How are histograms used in photography?

Histograms play a crucial role in photography by providing a visual representation of the distribution of tones within an image. They graphically display the frequency of each brightness level, from shadows to highlights. This information allows photographers to assess whether an image is properly exposed, underexposed, or overexposed, by indicating the amount of pixels at each level of brightness.

By analyzing a histogram, photographers can make informed adjustments to their exposure settings, ensuring that the desired details in both the highlights and shadows are captured effectively. This tool is invaluable for achieving a balanced exposure, allowing for greater creative control and the enhancement of overall image quality. The other options, while related to photography, do not pertain to the primary function of a histogram in evaluating image brightness and tones.