Which photography technique would be best for adding detail to shadowed areas?

The technique that would be best for adding detail to shadowed areas in photography is dodging. Dodging is a process used to lighten specific areas of a photograph, which makes it particularly effective for brightening shadows without affecting the highlights or midtones significantly. This allows for more detail to emerge in the darker areas of an image that might otherwise seem flat or lacking in texture.

Using dodging helps enhance the visual interest and depth of the photograph by revealing hidden details in the shaded regions, improving overall contrast and balance in the image. This approach is essential when you want to ensure that all areas of your image are adequately exposed and that details are not lost in shadowy areas.

While burning, on the other hand, is used to darken areas of a photo, long exposure techniques are focused on capturing movement over an extended period of time, and high dynamic range imaging involves combining multiple exposures to create a well-balanced image from highlights to shadows, it is specifically dodging that directly addresses the enhancement of shadow detail in a single, controlled area.