Libro-información muy recomendable, me resolvió un problema que tenia de ignorancia técnica, no sabia como usar un histograma al tomar fotografías y este libro me aclaró muy bien que es un histograma y como funciona la información que proporciona la cámara en cuanto a medidas de exposición o control de luz. Muy útil usar esta información para mejorar el manejo de la luz al estar tomando fotografías y lograr mayor precisión en los efectos que uno quiere lograr y evitar aquellos que uno quiere evitar.
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