What is HDR photography and how does it work?
LEVEL AVERAGE
A digital camera (even the very expensive ones) have a more limited range with respect to light and dark within 1 shot. This is in contrast to an old-fashioned roll of film, which has a greater range. Most people will not notice this! However, there is a technique to artificially increase this light-dark range.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and is a technique in photography that captures a greater dynamic range in a photograph. Dynamic range is the difference between the lightest and darkest areas in a photograph.
The human eye has a much greater dynamic range than a camera. This means that in high-contrast situations, such as a landscape with a sunset, we can still see all the details in the shadows and sunsets. A camera, on the other hand, often cannot.
How does HDR work?
To create an HDR photo, multiple photos of the same scene with different exposures are taken. These photos are then merged into one photo with a wider dynamic range. Use a tripod to avoid motion blur.
Advantages and disadvantages of HDR photography
HDR photography has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- HDR photography can help capture details in high-contrast scenes.
- HDR photography can lead to more realistic photos that are closer to what the human eye sees.
Disadvantages:
- HDR photos can sometimes appear artificial or over-processed.
- HDR photography can be time-consuming, especially if you take photos manually with different exposures.
Normal exposure
Below they we a photo exposed normally. In this case, the camera is "startled" by the backlight and will generally make the photo a little too dark:
By pasting together several photos with various exposure settings, you can get an HDR photo. This is a final result:
END RESULT SOMETIMES A LITTLE FAKE
HDR photos can also sometimes look a bit surreal or a bit fake! But that's taste, here only the technique is described!!!
HOW TO SET UP THE CAMERA? HOW TO TAKE A HDR PICTURE? HERE IS AN EXAMPLE....
The trick is in setting the camera differently for each picture. A tripod or leaning the camera against something will help you. This is because the photos must be "glued together," however, the software will be able to correct small discrepancies automatically.
You will have to use the dial on your camera to adjust the exposure compensation. This has +/- on it or it is a large dial ( see picture ). What this knob really does is a metering error correction. You say to camera when taking the picture, hey buddy here I disagree as a photographer, you make the picture lighter (you have to turn the knob in the "+" position ) or I want to make the picture darker ( you have to turn the knob in the "-" position ). Turning this dial affects your shutter speed, in the "+" position your shutter speed will drop, it will take itself longer to take the picture. Thus, the photo will become brighter! And in the "-" position, the picture gets darker, your shutter speed gets slower, it will take less time to take the picture.
Photo - NORMAL EXPOSURE
The dial or setting is set to default: 0. (See image above)
Photo -2 STOPS OVERVIEW
The dial or setting is set to: +2
Photo -1 STOP OVERVIEW
The dial or setting is set to: +1
Photo -1 STOP EDITED
The dial or setting is at: -1
Photo -2 STOPS UNDERVIEW
The dial or setting is set to: -2
There is special software available for this to easily play with this when you have all the pictures on top of each other. Most for the
AS AN EXAMPLE: EDITING IN ADOBE LIGHTROOM
As an example for editing an HDR photo I mention the widely used Adobe Lightroom, a super package for the amateur as well as professional photographer. Select the 5 photos with the different exposures (see red box in image). And then select in the main menu of Lightroom: PHOTO - PHOTO MERGE - HDR. On both Apple and Windows computers, you do not need to go to the menu, but press CONTROL + H key combination after selecting the photos. Press enter and you will get the final result!!!
Photography course
I also give a photography course, in that, HDR photography is not directly a topic, but it gives you insights into what you can do with your camera and what effect it has.