If a histogram is clipped on the left side, what does that indicate?

• A. Underexposure
• B. Overexposure
• C. Proper exposure
• D. Color cast

Answer: (A)

Dark tones sit on the left side of the histogram, while brighter tones are on the right. If the histogram is clipped on the left, many pixels have been pushed to the minimum brightness, often pure black, which means shadow detail is lost. This indicates underexposure—the scene wasn’t lit enough or the exposure settings were too dark for the light available. If clipping were on the right, highlights would be blown out from overexposure. Color cast relates to color balance, not exposure, so it wouldn’t explain left-side clipping. To fix, increase exposure so more detail remains in the shadows, using exposure compensation, a wider aperture, longer shutter, or a higher ISO as needed.