When editing your photos in Adobe Lightroom, Paintshop, etc., have you wondered what that graphed display is in the corner of your screen? What does it look so funky, and why does it mean every time I adjust my slider? That funky looking graph is the histogram, for whatever photograph you are developing on in that moment. As confusing as it looks, it displays the different elements of your photograph and how they work in conjunction with one another.

The left side of the graph usually represents your dark tones, while the right side represents your light tones. On contrary to popular belief, a balanced photograph will usually not have a balanced histogram. Both sides of the graph do not need to be perfectly aligned with each other for the tones to be balanced. In fact, a balanced histogram will usually have two large curves in between the center and the left side of the display. Of course, it all depends on the photograph that you’re working on, and it’s relative diagnostics for the exposure triangle.

Underexposed pictures with have the majority of the histogram leaning to the left side, while overexposed photographs will have the histogram leaning to the right. Adjusting different elements and modules on the sliders will also move the histogram, telling you how balanced the picture is. Practice with these next time you’re developing, and your final photographs should come out smoother.

And as always, team work makes the dream work.