HDR Photography

I stumbled across a group on Flickr the other day that does something called HDR photography. They're very bold photographs, with vivid colour range across-the-board.

Apparently, what you do is take several (apparently at least 3) identical shots of a scene, but at different exposures (i.e. -2, 0, +2; or -2, -1, 0, +1, +2). Then, using software such as Photoshop or a specialised progamme, you "merge" them together, taking different tones to create very dynamic photographs.

A better explaination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

And some lighthouse examples ("crowd favourites"):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asmundur/126850547/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slack12/306569223/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knottyy/281035015/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kilaana/216453552/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55426164@N00/261159832/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinofloxley/107683217/

I've got a possible little photo expedition planned for this weekend...and I'm going to try this out. I think it could be really, really cool to try out.

This is really cool. Great color in the photos! Let us know how your experiments turn out.

intersting concept... cool pictures
Learnt something today! Thanks Greg!

I actually just recently found out about HDR photography myself. I've been meaning to try it, but every time I get a chance, it's dark out and it jsut doesn't work out as well...haha. But it's really an interesting type of photography because it gives everything a chance to be properly exposed, but of course everything can also be dramatically exaggerated as well.

Photoshop CS2 has an HDR function, and there is also a program called Photomatix which is really easy to use and free to try, but it leaves 3 "photomatix" watermarks on your photos, which go away if you buy the program. Otherwise, the program has no limit to the trial.

I've got a free one, too - FDR Tools. www.fdrtools.com. It's got a very bare-bones basic version, but it seems to do the basics, watermark free.

I'd love to upgrade my PS6, but since it looks like CS3 is coming out in a few months, I'll wait. The upgrade is only $150 for CS2, so if CS3 is the same price, I'll move up to 2007. There's a TON of features that I want to do with my photos that just aren't available on PS6. But I get all my software when my mom upgrades her office, and since they do most of their design work on Macs, I've ended up "grandfathered" into 6.

But if we go on this little Lehigh Valley "college tour/covered bridge/really play with the D50/drive the new Range Rover on a little roadtrip" thing tomorrow, I really want to try it. I attempted one of a dormer on my house today, but they were aligned wrong. I need to get a tripod (have a rubbish one - $1 at a garage sale, but I'll use it tomorrow).

If there's some snow left on the ground, it might make for some cool exposures, too. There was sure snow out there last week... :rolleyes:

I'll have to check out that program. Yeah, you definitely need a good steady tripod for HDR. If it's off by the slightest, then the ghost of it shows up.

And don't worry...the snow is still here. Those couple of days of 40+ degrees helped a tiny bit, but not much. Enough to get the streets properly thawed.

Greg,

Thanks for those links. I've been posting on a local camera forum since the fall, and some members have been experimenting with HDR...mostly scenics. That was the first I'd heard of it. These are the first HDR lighthouse photos I've seen (at least ones that I'm aware are HDR.) I don't have CS2...decided to wait for CS3.

Tammy

The Boca Grande was a very interesting picture.

I've never heard of HDR photography. This gives a really different effect. I like it!

I was never a big camara buff until I started lighthousing. Now I'm getting into a lot of the high tech camara stuff.

I will have to try this. Most DSLRs have a feature called exposure bracketing. You tell the camera what the exposure offset is and how many shots (ex 5 shots, 1 stop offset: +2, +1, 0, -1, -2), then aim, focus and hold the shutter down.

All digital cameras have a limited dynamic range. This method extend the range by adding them together in post processing. Its just matter of layering them.

Nice post Greg! Kind of interesting procedure. Very cool results. I interested to see you attempts.
Bob

ps You too Jakers!

Thanks for the post & links Greg! Really enjoyed Boca Grande and the Mukilteo shots.

Thanks Greg. I am going to try this when I go to California in 2 weeks. I guess I will have to bring my tripod and leave my husbands shoes home

Fran,

Either that or leave your husband home.

bobo

He is taking his golf clubs and offered to leave one club behind to take the tripod . What a sacrifice He is my hero

You can tell how much he loves you. Will he leave his putter home?

He must be hauling around 12 clubs -- maybe more. What's one less? Bet you a dollars he has never used all 12 clubs during an 18 hole round of golf anyway.

bobo

This was in my PopPhoto enewsletter today..
HDR article

This is the most exciting for me.

My HDR efforts so far have failed because I don't have a real tripod. I can't handhold perfect, either. I want to get a good tripod, but it's very overwhelming/expensive.

BUT, I can pull off CS3...and then it's HDR, here I come.

I could have used the abilities yesterday in NYC. I was getting some shots from Federal Hall to the Stock Exchange, and they came out beautiful...except that there's some underexposure in the foreground. HDR would have fixed that.

Soon...

Well, here is my first attempt at HDR. I took it over spring break at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Obviously, it needs some refining, but overall I'm not too disappointed.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/422746374_f308e9e8f3.jpg?v=0[/img]

Nice image Jakers. I see the "Photomatrix" overprinting is that from your photo hosting source? Or is it from some demo of the HDR software you used?

And what software did you use and did you use a tripod. What were the +/- exposure settings?

Thanks, John!

The watermarks are from Photomatix, which is the program that I used to created the HDR image. Until you buy the program, the watermarks stay. The image is hosted on Flickr. I did use a tripod. I'll have to root around for the exposure settings though, so I will get back to you with that.

OK, found em.

Here they are:

Nikon D200
ISO: 200
SOURCE IMAGE: 2.5 sec @ f/8

OVEREXPOSED:
5 sec @ f/8
10 sec @ f/8

UNDEREXPOSED:
1.3 sec @ f/8
.62 sec @ f/8

hope thisi helps!