What does "bracketing" mean?

<p>I've heard this term a few times, what is it?</p>

<p>If you're looking at a subject that appears to be challenging, exposure-wise (say, very high contrast, with bright highlights and deep shadows), it can be tricky to nail the exposure with a single shot. Let's say your camera's meter wants you to shoot that scene at f.8, 1/250th, and IDO 400. But in your gut, you know you might end up with details lost in the shadows, or details blown out in the highlights.<br /><br />So ... you bracket. You shoot that same scene at f/5.6, f/8, and f/11. Or, you leave the aperture alone, and shoot at 1/125th, 1/250th ,and 1/500th. Or you leave aperture and shutter speed alone, and shoot at ISO 200, ISO 400, and ISO 800.<br /><br />Then, when you sit down to look at the results, you increase the odds that you'll have an exposure that you can better use. Or, if you're armed with the right software and techniques, you can combine elements of those shots to make the most of a good exposure in different parts of the scene.<br /><br />Some cameras make this easier by having a bracketing mode, where a single press of the shutter button fires a quick succession of shots, automatically varying the exposure in whatever way you want - from deliberately under exposing to deliberately over exposing.</p>

<p>You might also give a similar clear explanation of focus bracketing.</p>

<p>If the subject/scene isn't moving, and specially if you're tripoded, you may want to lay down a big bracket string in 1/3rd stop increments. Not only will you have your choice of exposures, but in the future also the capability to use HDR if you wish. One last bit of terminology: BLH means "bracket like hell".</p>

Bracketing means taking the same shot repeatedly with different settings.

 

You can bracket exposures. For example, you might take one shot at the setting suggested by your meter, one shot a bit

lighter, and one shot a bit darker. Later you can select the shot that looks best. Or with advanced techniques you can

combine parts of the three shots if necessary.

 

You can bracket focus. One shot would focus on an object that's close to the camera, and another would focus on the

background or a more distant feature. Again, later you can select the one that looks best to you or use advanced

techniques to combine features of each shot.

 

It's less common, but some cameras also give the ability to bracket white balance in order to get the best color rendition.

 

Bracketing can always be done manually. The photographer changes the settings between each shot. Some cameras

also give the ability to bracket automatically. With auto bracketing you set the parameters that you want to bracket and

then just.take one shot after another and the camera will automatically apply the adjustments.

 

Bracketing is very useful. Many advanced and professional photographers use these techniques. It's better to bracket

than to miss important shots due to, for instance, an incorrect exposure calculation.