As you have seen in recent posts I’m really enjoying my new camera and lens. Just when I thought photography couldn’t get any better I was browsing the web and discovered HDRI which stands for High Dynamic Range Imaging. This is what Wikipedia has on the subject:
high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminance between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wide dynamic range allows HDR images to more accurately represent the range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight.Some of the images examples I’ve seen are amazing so I did some more research and thought I would try it for myself. In short, our eyes can adjust to different intensity levels while a camera takes a still image at a single exposure setting. With HDR images you take several images at different exposure value (EV) settings and then merge them together. With my Canon 550D it as an auto exposure bracketing (AEB) setting which means it automatically takes 3 exposures when I press the shutter release. It takes a normal optimal exposure (EV 0), then a dark exposure (EV -2) and then a bright exposure (EV +2).
An underexposed image taken at EV -2
A normal exposure taken at EV 0
An overexposed image taken at EV +2
Next you merge the 3 images together, I used Photoshop, and then you can adjust various settings like exposure, gamma, radius, shadows, detail, strength, vibrancy and saturation. I wasn’t sure about this as some images look over-processed and no longer realistic but I think the concept of using this technique to achieve an image with detail closer to what the human eye can detect is exciting. So without playing with the settings too much and just working on increasing the detail in the shadow and highlight areas I got the following final image.
Final HDR image
I know this isn’t the best use or example of HDR but for a first attempt I’m fairly pleases and really excited to experiment more with this technique so look out for more HDR images in the future.
Nice one Rors!
Thanks Hilt.
Yeah it’s an interesting way to tweak the pics… It’d be great if you could post a few more photos in time that have the same effect.. Enjoying having a squizz through the site, another South African but I’m out in Japan! We’re taking over…
That’s beautiful!
Thanks for sharing your experience and for the lesson in HDR. Very interesting.
Hi Rory. You will have fun with this, and may get a bit frustrated, but keep at it. You will get some amazing images. Which programe did you get?
Cheers Allan
[...] there will be full reports on the trip with lots of pictures when I get back. Maybe even some more HDR images so stay logged [...]
[...] My first attempt at HDR photography (roryinchina.wordpress.com) [...]
Hi, its a really nice try! Looks fine! Maybe you want to show your HDR´s at http://www.blog-your-hdr.de.
BYE!
[...] you the before photos and if you want to know more about process you can look at my earlier post on HDRI. Still new to this type of photography I made some mistakes but here are a few of the ones that I [...]
[...] explain more about HDR images here otherwise just sit back and enjoy this short video of the helicopter flight down from the Fox [...]