How to do an HDR?

[feRRari4756]

*Im making these questions simpple, so its not a loooonnngg post. but can u guys just elaborate on the subject a little more and tell me as much has possible about them.*

1) Hey guys first off, what are the benefits of an HDR image?

2) How do you use an HDR image? (I currently has photoshop CS, Illustrator CS4, and Apple Aperture 2) *Aperture is preferred, so if it is possible to do it in that, can u tell me.

3) How do i do it on a Canon 30d? Im guessing just do that exposure thing with one standard exp, one under exp, and one over exp.?

4) What mode should I use? (I always use manual now)

5) Should it be a fast shutter speed or slow one?


Thanks

 

[Turnerea]

1) Hey guys first off, what are the benefits of an HDR image?

You can see a large range of exposure in a single frame- if done correctly (not crazy overly done) it can more accurately replicate what your eyes see... as they see a much larger dynamic range than cameras will pick up.

2) How do you use an HDR image? (I currently has photoshop CS, Illustrator CS4, and Apple Aperture 2) *Aperture is preferred, so if it is possible to do it in that, can u tell me.

Don't think you can do it in those programs without plugins or extras. I've done a few HDRs in "Photomatix". You can google to find other programs. Photomatix has plugins, you may be able to find one for aperture so that you can quickly make an HDR from files in aperture.

3) How do i do it on a Canon 30d? Im guessing just do that exposure thing with one standard exp, one under exp, and one over exp.?

Yes. Or you can do +/-2 as well. You can set up auto-bracketing, which I'm guessing is what you're talking about... easier than fooling with buttons in between, as you want the three (or more) pictures to line up real well.

4) What mode should I use? (I always use manual now)

manual. Av... doesn't matter really.

5) Should it be a fast shutter speed or slow one?

Use the correct shutter speed. Don't worry about this too much. Most straightforward HDRs done from more than one exposure have subjects which don't move... so shutter speed shoudlnt' be an issue. The exposure bracketing you mentioned before is more important.

 

[forzabrian]

These are a bunch of HOW TO's:

HDR Style Results Using Layers in Photoshop

Backing Winds: How to Create Professional HDR Images

Photoshop HDR tutorial. hdri, High Dynamic Range Photography. | Merging HDR in Photoshop CS3 Tutorial

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography in Photoshop CS2

Have fun! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[cochiece]

HDR photography is great to try, but you'll either love it or hate it, I don't think there's an in between Photomatix is quite good but there's some new software out now called HDR Max, it gives very good results in my opinion. This is my first attempt at an HDR with HDR Max:

 

[Sw1tchFX]

two years ago, I used to be like HDRHDRHDR!!!!!!OMG!!!!!

But over time, I realized that there are a ton of issues with it, and it's not worth the trouble.

I quit doing HDR's in favor of better shooting technique and improved post production. With a good RAW file, you can make the image look like an HDR, but with absolutely no noise, your lens abberations aren't brought up at all, and none of that crazy blooming you get with bright light sources in the picture.

Single expsosure, 8 minutes, but alot of people ask me if it's an HDR because of the texture of the building and how nothing is blown out. It's not and the only time this picture went into anything other then lightroom was for resizing.

 

[Arch]

I agree totally with switch.

Also learning about HDR before you know enough about photography in general is like reading a book and skipping the first 6 chapters till you get to the middle... or even the end.

Learn to shoot first, get to know your camera, get to know PP techniques well.... then look at HDR.

The amount of terrible HDR's going around is quite alarmimg... i often say, for me, its not a matter of if i like or dislike HDR... its a matter of the few good HDR's amongst the piles and piles of crap ones.

 

[jwsciontc]

yeah i just tried lightening and darkening the same picture and combining them and it didnt turn out well at all lol

 

[Battou]

The amount of terrible HDR's going around is quite alarmimg... i often say, for me, its not a matter of if i like or dislike HDR... its a matter of the few good HDR's amongst the piles and piles of crap ones.

I have to agree with this as well, for the longest time I hated the entire concept of HDR due entirely to not having seen appropriatly done ones. After beginning to expariment with it I am finding that some of the things I can do with an HDR are far better than anything I ever anticipated.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/just-fun/140489-my-gfs-thoughts-me.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/140463-turkey-vulture.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/landscape-cityscape/146955-broken-reprocessed.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/collectors-corner/143354-zeiss-ikon-box-tengor-54-2-a.html

^^^All HDR processed for tone mapping, whether it was necessary or not.

 

[stsinner]

If you want to do HDR, put your camera in bracketing mode and take three pictures of whatever you're wanting an HDR image of. You camera will automatically take an overexposed, an underexposed and a properly exposed image, and you can pile those into your HDR program. Easy.

 

[Arch]

If you want to do HDR, put your camera in bracketing mode and take three pictures of whatever you're wanting an HDR image of. You camera will automatically take an overexposed, an underexposed and a properly exposed image, and you can pile those into your HDR program. Easy.

...and if you have no editing skills you will produce a not very good HDR...

 

[Derek Zoolander]

I have to agree with this as well, for the longest time I hated the entire concept of HDR due entirely to not having seen appropriatly done ones. After beginning to expariment with it I am finding that some of the things I can do with an HDR are far better than anything I ever anticipated.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/just-fun/140489-my-gfs-thoughts-me.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/140463-turkey-vulture.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/landscape-cityscape/146955-broken-reprocessed.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/collectors-corner/143354-zeiss-ikon-box-tengor-54-2-a.html

^^^All HDR processed for tone mapping, whether it was necessary or not.

the turkey stayed still long enough for you to take several shots in the same position?

 

[Battou]

the turkey stayed still long enough for you to take several shots in the same position?

You'll note I did not state that all four where true HDRs in fact two of them are fake, but not the same fake as others around TPF but fake none the less. The Turkey Vulture was infact a single shot scanned at five different exposure settings, form there the process remains the same.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

If you want to do HDR, put your camera in bracketing mode and take three pictures of whatever you're wanting an HDR image of. You camera will automatically take an overexposed, an underexposed and a properly exposed image, and you can pile those into your HDR program. Easy.

Not exactly

This wasn't so easy, the tonal range was more then 6 stops.

 

[MelodySoul]

I agree totally with switch.
The amount of terrible HDR's going around is quite alarmimg... i often say, for me, its not a matter of if i like or dislike HDR... its a matter of the few good HDR's amongst the piles and piles of crap ones.

Agreed.

 

[stsinner]

...and if you have no editing skills you will produce a not very good HDR...

You need to edit even with Photomatix? I must admit that I haven't found a good subject yet for HDR. I've tried several times, but the images do nothing for me.. I'd rather just look at the properly exposed image. I'm still trying to find a good subject in my world. That one of the horizon is really nice. Wish I could get a capture like that.