Aircraft Detail - HDR done differently

[jmichaelhite]

I wanted to share in image I took recently at an airshow. I shot the original in one frame at f5.6 at 1/125, ISO 100 in mid-day sun. I shot it in RAW format so that I could post produce the HDR more easily.

In post, I created three virtual copies of the original in Lightroom. I adjusted one copy down 1 1/2 stops and one copy I adjusted up 1 1/2 stops. This provided three images I then processed in Photomatix to achieve the final image.

While it is better to shoot three separate images, I have found that I am often shooting handheld and that makes shooting multiple images for HDR imprecise. This technique has allowed me to create some good HDR results without a tripod and by only shooting one original frame.


Airshow-31 by Michael Hite Photography, on Flickr

[kcoppock]

The point of shooting multiple images for HDR is to end up with a dynamic range larger than what your camera is capable of handling. You can compress the dynamic range that your camera captured with one shot in a situation like that, and I do like the result, although you can see some artifacts -- particularly in the chrome -- where the highlights are clipped and don't shift very smoothly to gray and then to blue. You can't, however, use this to get more dynamic range than the camera captured -- by definition, you used the same RAW image for all three "exposures". For example, shooting a sunset over a dark forest. There's just no way your camera can capture enough detail in the shadows and properly expose for the highlight of the sun. It's situations where the dynamic range exceeds the capturing ability of your camera when actual HDR becomes useful.

One more thing of note is that when you drag up the exposure in a RAW, you're going to notice dramatic increases of noise in the shadows, whereas a separate exposure wouldn't have the same issue.

[jmichaelhite]

Kevin - you are absolutely right! This only works in a pinch when you have to shoot handheld. Your note one the noise in shadows when you adjust the RAW image up in exposure is dead on! This technique can produce some good results when you are not able to shoot separate images to capture a broader dynamic range, but it definitely has serious limitations.

[kcoppock]

Originally Posted by jmichaelhite

Kevin - you are absolutely right! This only works in a pinch when you have to shoot handheld. Your note one the noise in shadows when you adjust the RAW image up in exposure is dead on! This technique can produce some good results when you are not able to shoot separate images to capture a broader dynamic range, but it definitely has serious limitations.

Just realized I may have misread your post a little. I saw this line: "Why it is better to shoot three separate images" and took it as a question, but I think you meant "While it is better".

Sorry if my post came off gruff; I really do like the look you have here! I was just attempting to answer a question you weren't asking, I think.

[jmichaelhite]

Originally Posted by kcoppock

Sorry if my post came off gruff; I really do like the look you have here! I was just attempting to answer a question you weren't asking, I think.

OH NO NOT AT ALL! I appreciated your comments very much! I didn't think you were gruff at all. You helped other who read this learn more - that's what we are here for. No problem.

[kcoppock]

Originally Posted by jmichaelhite

OH NO NOT AT ALL! I appreciated your comments very much! I didn't think you were gruff at all. You helped other who read this learn more - that's what we are here for. No problem.

Okay cool.

I have a hard time knowing how my posts come across sometimes. I really like how you have a whole other image captured in the reflection at the tip of the propeller.

[jmichaelhite]

Originally Posted by kcoppock

I have a hard time knowing how my posts come across sometimes. I really like how you have a whole other image captured in the reflection at the tip of the propeller.

That is one of the hard part about this - I wonder how my posts come across sometimes too!

The the image in the chrome is fun. In the full rez version you can see an F-16 parked on the tarmac. It is a micro detail that offers a cool contrast the this radial engine prop plane.

[berardi]

+1 for the above reply