The document provides a comprehensive overview of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, detailing misconceptions, necessary equipment, and capture processes. It discusses various approaches to creating HDR images, including manual masking, automated blending, and tone mapping, along with recommended software. Additionally, it highlights the ease of use and learning curves associated with different HDR tools.

1. E XPLO RING
H DR
Beyond the Single Exposure
Jordan McCullough
Ambient Ideas Photography

3. ?

4. What is HDR?

5. High Dynamic Range

6. High Dynamic Range
Detail Creativity
Realism Surrealism

7. Misconceptions

8. Misconceptions
➊ The “HDR Look”

9. Misconceptions
➋ Cure-All to Bad Lighting

10. Misconceptions
➌ Time-Consuming & Difficult

11. File Formats

12. File Formats
DN G
J PG

13. The Gear

14. + = H
R
DR
ea dy

15. Aperture Priority or Manual Mode
Remote Release or Timer Release
Tripod mount

16. Sturdy
and
Vibration Resistant

17. Capture Process

18. Capture Process
• Standard exposure for mid-tones
• Faster (under) exposure for highlights
• Longer (over) exposure for shadows

22. Keys to HDR Capture
• Capture entire dynamic range
• Verify exposures with histogram
• Even bracketing separation

23. Generating the Image

24. Approaches
1. Manual Masking
2. Automated Blending
3. Tone Mapping

25. Manual Masking
Approach ➊
• Traditionally performed in Photoshop
• Carefully mask each exposure
• Requires great amounts of patience

26. Automated Blending
Approach ➋
• Quick to produce
• Moderately predictable
• Acceptable final image

27. Tone Mapping
Approach ➌
• More involved
• Highly adjustable
• Hand-developed quality

28. Software

29. Software
• HDRSoft Photomatix
• Adobe Lightroom + LR/Enfuse
• Adobe Photoshop “Merge to HDR”

30. Photomatix HDR
• Small learning curve
• Ease of use

34. Single Exposure

35. Photomatix HDR

36. Single Exposure

37. Photomatix HDR

38. Single Exposure

39. Photomatix HDR

40. Photomatix Fusion
• Quick results
• Simple adjustment options

44. Single Exposure

45. Photomatix Fusion

46. Single Exposure

47. Photomatix Fusion

48. Single Exposure

49. Photomatix Fusion

50. Lightroom + Enfuse
• All-in-one photo editing environment
• One-click HDR blending results
• Similar to Photomatix Fusion

56. Single Exposure

57. Lightroom + Enfuse

58. Single Exposure

59. Lightroom + Enfuse

60. Single Exposure

61. Lightroom + Enfuse

62. Photoshop
• “Merge to HDR” built-in
• Greatest control of tone mapping

71. Single Exposure

72. Photoshop HDR Merge

73. Single Exposure

74. Photoshop HDR Merge

75. Single Exposure

76. Photoshop HDR Merge

77. Only the beginning...

78. Only the beginning...
• Several HDR software choices
• HDR is just one approach
• Many other enhancement options exist

79. Special thanks to
HDR soft

80. Jordan M cCullough
Email Ph otography.co
m
Info@ AmbientIdeas
Twitter
ambientphoto
Web Site om
P hotography.c
AmbientIdeas
des
Pre sentation Sli to/
t/ambientpho
SlideShare.ne
Presentation Feedback /ambientphot
o/
.com
http://www. SpeakerRate

81. Resources
• HDRSoft Photomatix
http://www.hdrsoft.com
• Adobe Photoshop CS4
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/
• LR/Enfuse
http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lrenfuse.php
• PTGui Panoramic HDR Stitching
http://www.ptgui.com

82. Credits
• HDR Building by Burning Image
http://www.flickr.com/photos/burningimage/
• HDR Coastline by Heegle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heegle/