Expose to the Right (ETTR)technical
Deliberately exposing as bright as possible without clipping highlights, then darkening in edit, for cleaner shadows.
Digital sensors record more information in the brighter tones. By pushing the exposure right on the histogram (just shy of blowing highlights) and pulling it back down later, you capture less noise in the shadows. It's a RAW technique and demands watching the histogram carefully so you don't lose the highlights.
Use this when
- High-dynamic-range RAW, cleaner shadows: brighten until highlights nearly clip
Common mistake: Pushing so far right that highlights clip and can't be recovered.