HDR Photography Guide

High dynamic range photography (HDR) is a post-processing technique that involves combining photos taken with multiple exposures to create a single optimized image, or editing a single photo to correct exposures. Photographers use HDR techniques for landscape photography, interior shots, and other high-contrast scenes in which certain areas may look over- or underexposed. The final result is an image that is closer to what the scene would look like to the human eye. HDR videos are made by capturing multiple images for each frame of video and then combining them into a single high dynamic range video.

In photography, dynamic range is the contrast ratio between the darkest and brightest color tones that a camera can capture in a single exposure. Dynamic range is measured in stops. Each stop indicates a doubling of the level of brightness captured. While the human eye can see up to 20 stops of dynamic range, even high-end DSLR and mirrorless cameras can only reach around 14 stops due to image sensor limitations. This means you may have to choose between either blowing out your highlights (turning the lighter areas of the photo white) or underexposing your dark shadow details (turning the darker areas of the photo black).

HDR solves this problem with a method called bracketing, which involves taking multiple low dynamic range (LDR) photos at each stop to expose each area individually. Then, the images are combined in image-processing software that uses algorithms that calibrate the luminance (light intensity) and saturation of individual pixels to combine each correctly exposed area together into one single image with the right exposure settings.

HDR photography techniques can be used whenever you shoot subjects with a wide tonal range with light and dark shadows.

1. 1. Landscape photos: HDR photography can help you capture large, complex landscapes, where each area requires a slightly different exposure. This is especially true of sunset and sunrise photographs and shots of brightly lit areas.
2. 2. Interior real estate photos: HDR is incredibly useful for capturing interior spaces with complex lighting. For example, if you want to photograph a room with bright windows, you may end up with one photo in which the view from the window is perfectly exposed, while the interior remains dark, and another photo in which the interior is perfectly visible, but the view appears washed-out or even completely white. With HDR techniques, you can stitch elements from each photo together to give viewers a clearer sense of what the room actually looks like.
3. 3. Bright or dark subjects: Any situation where your subject or scene has overexposed or underexposed areas can be corrected to the right exposure values using HDR. Keep in mind that for HDR to work, your subject must be completely still.

In order to create HDR photos you will need to have the standard equipment for taking photos as well as some photo processing software to perform photo editing. It is important to note that for post-processing, the quality of your LCD monitor or camera display devices or display technologies will affect how you see the colors and lighting of the image, so consider what monitor you use when editing images.

• DSLR camera or digital camera or iPhone
• A tripod for stabilizing your camera
• HDR software or photo editing software, such as Photoshop, Adobe lightroom, or Photomatix Pro

There are a few settings to consider when going to shoot images that you will then combine or edit in post-processing to create your HDR image. Remember that when you take your photos you want to be as still as possible to prevent camera shake or ghosting, so use a tripod when possible and watch out for wind which can move subjects like bushes or trees and blur a long-exposure shot.

• RAW: Always shoot in raw image format, also known as RAW. Raw images provide much more data than their JPEG counterparts and will give you a lot more freedom when you go into post-processing software to create your final image.
• Aperture: Keep your aperture the same in every shot you take so you don’t have a different depth of field in every image. You can use aperture priority mode to manually set the aperture you want and leave it that way.
• Metering: The metering mode on some cameras, which is also called camera metering or exposure metering, is a light sensor that detects the intensity of light and automatically determines the best exposure for the shot. You can use the Matrix mode (available on Nikon cameras) or the Evaluative mode (available on Canon cameras) to let the camera choose the best exposures for the scene.

You can use common HDR imaging techniques to create your own digital images with high definition and correct exposures to look like real-world photos. There are many different strategies and softwares to get the image you want, so try experimenting with various calibrations or exposure times until you get the image you want. Some cameras also have an HDR mode or HDR presets that blend digital photography images together to create high dynamic range imaging without the need for editing software.

1. 1. Adjust your camera settings. Place your camera on a tripod and manually set the aperture to your desired level. You can adjust the metering mode and choose the desired exposure time for your subject. You will also get the best results if you shoot in Raw, which will provide the most data and image information for post-processing.
2. 2. Take photos using bracketing. Exposure bracketing involves taking a photo at each exposure value (EV) available on your camera, which are represented as stops. Most cameras allow for three photos at each of three stops, -2, 0, and +2, which will be sufficient for HDR photography, but some photographers take up to seven shots at different exposures. If your camera has an Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) mode, you can select the number of images and it will automatically adjust the exposure.
3. 3. Edit the photos. Open your chosen image-editing software and upload the photos. Many photo-editing programs have an HDR feature that automatically generates HDR images from a set of photos. The digital imaging software will generate the HDR image and then you can continue tweaking the photo using methods like tone mapping to brighten low-light areas or to dim the lightest areas. Finally, save the HDR image in various file formats and HDR formats for image encoding, such as Radiance RGBE or Open EXR.

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