HDR Photography

[Timeshare Von]

There are some wonderful photographers here at TUG. From time to time, we hear about and even see photos that have been processed via HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology. Here is a nice article explaining the process and software available to those who may be inclined to give it a try.

I have dabbled in HDR. Here is one of my photos using Photomatix:

Denali National Park - Mt. McKinley (Sept 2010)

 

[Mosca]

That's nice, Von. HDR without calling attention to itself. Nice shadow detail, nice highlights.

 

[chellej]

This is really cool. DD started out as a photography major in college but got really frustrated with it when the professor told her to stop be so creative and just do what was assigned (I would think they would want art students to be creative).

She changed majors to Marine biology but still loves photography..... I sent her your link. I think she would really get into this....Thanks

 

[pjrose]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Thanks Mosca!

For anyone interested, here are the three photos used to create that HDR using a three bracket exposure.

Exposure = 0 (auto exposure, normal)

Exposure = -1

Exposure = +1 (apparently this copy of the image was resized before posting for sharing)

 

[caribbeansun]

A very nice image...to my eye (and it's an uneducated eye at that so take this with a large grain of salt) the HRD image looks overexposed and the whites in the snow are a bit blown out with some loss of detail in the mountains.

I think you might have been able to achieve your end result and preserved details by working with the "underexposed" image without the use of HDR in this particular case. Maybe even tone mapping the "underexposed" image only in Photomatrix.

I did a couple minutes of PP to the "underexposed" image without HDR (a levels adjustment, quick mask reduced the exposure of the sky and added tonal contrast to the field) to try to illustrate.

If you want me to take this image down just say the word and I'll delete it and I hope I've not offended as that was not my intent at all, I merely wanted to offer an alternative to HDR.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Thanks C/S . . . no worries with your creative efforts. I do like your image and could stand to learn more about HRD and PP in Photomatix as well as other programs.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

working with HDR is like working with any other creative tool - it takes practice and there's a lot that can be done with it. I look now at some of my early efforts and realize what I would do differently if I processed them again.

I'm also with Caribbeansun about applying lighting levels and contrast control to underexposed images to tame the problem of blown out whites.