Dynamic Range

[designadvanced]

As many know, we like photos with detail in both the shade and bright spot of our photos. This sometimes does not happen. The reason is because of sensor size. To understand this, I will explain a bit of film photography, the tell you how to achieve a higher dynamic range with you Olympus DSLR.

In film photography, one finds normally 3 types of cameras: 35mm, medium format, and large format. The larger the film, the more detail can be achieved in both types of areas in your image. This is why you see some of the professional photos with high detail and very vibrant colors.

Well, in digital photography, unless you are willing to spend atleast $5,000 for a camera that is comparable to the smallest, 35mm, you wil need to learn how to get past sensor size. The sensor of your camera acts as film, absorbing the light that enter through the lens. The size of you sensor determines the "detail" of what is seen through the lens. Whether it is a cloud or a canyon that is dark, the smaller the sensor, the harder it will be to acheive detail in both the light and dark areas.



This image I took, but not just with one shot, but three shots. In order to achieve dynamic range, I had to take several steps.
1. I used a tripod - to keep the camera in the exact same position
2. I used a shutter release cable - so that my hand does not move the camera
3. I bracketed the shot - It took one photo underexposed to capture the correct color in the sky. One photo at 0 ev to kinda balance the image. And one photo overexposed to capture details in the areas that would normally appear to be dark.
-1, 0, +1 (this can be achieved in your DSLR menu settings)
4. I merged the photos in Photoshop (you can use freeware, gimp, to do the same)
5. Lastly, I saved it as a jpeg

Hope this can help.

[RexK_Cozumel]

So this would be a HRD photo?!? great capture by the way. this post would probably be better suited in the how i took it section of the forums as this area is more for posts about different cameras.

[designadvanced]

It wouldnt be HDR, but the image does have a wide range. Thanks for the comment. I posted here because I use an Olympus. I had a hard learning these techniques with a smaller sensor camera, and since I learned a little about it, I decided to spead the word.

[beckywithasmile]

Does anyone know how to merge the photos in photoshop 7? I've taken the sets of photos previously, but I don't know how to weave them together.
Thanks!

[RexK_Cozumel]

I cant remember if photoshop 7 has a HRD photomerge function or not. it has been so long since I used photoshop 7. there are a lot of programs out there that you can download (some free some not) that will do HDR images. I know Photoshop CS3 has a HDR merge and I have heard great things about photomatrix as well. (have not used photomatrix before so I can't give you any personal thought on that program) But you can see the results of the HDR using Photoshop

[GEli]

Er, by definition wouldn't any image with an enhanced (eg. larger) dynamic range than the defined range of a single exposure on the camera be a fit in the "high dynamic range" category? Or does this category have a specific range requirement that your image does not qualify for? I have often merged images within 2EV steps and called it an HDR, which is why I ask for clarification (can't be classifying my photos incorrectly!).

I'm also curious as to how it is that larger format cameras are able to capture larger dynamic ranges. Aren't larger format cameras beyond 35mm simply bigger light-tight boxes that allow bigger film to be placed in it? If that is the case, is the chemical composition of the film not the same for larger format cameras? If so, I fail to see how higher dynamic range can be achieved simply by amplifying the size of a smaller lightight box/film combo. Interesting post, however - thanks.

[designadvanced]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/hdr.shtml
I hope this can help a little. But basically, the smaller the size, the less room to put detail on the sensor or film. The larger, the more area to capture greater detail.