ABSTRACT
Dynamic range is the term used in digital photography when referring to the difference between the darkest and lightest tonal values or levels in an image. It used to be that photographic papers were much more forgiving of negatives with excessive contrast. It’s fascinating to look at old glass plate negatives and notice how amazingly dense and contrasty they could be. In ancient Greece there was a myth about a diabolical innkeeper named Procrustes who offered passing strangers an invitation to spend the night on his special iron bed which he claimed would magically fit all guests. Every beginning photographer has attempted to make a beautiful print from a negative that has more or less than average contrast. The simplest way to define a “good exposure” is to say that it means choosing a combination of stop and shutter speed that will allow the right amount of light to expose the film or digital sensor.
