A few very basic questions

BaliEagle · Jun 26, 2011

I'm new to DSLR photography. I know what HDR is, but I'm not sure how to use it. Is I something that only some cameras can do?Is there a setting I should have my camera on? I have a Canon XS, so I'm not really sure if my camera can even shoot HDR.

Thanks, Bali.

NikonME · Jun 26, 2011

To shoot HDR with the Canon XS try this..

Set to AV mode so that the shutter speed is used to control the bracketing.
Turn off AWB and Auto Focus.
Set AEB to -2/0/+2.
Set multi shot mode.

Hold down the shutter release and the camera will take 3 shots.

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As far as the software part of it, it will depend on which software you use?

Bynx · Jun 26, 2011

As an addition to that good post by NikonMe, 3 shots is fine for some situations. But you will find that more situations need 5, 7 or even 9 shots. The more difference there is between the brightest area and the darkest area the more shots you will need to give you what you want. But at least follow NikonMe's directions and go with 3.

BaliEagle · Jun 26, 2011

NikonME said:
To shoot HDR with the Canon XS try this..

Set to AV mode so that the shutter speed is used to control the bracketing.
Turn off AWB and Auto Focus.
Set AEB to -2/0/+2.
Set multi shot mode.

Hold down the shutter release and the camera will take 3 shots.

-----

As far as the software part of it, it will depend on which software you use?

What should I change my white balance to when I take it off auto? By multi shot mode do you mean continuous shooting?

I use free software like GIMP and Picasa for picture editing. I doubt Picasa would be much help with HDR; GIMP might.

Thanks for the help.

480sparky · Jun 26, 2011

You shouldn't change your white balance at all. Whatever you use, keep it the same for all the shots needed to create the HDR.

I haven't seen a GIMP plug-in that will allow thue HDR. Not saying it doesn't exist, though.

NikonME · Jun 26, 2011

I don't use Gimp, but a quick Google search found this..

JD Smith: Code - Exposure Blend

Others who use Gimp may chime in.

Bynx · Jun 27, 2011

Just download Photomatix Pro. Its free but will leave a watermark until you have a serial number for it.

480sparky · Jun 27, 2011

Or just download Luminance or Picturenauthttp://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/. No watermarks, and they're free until you die.

BaliEagle · Jul 11, 2011

480sparky said:
Or just download Luminance or Picturenaut. No watermarks, and they're free until you die.

I tried to download both, but neither worked. They both stated they were missing components and could not open afterthe download completed.

480sparky · Jul 11, 2011

BaliEagle said:
I tried to download both, but neither worked. They both stated they were missing components and could not open afterthe download completed.

I'd say you have 'puter problems. Try FDRtools then.

Sleven · Jul 12, 2011

I have yet to take a single HDR image BUT...I did do a bit of research on how to create them. And being the cheap person that I am, I found a tutorial on how to us GIMP for HDR imaging. Here is the link. Hope it works for you.

HDR photos with the GIMP

Dmitri · Jul 12, 2011

I have to agree with Bynx. Once you start working with 7+ exposures, 3 just won't look the same to you. Best bet, IMO, is set it to manual, set the shutter speed as high as needed to get all the bright parts in. Then snap, reduce shutter by 1, snap reduce shutter by 1, etc. until your pic is gets all the dark parts in. 7, 9, whatever.

Bynx · Jul 13, 2011

Dmitri said:
I have to agree with Bynx. Once you start working with 7+ exposures, 3 just won't look the same to you. Best bet, IMO, is set it to manual, set the shutter speed as high as needed to get all the bright parts in. Then snap, reduce shutter by 1, snap reduce shutter by 1, etc. until your pic is gets all the dark parts in. 7, 9, whatever.

This is how I do it, even though I can do it with 3 clicks using 2 User Modes with my D7000.