This document provides an overview of HDR photography, including what it is, how to shoot photos for it, and how to process HDR images. HDR photography involves taking multiple exposures of the same scene at different brightness levels and combining them to produce an image with a wider dynamic range than a single photo. To shoot HDR photos, a photographer mounts their camera on a tripod and takes at least three exposures of the scene - one correctly exposed, one underexposed, and one overexposed. They then use HDR processing software to merge the exposures into a single image that better represents the full brightness range.

1. HDR Photography Basics
What is it…
how do you shoot for it…
and how do you process it.

2. What is “Dynamic Range”
 The Dynamic Range of an image is the
“ratio between the brightest and darkest
parts of the scene.”
An example
of a low
dynamic range.

3. Photos by Trey Ratcliff (http://www.stuckincustoms.com)

4. What is HDR Photography?
 “HDR is an acronym for High Dynamic
Range. It is a post-processing task of
taking either one image or a series of
images, combining them, and adjusting
the contrast ratios to do things that are
virtually impossible with a single aperture
and shutter speed.”
(from Trey Ratcliff, http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr/)

5. What is HDR Photography?
 Humans eyes can see a much wider dynamic
range than a single DSLR image can capture.
HDR photography combines the “highs” and
“lows” of multiple exposures into a single image.
 For me, it is a way to create a photograph that
better captures the highlights (bright whites) and
shadows (the dark blacks) that might get lost
when taking a photo.

10. How to shoot for it…
1. Mount your camera on a tripod
2. Use manual or Aperture Priority mode. Take at least
three exposures: good exposure, under-exposed, and
over-exposed. Number of exposures varies based on
how wide the dynamic range of your scene is.
“I recommend using a camera that has
autobracketing. Autobracketing is the ability for your
camera to take at least 3 pictures right after one
another, each at different exposures. Sometimes it’s
called “Exposure Bracketing”. If you have a DSLR
camera, then you probably already have this ability.”
(www.stuckincustoms.com)

13. How to process it…
Use “HDR” software such as:
• Photomatix Pro
• Nik HDR Efex Pro
• Photoshop 5
A GREAT tutorial can be found at:
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

14. David’s example
 Now I will demonstrate how to use
Photomatix Pro with three exposures…