HDR Or No?

[DisasterDan]

While i was stumbling around looking at HDR pictures i found this -
subaru HDR 3 by ~exxx2005 on deviantART

How on earth did this picture happen? Is it an HDR knockoff?
I'm guessing it isnt a "True" HDR picture becuase the car is moving, but can someone please shed some light on the subject for me?

 

[Overread]

I suspect its a "Fake" HDR made by processing the RAW of the photo multiple times. Once normally - once to raise details in the blacks (ie sliding the exposure slider to the right) and once for the whites (sliding the exposure slider to the right). And then blending the results either manually or with software into the finale composite photo. Further some HDR software will do all this with a single photo file (though of course if its working in editing its not working on the RAW itself but the outputted RAW to the editor and thus won't have quite the same access to data - ie less data in the blacks and whites).

 

[molested_cow]

You can also achieve the same thing using non HDR techniques, but manually edit each region using a combination of different tools, like dodge and burn, levels etc. It's a lot more time taking, but you will have full control of the effects and I personally find the result more natural.

 

[DisasterDan]

Ahh i see now, thanks for the input guys.

You can also achieve the same thing using non HDR techniques, but manually edit each region using a combination of different tools, like dodge and burn, levels etc. It's a lot more time taking, but you will have full control of the effects and I personally find the result more natural.

I wasnt even aware of this technique, im going to give it a shot here soon.

 

[molested_cow]

Ahh i see now, thanks for the input guys.

You can also achieve the same thing using non HDR techniques, but manually edit each region using a combination of different tools, like dodge and burn, levels etc. It's a lot more time taking, but you will have full control of the effects and I personally find the result more natural.

I wasnt even aware of this technique, im going to give it a shot here soon.

HDR is basically an automated version of that. Actually, that is the same as how you would do it in the dark room, except with photoshop.

 

[Bynx]

Its not so much HDR as tone mapping. You can tone map any single image file and create a final image which looks like that racing car.

 

[djacobox372]

"HDR" and "tone mapping" are all buzzwords with no agreed upon meaning.

Heck most of Ansel Adam's landscape photos would be called "HDR" by some people today because of the high amounts of dodging and burning he did.

 

[Overread]

I've always found it good to view HDR as using methods to get the exposure of all points even and correct as well as having the proper details present within those areas. This is in contrast to dodging and burning where you're more changing the light properties of certain areas via modification and oft times you won't actually reveal more detail and colours can also be affected (eg burning can make whites go a little more grey than they normally would have been).

 

[rachard1583]

To aid with getting the right exposures, you can use the auto-disclosure bracketing function on your image taking device. This will help you set your camera to the appropriate stops very easily for every shot. As well, try to utilize a tripod, since steadiness is key. Although the better soft applications allow you to correct any actions the image taking device may have made, it is excellent to get each shot very appropriate before you start working with them on a computer.

Dallas Wedding Photography

 

[SlickSalmon]

"HDR" and "tone mapping" are all buzzwords with no agreed upon meaning.

Heck most of Ansel Adam's landscape photos would be called "HDR" by some people today because of the high amounts of dodging and burning he did.

Not quite correct, at least in the world of automated HDR. HDR is a technique that involves tone mapping as one of it's components. The first step is to combine several images into one giant file that includes the entire dynamic range of the shot. The second step is to tonemap that file into something smaller that an image processor can deal with.

But, I agree with the gist of your second comment. I think Ansel Adams would have loved HDR. Once, I ran a digital copy of Moonrise thru a tonemapping routine and it made no difference to the image at all. In effect, the original image already had all of it's shadow detail revealed, so there was nothing else for the program to do.