Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What does "expose to the right" imply in digital photography?

1. Expose an image normally

2. Make the image as bright as possible without losing detail

3. Adjust the image to have higher contrast

4. Use a longer exposure time

The correct answer is: Make the image as bright as possible without losing detail

"Expose to the right" refers to a technique in digital photography that aims to maximize the amount of light captured by the camera sensor without sacrificing detail in the highlights. This practice involves adjusting the exposure so that the histogram of the image leans towards the right side, indicating a greater intensity of light in the captured image. When applying this technique, photographers find that it helps in maintaining detail in bright areas that might otherwise be clipped or overexposed. By pushing exposure towards the right, one can gather more information in the highlights, allowing for better post-processing flexibility, particularly when it comes to adjusting shadows and highlights without introducing noise or losing details. In contrast, simply exposing an image normally or adjusting contrast doesn’t specifically focus on maximizing highlight detail. Similarly, using a longer exposure time could lead to unintended motion blur or overexposure if not handled properly. Therefore, the practice of exposing to the right is essential for achieving high-quality images with nuanced highlight retention and improved overall image quality in post-processing.