HDR with one RAW?

[Trigger]

This has reminded me of two more questions:

1) My camera will shoot 3, 5, or 7 images in auto bracket. Will I definitely get better results with the most (7), or is 5 or 3 sufficient?

2) When shooting a bracketed image for HDR, is shooting in JPG mode as good as RAW?

 

[CaboWabo]

Read here this is a good spot to start and learn from http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/hdr-discussions/285190-beginners-guide-hdr.html then when you understand you can move to auto bracket when you know what the scene calls for learn to drive before you race is the motto

 

[Trigger]

Thanks, will do. Have you had a look at the HDR Pro in CS6? Just wondering if it's been improved over CS5.

Also for NIK (which I have); is the HDR Efex Pro 2 much improved?

 

[480sparky]

This has reminded me of two more questions:

1) My camera will shoot 3, 5, or 7 images in auto bracket. Will I definitely get better results with the most (7), or is 5 or 3 sufficient?

I always let the scene itself determine how many shots I take. Whether it's 2 or 12, the dynamic range of the scene is what's important.

2) When shooting a bracketed image for HDR, is shooting in JPG mode as good as RAW?

Depends on your software. Some won't handle raw files, so you need to convert them. But I always shoot raw to begin with, and do minimal editing that's batch edited to all the image.

 

[Trigger]

I always let the scene itself determine how many shots I take. Whether it's 2 or 12, the dynamic range of the scene is what's important.

So basically, the greater the dark & light differential, the more exposure steps are desired?

 

[480sparky]

I always let the scene itself determine how many shots I take. Whether it's 2 or 12, the dynamic range of the scene is what's important.

So basically, the greater the dark & light differential, the more exposure steps are desired?

That's my method. If I meter 9 stops from the lightest to the darkest parts of the scene, I'll take 9 frames. Maybe 11 if I have time.

If there's 12 stops across the scene, 12 (14 if I feel like it).

 

[christop]

That's my method. If I meter 9 stops from the lightest to the darkest parts of the scene, I'll take 9 frames. Maybe 11 if I have time.

If there's 12 stops across the scene, 12 (14 if I feel like it).

12 frames?? I feel that's a little excessive. Decent cameras these days (even my 8-year-old Canon 10D) can produce relatively noise-free images in the top few stops at low ISO's (and I'd shoot HDR's only at the lowest ISO my camera supports anyway). Thus I don't see any point in separating exposures by less than 2 stops apart. So to capture a scene with a dynamic range of 12 stops, I'd take up to 6 frames. For a 9-stop scene, I'd take only 4 frames. If I didn't care about a little more noise in the shadows, I might even go without the bottom 1 or 2 frames (ie, the overexposed frames) since the dynamic range of the scene is captured by a few of the bottom frames anyway but with a little more noise.

But maybe that's just me.

 

[Buckster]

Perhaps Sparky would be kind enough to show us examples of some of his 9, 11, 12 and 14 image HDRs. Would be especially interesting to see the 14 images that make up that last one!

 

[480sparky]

Perhaps Sparky would be kind enough to show us examples of some of his 9, 11, 12 and 14 image HDRs. Would be especially interesting to see the 14 images that make up that last one!

I've never built one with 14 frames. I just TAKE that many. I don't use all of them, I just prefer to have the frames if needed in post. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

But here's a 9-frame. 0 EV:

HDR w/ 9 frames:

 

[Buckster]

With a full 9 frames, I'm kind of surprised that the areas of sunlit rock and sidewalk still appear to be blown out, while the darkest areas still seem to be a bit blocked up.

 

[christop]

I think the image with the blown out highlights and blocked up shadows is a single exposure. The combined HDR is below and doesn't have either of those problems.

 

[Buckster]

I think the image with the blown out highlights and blocked up shadows is a single exposure. The combined HDR is below and doesn't have either of those problems.

Ah, yes! Quite right. For some reason, there was no second image in my browser when I posted my reply.

 

[480sparky]

I think the image with the blown out highlights and blocked up shadows is a single exposure. The combined HDR is below and doesn't have either of those problems.

Ah, yes! Quite right. For some reason, there was no second image in my browser when I posted my reply.

Partly my fault. It took me a while to wade through my PB account to find the HDR.

 

[CaboWabo]

So in hdr should there ever be a case where there is a shadow where you cannot see the detail ?

 

[The Barbarian]

So in hdr should there ever be a case where there is a shadow where you cannot see the detail ?

If that's what you want for the image. HDR is a technique, not a standard to meet.