HDR imaging

[henryscat]

I'm actually surprised that no-one has brought this up yet!

I have been shooting HDR for a wee while now and would like to share the results I have had.
HDR images are basically made up of several differently exposed shots of the same scene. I normally start by underexposing by 2 stops at a time, and work my way up. The following image was made up of 4 images as shown below.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/henryscat/326152206/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/135/326152206_087e7d5121.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="rumblin2 HDR" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/henryscat/326165220/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/141/326165220_6be0b3bd41.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="HDRtech" /></a>

The software program PHOTOMATIX combined the images and picked the best exposures from each one.
It then makes a tone map and produces what you see above.

Anyone else been shooting HDR?

[wulf]

Not properly. So far I've relied on blending versions of the same photo with different adjustments to the levels (see pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wulf/tags/hdr)). However with Christmas just a week away and a new Nikon D40 waiting to give me much more control than I can get from my present point-and-shoot camera (Fujifilm Finepix 1400 Zoom), I hope to do more with the concept in the New Year.

Wulf

[henryscat]

Not properly. So far I've relied on blending versions of the same photo with different adjustments to the levels (see pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wulf/tags/hdr)). However with Christmas just a week away and a new Nikon D40 waiting to give me much more control than I can get from my present point-and-shoot camera (Fujifilm Finepix 1400 Zoom), I hope to do more with the concept in the New Year.

Wulf

Ahh excellent - please let us know how you get on with the D40. I have a couple of mates that are looking to buy a DSLR in the near future.

[Merlyn]

Just a note here. If your camera has a exposure bracketing mode and you use Photoshop you to can do HDR. Set the camera to bracket ever how many fStops
you want or you can do this manually, one shot at a time. Take the shot on a tripod so there is no movement what so ever. You want all the shots the exact same. In photoshop click on file/automate/merge HDR. It works well.

I like your photo Henryscat. To me it works real good on nature scenes and such. Have never tried it on cityscapes.

[NaturesPixel]

henryscat be careful when using HDR and PHOTOMATIX cause you get the distinct GLOW around edges.. like you do here with the trees.. it is all to do with the amount of luminosity above 0+

[ron.richardson]

henryscat be careful when using HDR and PHOTOMATIX cause you get the distinct GLOW around edges.. like you do here with the trees.. it is all to do with the amount of luminosity above 0+
i've gotten that glow before too, but i think the results were neat:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ron_richardson/171771050/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/171771050_7f8863e973_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="dozin till the sun don't shine" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ron_richardson/168061838/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/168061838_3da41c50a2_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="all hail the end of the workday" /></a>

i shoot in RAW mode with my 20D and instead of taking several exposures of the same scene with a tripod, i've just changed the exposure compensation on one photo, saved different versions of it, and then used photomatix to do the combining and tone-mapping. whether or not this is "cheating" i don't know, but it works for me.

[henryscat]

[QUOTE=
i shoot in RAW mode with my 20D and instead of taking several exposures of the same scene with a tripod, i've just changed the exposure compensation on one photo, saved different versions of it, and then used photomatix to do the combining and tone-mapping. whether or not this is "cheating" i don't know, but it works for me.[/QUOTE]

Funny you should mention that - That thought crossed my mind the other day but I found that the lighter areas, once you start overexposing the raw image, become quite grainy.

[Triglav]

I did some HDR last vacation. Shooting up to 8 pictures from being very underexposed to very overexposed. Then merge them in Photoshop and delte the bad ones from the selection untill it is good. The results are very nice.
Here is a good tutorial for those interested:
HDR Tutorial (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/hdr.shtml)

[piston9]

[QUOTE=Merlyn;1413]Just a note here. If your camera has a exposure bracketing mode and you use Photoshop you to can do HDR. Set the camera to bracket ever how many fStops
you want or you can do this manually, one shot at a time. Take the shot on a tripod so there is no movement what so ever. You want all the shots the exact same. In photoshop click on file/automate/merge HDR. It works well.
[QUOTE]

Thanks mate - you just saved me $$$ - I have photoshop, and wanted to play with HDR (I love scenic shots) but didn't want to expend anymore money!

I would also probably use RAW - I am loving it more and more as I learn more about it, it is just too versatile.

[z999]

I just began doing HDR's but I didn't have a tripod last time I had one so it went all blurry... but still nice.
I think you should make bigger differences between the shots...
and for everyone who wants to do it right with photoshop here's a guide (http://backingwinds.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-create-professional-hdr-images.html)
what is a toning plug in?

[googlit]

thanks for bringing this up, henryscat. :)

I actually looked up HDR just a few minutes before seeing your post, as I hadn't heard about it before, but kept coming across it in flickr, impressed with the results that people got.

I'm way picky and controlling, so I'm going to try merging the layers manually in Photoshop.

very interesting technique. thanks again. :)

[Floris]

hm.. well i tried it once...

but i think i did something wrong.. cause i got a very awkword (how do you spel it?) effect..

[Krimo]

"awkward" ;)

Is there really a way to make an hdr image in photoshop ? I mean, you do have to see it on an hdr screen to reveal the work don't you ?

[googlit]

I mean, you do have to see it on an hdr screen to reveal the work don't you ?

technically, yes (I believe). Doing this stuff in Photoshop is only simulating the HDR format. There is a marked difference between HDR and not, and that's namely exposure levels. The Photoshop method is merely taking the best exposures of each area and combining them so that the shot looks like it's properly exposed everywhere. This is how I understand it, anyways.

but it makes for some stunning shots when you really start playing with the levels. If you haven't already, do a search for HDR on flickr and just check out some of the amazing shots that come up. :)

[Krimo]

Thanks for the explanation googlit. I took a look at "hdr" on flickr, and you are absolutely right, these shots are amazing. I was just wondering how you could reproduce that "dynamic exposure" effect you see on these hdr screen, when you don't have one. ;)

[RandomConnections]

Z999 - about the only way to eliminate blurring is to use white balance bracketing instead of exposure bracketing in your DSLR, or to use a single RAW image. The white balance bracketing creates a three images from a single shutter snap. I know both Canons and Nikons have this feature.

As for Photoshop, the latest version has an HDR plugin that works very well. I've also been using Photomatix for my images. I like to try both to see what works best.

The following image was done with a single RAW file, adjusting both white balance and exposure on the images...


<a title="Campbell Bridge HDR" href="http://flickr.com/photos/93102487@N00/332265531" ><img src="http://static.flickr.com/146/332265531_0251f215f4_d.jpg" border="0"/></a>

This one was shot with white balance bracketing in the camera...

<a title="Natural History Museum Interior HDR" href="http://flickr.com/photos/93102487@N00/197609676" ><img src="http://static.flickr.com/61/197609676_e0b03f5b30_d.jpg" border="0"/></a>

You can see more on my Flickr HDR set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomconnections/sets/72157594157429325/).

[the.alturasian]

Thanks for the explanation googlit. I took a look at "hdr" on flickr, and you are absolutely right, these shots are amazing. I was just wondering how you could reproduce that "dynamic exposure" effect you see on these hdr screen, when you don't have one. ;)

I've never tried the merging layers in photoshop technique. The key to HDR photograph post processing in photomatix is the tone mapping. Tone mapping is what allows you to compress amd view all of the dark shadows and bright highlights without clipping. Depending on how you tone map you get different effects.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_alturasian/2519692697/" title="My Old Man by the.alturasian, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2036/2519692697_7e0d6b791a_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="My Old Man" /></a>

Or you can go for more of a "painted" look

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_alturasian/2045824545/" title="Tahoe_Panarama.jpg by the.alturasian, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/2045824545_6d8645ca5d.jpg" width="500" height="104" alt="Tahoe_Panarama.jpg" /></a>

[navy.wife_2004]

I am checking this out now. HOpefully I can learn to do it. THe photos are nice, and I want that effect on some photos.