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HDR - have you ever tried it?

Hey!

I want to try HDR imaging. It really looks awesome! You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Take a look at this example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging#Examples

Have you ever tried it? Is it difficult? Isn't it interesting?

by kavian 3 february 2012 24 replies

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MyView

@merilfloyd i have just looked at your pics on facebook, they are really amazing!
18 April 2012
merilfloyd

@modedial yes some of them are real HDR's some are HDR like edited in photoshop..:)
17 March 2012
CraigHarris

@modedial My guess would be they are tone-mapped single exposures
15 March 2012
modedial

@merilfloyd how do you take HDR of people that are moving?
15 March 2012
merilfloyd

I used to create HDR's using my nikon d7000 and photomatrix pro. please chek these pics for reference.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.142091672570755.29985.116144325165490&type=3&l=e50c574644
11 March 2012
CraigHarris

For those who don't want the hassle of dealing with programs to merge exposures, the new Canon 5D Mark III will do it in-camera for you :)
9 March 2012
imove92

I have found HDR to be very rewarding. It can be a slight pain if you do it manually, but programs like Photomatix makes it a lot easier to get awesome results wiithout the tedious work.
9 March 2012
tamlocke

I have used HDR and quite enjoy the process of it. It is alomost like waiting for the image to appear on the paper... as you are never really sure if it will work or not! Sometimes it can be over cooked.... but there are ways I have found to bring it back a little so it is not so in your face HDR...I have often found myself bracketting shots "just in case" and i use Photomtix lite to process the bracketted images. Below is a link to one of the favourites of mine I have HDR'd... some find it over done, but i like the painterly quality of the image...
http://www.redbubble.com/people/tamlocke/works/8415223-burnt-wreckage-ward-21
21 February 2012
luc

For HDR its sometimes handy to have more than 3 bracketed pictures. To do this (and a sh!tload of other things that can be handy) you can install Magic Lantern on your camera (google it). I will try to the next week and see how I go.
20 February 2012
modedial

@luc what is 3 bracketed pictures? is this the same as AEB?
20 February 2012
GlennN

I really love HDR, the results are outstanding as long as you take a great deal of care not to over do it.
My personal preferance is Photomatix (http://www.hdrsoft.com/), but used as a standalone program. I found that the LR or PS plugin version was a pain in the !!
I have fouund my best results to be in nature photography and shallow landscapes (if that's even a genre?? - so landscapes that span only up to a few hundred meters).
For me @craigharris summed it up great:

CraigHarris wrote:
The important thing is to keep it real; feel free to make some crazy images from time to time, but in general just think about enhancing not replacing a real image.
20 February 2012
SidneysShamazinPhotos

Im Gong To Probally Start Doing The HDR. I Think It Looks Really Cool. Some People Think It Lokks Artificial and I Know It Kinda Does But I Like It Anyways!
15 February 2012
niteshkelaskar

i haven't tried yet. the images are quite good, but seem a little artificial
15 February 2012
luc

@kavian no watermark if you have the full version ;)
I dont really use it often...
8 February 2012
CraigHarris

kavian wrote:Does that plugin work with Photoshop CS2 as well?
No, the easy to use Enfuse plugin is for Lightroom only, but there are stacker scripts you can get for various versions of photoshop.

kavian wrote:doesn't photomatix leave a watermark?
Only trial versions of Photomatix leave watermarks

The important thing is to keep it real; feel free to make some crazy images from time to time, but in general just think about enhancing not replacing a real image.
7 February 2012
Trinit

I like HDR , but used to enhance an image, not to make it look surreal. Many people use HDR in the baddest way ever so that their images look 'artificial'. And I don't like that
7 February 2012
kavian

@luc I wont.But doesn't photomatix leave a watermark? Do you use HDR often?
7 February 2012
luc

just dont overdo it...
Its not difficult at all though. just use a good tripot, bracket 3 or 5 pics, use photomatix for the base HDR and then (at least thats what i do) make highlights in PS (as for example the wheels on the HDR car i posted (or did i not post it?))
6 February 2012
kavian

@kanonkop Hmm.. It's harder than it seems... I see what you mean.. Some pictures looks so artificial - and not in a good way.

But I will definitely use the Youtube tutorials - they're always helpful and easy to understand...
6 February 2012
kavian

@CraigHarris Thank you! Does that plugin work with Photoshop CS2 as well?
6 February 2012
kanonkop

Its pretty cool! i really like the vivid and surreal images you can create with it (though i see those more as art than photos). and i also find it a useful tool in difficult situations to get correct exposure without making the photo look artifical.

Its interesting to note the mix feelings about HDR on the various blogs. its got a bit of a bad rep at the moment because its actually a hard technique to really pull it off tastefully (if you going extreme) or to make it look natural. so most of the HDR photos out there are actually pretty crap. but, it doesn't mean that its not useful and can't be used properly.. the stuck in customs website is a great exampe of extreme HDR but, in my opinion, its not riddle with defects introduced through the process.

also check out 'photomatix'. its a commonly used programe and has a full functionality free version, just leaves a water mark over the image, but great to play around with. oh, and make use of the loads of tuts on youtube..
6 February 2012
CraigHarris

The easiest way to accomplish a high dynamic range without the unrealistic consequences of excessive tone mapping is to simply use the LR/Enfuse plugin for Lightroom.

The important thing is to keep camera perfectly still while capturing enough frames to cover whole range.

Suggested reading: http://advancedphototech.wordpress.com/software/high-dynamic-range-software-and-techniques/
& http://www.hdrspotting.com/EditorsPicksHDRPhotos
& http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-photography/
5 February 2012
kavian

@fredclarkphotography I will! I really like it!
5 February 2012
fredclarkphotography

I have tried HDR but I don't have patience for much PP work so I never spent long with it, on a personal level I like HDR that is barely if at all noticeable, but that's up to each ones taste

try it out,
4 February 2012