Contrast is very simply the difference in brightness between the darkest and the lightest tones in an image. High-contrast shots look more vibrant and ‘punchy’, while low-contrast shots may be more pleasing and restful. Some subjects and scenes may have more contrast than the camera’s sensor can record, which is where knowledge of exposure and dynamic range is important.
Sometimes high contrast is a result of the lighting conditions, as in the picture above. The camera has only just managed to hang on to the bright tones in the sky and at the same time some of the darkest detail in the shadowed foreground is just starting to disappear. Here, the last thing you need is more contrast! At other times, though, you may be faced with very low-contrast lighting that needs extra ‘punch’. This is where adding contrast in an image-editor with levels or curves adjustments can be useful.
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