Dynamic Range
Definition
Dynamic Range refers to the ratio between the darkest and brightest values that a camera or display device can capture or reproduce. In photography and cinematography, dynamic range is typically measured in "stops" — each stop represents a doubling of the light level. A camera with a wide dynamic range can capture detail in both very bright highlights and very dark shadows simultaneously, while a camera with a narrow dynamic range will lose detail in either the highlights (which "blow out" to white) or the shadows (which "crush" to black). Modern digital cinema cameras typically have a dynamic range of 13–15 stops.
Contextual Usage
The DP explains the exposure strategy for a high-contrast scene: "This scene has a very wide Dynamic Range — there's bright sunlight coming through the windows, but the interior is quite dark. Our camera has about 14 stops of dynamic range, which should be enough to capture detail in both the highlights and the shadows if we expose correctly. I'm going to expose for the midtones and let the highlights roll off naturally."
About this section
Color grading and finishing is the final visual polish of the image — the stage at which the raw footage is transformed into the rich, cinematic image that the audience will ultimately see. A skilled ...
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