HDRI was originally developed for use with purely computer-generated images. Later, methods were developed to produce a high dynamic range image from a set of photographs taken with a range of exposures. Now that everybody is considered a photographer and software programs are built for 3rd graders, it is easier to reproduce what was once a very complicated process. The term “HDR” is now popularly used to refer to the process of tone mapping together with bracketed exposures of normal digital images, giving the end result a high, often exaggerated dynamic range.
Here’s how to do it:
You need
- A camera that allows you to manually change the exposure settings, specifically the shutter times
- a tripod
- A software like photomatix or photoshop
How you do it:
Find a scene you want to shoot in HDR ( best with both bright -and- dark spots, not just bright or just dark)
- Put your camera on the tripod
- set everything to manual - Aperture, focus, shutter time, white balance, everything. And set it to a normal exposure, not too bright, not too dark
- Take one shot with normal exposure
- By changing the shutter time only (make sure not to move the camera in the process), take at least two more shots, one over-, one underexposed. Many cameras offer automatic exposure-bracketing (AEB), which will automatically take three shots as described above
- Now comes post-processing, the three pictures are combined in a way that will allow for more contrast in the image.
In standard dynamic range shots, you will usually have your focal point well exposed, but the background will usually be way too bright or way too dark. (i.e. people in front of the sky, no distinguishable faces or no distinguishable background). HDR enhances the dynamic range so that everything in the image is well exposed, and all the good parts are combined.
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to shoot in RAW mode, jpg is just fine. RAW will naturally allow for higher quality images, as it usually maintains more detail, but it is not mandatory.
Check out this awesome gallery of HDR Images I found around the web…
Go fourth and create images that will amaze the world!
