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.





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). 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]

Originally Posted by wulf

Not properly. So far I've relied on blending versions of the same photo with different adjustments to the levels (see pictures). 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]

Originally Posted by 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+

i've gotten that glow before too, but i think the results were neat:


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

[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
what is a toning plug in?