HDR What Is It? High Dynamic Range

As the growth of this forum continues along with the popularity of HDR, I wanted to share my thoughts on my uses of HDR.

I photograph a wide range of subjects and nothing feels better than being out with camera in hand. I also enjoy keeping up with technology and the latest camera equipment, in order to this I must earn some extra income. This is where my virtual photography comes into play.

If there is an interest in how to create a virtual tour, I will post instructions in a separate thread for those interested.

What is HDR HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.
How do I shoot HDR? You will first need a camera that offers bracketing. Bracketing is normal exposure, over exposure and under exposure. Mainly represented by +2 N -2.

Another way of bracketing a shot is to shoot in RAW mode. When post processing your RAW images save the first properly exposed image as IMG_1_N (N=normal). Make an adjustment by sliding the exposure -2 stops and save as IMG_1_U (U=under). Make your final adjustment by sliding the exposure to +2 and save as IMG_1_O (O=over). Now you have three images, 1 properly/normal exposed, 1 under exposed and 1 over exposed. This method is quite handy, if you are wanting to use HDR on a person or animal. No worries of movement for blur creating HDR this way.

Also needed is software for combining the three images. One of the most popular is Photomatix.

When creating a virtual tour I use HDR for helping window blow out. What will happen with an interior is that if the room is exposed the sun light will alter the exposure thus leaving the room slightly under exposed. Another thing is the window blow out. Sun entering the windows will not enable you to see what is outside. With the use of HDR all these difficulty's can easily be fixed.

Image #1 was properly exposed but resulted in an underexposure due to the sunlight.



Image #2 was purposely under exposed so that the windows would show what was actually outside.



Image #3 was purposely over exposed to brighten the room a bit for proper exposure after the HDR process.



Image #4 the three images from above combined together using Photomatix thus providing an HDR image.



Virtual Tour Of The Room Above

That is a look at HDR and hope that you find this information useful. Please fill free to add to this thread if there is something that I have left out.

Excellent article on HDR Matt!

Added to the sticky list of helpful threads

Ps I would love to see an article on how to do Virtual Tours!

You can also add me to the list of people who would love to try a virtual tour

Great tips there Matt

Once again Azz, I did not do a search and you guys must think.....does the bloody chap not know that Kanikula has already posted this information?

So again, if you would like go ahead and delete this thread as Kanikula's tutorial is much better than mine.

I'll get to work on the virtual tour tutorial. I have searched and nothing came up on "how to create a virtual tour"

Yup! HDR is a subject that's been touched on before BP, but that was a great example, clearly explained, and a very nice final image to boot

Count me in for the virtual tour, thingamy bob

Where are we going?

Hey no worries BP, the more the merrier

I touched a bit on the vt process in my introduction thread.

I am working on the tutorial, will take a little time as there is lot's of info to cover.

Nice contribution BP (got it the right way round this time LOL). Its always great to see how others go about it

Thanks for the tip, its very good, although its a bit 'techie' for me yet