What is bracketing and when would you use it?

What is bracketing?
(Image credit: Future / PhotoPlus)

At its most simple, the term ‘bracketing’ refers to a technique where you capture a number of frames of the same scene, but each image has an intentional technical variance. The most often used and popular thing to bracket is exposure. When you bracket the exposure, you capture shots that are both overexposed and underexposed, as well ‘correctly’ exposed. 

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Andrew James

Andrew makes his living as a photographer, videographer and journalist. For 26 years he was a specialist magazine editor, the last 13 of which were on Practical Photography magazine. A long-time expert in photographic techniques across many disciplines, he's a self-confessed photo generalist, and a font of creative knowledge to capturing just about any subject, although he has a strong leaning to wildlife and travel photography. Andrew's wide-ranging photography experience means he authors the long-running Photo Answers section for Digital Camera Magazine. His work as a journalist, guide and educator dovetails neatly into his commitment to Foto-Buzz - an online subscription community he founded, where Andrew writes articles, films tutorials and records blogs on all manner of photo-related subjects and techniques for enthusiast photographers.