The range of brightness can be illustrated with a gray scale.
Controlling the brightness of objects is critical when shooting in
black and white or color. Working in color can distract you from
the important visual control that tone has on a picture. The
tonal range of a picture can help direct the audience’s
attention. The brightest area will usually attract a viewer’s
attention first, especially if there isn’t any movement. The tonal
range of a picture can also affect its mood and emotional
feeling. Chapter 10 discusses how to make choices appropriate
for your production.