Some HDR Help

[Rancor]

I started notcing all these posts about HDR, and didn't know what it was. So I wiki'ed it, and now I think I understand. Its taking several pictures of the same scene at different exposures and then blending them together to bring out a more natural feel to a picture, right?

Anyways, I'm trying to find some tutorials on how to do this, but I'm not sure if I'm even looking in the right spot.

Should I be looking for photography tutorials, lightroom tutorials, photoshop tutorials?

I'm confused.

 

[480sparky67 66]

Post what you're using for software (and perhaps some of your results), then maybe someone here who uses the same can help you. Different programs have different settings, interfaces, etc. and they all produce different results.

There's no one, single 'correct' HDR result.

 

[Rancor]

I haven't tried anything yet, I just started reading up on how its done. I think, based on what I've seen people using in tutorials, I'll be using photomatix for the initial HDR generation, and then lightroom 3 for fine tuning.

Am I correct in thinking that all I have to do is:

• Shoot RAW at a constant aperture
• Use a wide range of shutter speeds from say 1/10 to 1/500 over 5-7 shots
• Use a decent ISO like 100-400
• Use a tripod to prevent any movement between the shots
• Compile and rough tune them with photomatix
• Fine tune them with lightroom.

 

[480sparky67 66]

You've got the basics nailed down.

Ramble through the HDR forum. We're doing the Shootouts, and you can download the images we've posted to play around with.

 

[Rancor]

Didn't even know we had one, thanks.

 

[subscuck]

Didn't even know we had one, thanks.

Yeah, you gotta scroll down past "Beginner's Forum" :thumbup:

 

[Rancor]

But its scary down there. I like it up here, where people assume your a noob and any good shots are just a pleasant surprise. I don't want to go down there where quality and skill are expected.

 

[480sparky67 66]

I was unaware that any given forum outside "Beginners' was restricted to only experienced folk.

 

[Rancor]

They say its not, but I know it is.

No, I just stick around here because it seems to be where most of the answers are, and I still have a lot of questions.

 

[KmH]

I started notcing all these posts about HDR, and didn't know what it was. So I wiki'ed it, and now I think I understand. Its taking several pictures of the same scene at different exposures and then blending them together to bring out a more natural feel to a picture, right?

.

Well sort of.

To warrant making an HDR (High Dynamic Range), the scene has to have more dynamic range than your camera sensor can record.

Merging the several exposures made of an HDR scene is usually only the first step in the post process workflow. To process several exposures into a good HDR usually requires going back and forth between the merge software and your image editing software many times.

Done well, making an HDR is a lengthy, time consuming process that requires some pretty extensive photography, image editing, and artistic skills.

BEWARE: You are about to fall into the HDR Hole:

 

[480sparky67 66]

They say its not, but I know it is.

No, I just stick around here because it seems to be where most of the answers are, and I still have a lot of questions.

Then you are destined to be a beginner forever.