A quick walk-through some of the ways one can use HDR Imaging tools to enhance their photographic imagery. HDR is a tool, not an end-all solution, and requires fundamental photographic skills in order to leverage this technique to your advantage.

1. SunRidge Photo Presents… HDR MAGIC!... Racing Toward The Future

3. The winds of change are strong; the water turbulent; and the landlubbers,… watching to see what happens.

4. HDRi: High Dynamic Range imaging is NOT a gimmick! It is… SCIENCE!

5. Raw Capture Is What The Sensor Sees….

6. HDR Is The Scene!... And BEYOND!

7. Black & White Work Comes… ALIVE!!

8. What can HDR be used for?

9. Landscape & Scenic ”It’s not about showing all the light in a scene. It’s about gaining control over all the light in a scene.” ~ Gavin Seim

10. Panoramic Views The Road Less Traveled! © 2010 SunRidge Photo 6 sections; 5 frames/section at 1-EV apart per frame; HDR file created in PS4; HDR segments stitched in PS4; HDR file (stitched) tone-mapped in Photomatix Pro; Camera: Nikon D3; Tokina 19-37mm f/3.5-5.6 lens; ISO 100 @ f/16; WB: Auto

11. Lifestyle/Destination 3-Frame HDRi Capture Photomatix Pro for tone mapping and 15 seconds in PS for final tweak and POP! Metered (Middle) Frame

12. Character Studies HDR images crafted from single frame capture. Minor PSCS4 post work to craft sepia-toned B&W image of this gentleman.

13. Modeling Work Single File HDR Conversion From RAW (NEF) & Tone-mapped via Tone Compressor in PM Pro JPEG from RAW – Zero Edit

14. Architecture

15. Pacific Gold!

16. Incomparable Interiors 5th Frame of 5 Frame Capture HDR Image EV @ -.7, Fuji S5 Pro on Tripod, Aperture Priority, f11, 5 frame auto bracketing mode set at 1 f-stop apart per frame. Cable release. Processed in Photomatix and some minor Photoshop/CS4 work (lens corrections [e.g., tilt & shift] and my reflection removed from dresser mirror). 100% natural lighting!

17. A Little Nature…Birds of a Feather and all that stuff Single file conversion to HDR and tone-mapping using Photomatix Pro Detail Enhancer Application. Minor – very minor – finish work in PS/CS4. As captured at the scene (raw)

18. Fun At The Track

19. Full Throttle Shooting! © 2008 SunRidge Photo Images captured at Larry Miller Race Park, Utah, June 2008 for Redline Time Attack Series; Temp: 115o; Camera: Fuji S5 Pro; Nikor f2.8 400mm with Hoya 52mm circular polarizing filter installed; ISO 400; Shutter priority @1/250 sec; original shot as 300dpi, 27mb, JPEG. Converted 3 jpgs to HDR file in Photomatix @ 2 EV separation. Tone-mapped in Photomatix Pro’s Details Enhancer (two times) and saved as 16 bit TIFF. Converted to 920X562, 300dpi JPEG for presentation.

20. Macro Is Game JPEG from NEF – no editing Camera: Nikon D700 © 2009 by Tarrah Lashbrook Used with permission JPEG from Photomatix HDR tone-mapped to 16bit TIFF. Some PS4 work. © 2009 by Tarrah Lashbrook Used with permission

21. “Fine Art” JPEG from NEF – no editing Camera: Nikon D700 © 2009 by Tarrah Lashbrook Used with permission JPEG from Photomatix HDR tone-mapped to 16bit TIFF. Some minor PS4 work. © 2009 by Tarrah Lashbrook Used with permission

22. The Journey… View output differently. A few tools of the trade. Some great software. Willing to experiment Time to have some FUN! Understand the Real Benefits of HDRi

23. CREATIVITY IS WHAT GIVES BRANDS TRACTION IN THE MARKETPLACE! I.E., Where the rubber meets the road!

25. Lens of your choice

26. Lens cleaning cloth

27. Polarizing filter (optional)

28. Stable tripod

29. Cable release

30. Memory cards

31. Spare batteries

32. Flashlight for light painting

33. Fill flash (optional)

34. HDR software (Photomatix Pro® preferred)

35. Computer (for post)

36. Card reader or USB tethering cable

37. Processing software (e.g., Photoshop, PS Elements, etc.)

38. Desire to experiment

40. Camera Settings Set to raw capture Color Space (default setting) @ sRGB. Turn off enhancements (I.e., no sharpening) Establish a “set” white balance (I prefer Auto) On manual/auto bracketing: Set for TV/Speed (shutter speed changes and not aperture) Experience & Testing Reveal: Set EV to -.3 (default), Auto bracket: 3 to 9 depending on camera @ 1 EV stop apart min.

41. Camera Settings Typical AB is 5 frames at 1 EV apart per (Nikon) On most Canon (some Nikon) set for max of 3 frames @ 2 EV apart. ISO set as low as possible (I prefer ISO 100 or lower if camera has ability). Workflow: Most underexposed to most overexposed (if possible). Your choice! Lock Focus (When possible & plausible, use manual focus.) For landscape - f-8 or higher is recommended. I like f/11 or f/16.

42. Next Steps

43. Working The Image Download the image to your HD/External HD For today, the Desktop is the perfect location Open up your image browser (Bridge is great) Three ways to load files in Photomatix Drag & drop from Bridge Use the Lightroom 2.0 plug-in (sends them as TIFF files) Automate (batch processing) Generating the HDR (Radiance [.hdr])file.

44. The Photomatix Pro Interface Click on “Generate HDR Image”

45. Now… Click On Browse After the files are loaded, click on OK. The next screen shows the dialog box which appears after clicking OK.

47. Use “matching features” as it also does rotational correction.

48. I do not always use the “Attempt to reduce ghosting artifacts.” It depends on what I am after. However, it is good to leave it checked by default and remove the check mark if not needed.

49. Make adjustments to white balance if needed.

50. My color space is set for Adobe RGB (1998)

52. The Photomatix Pro Workspace

54. Color Saturation: Controls the saturation from grayscale to pure color in the image.

55. Luminosity: Controls the compression of the tonal range, thereby affecting the global luminosity range. The higher the setting, the brighter the mid-tones and shadows – adds contrast as well.

57. White & Black Points: Controls the clipping points of the shoulder and toe of the tonal curve.

58. Gamma: Adjusts the midtone of the image.

59. Temperature: To the left is cooler; to the right, warmer.

61. Highlights Smoothing: Use to keep highlights from turning gray or to reduce halos around objects.

62. Shadows Smoothing: Reduces contrast enhancements in the darker areas of the image.

64. Processing the Tone Mapped Image The Magic is in the Tone Mapping!! When Photomatix completes the processing phase, it will provide a preview image in the window. You are now able to tone map the image again if you so desire. If you like what you see… File/Save As/TIFF (16 bit). There is a check box on the Save As window to “Open in Image Viewer” and I keep this checked with PS4 as the default program.

65. Adobe Photoshop™ Use Photoshop to generate an HDR file It’s great – wonderful in fact – at combining files accurately It STINKS – and I’m being very nice – at tone-mapping To generate an HDR image file in PS… Go to Bridge Tools/Photoshop/Generate HDR (see next slide)

66. A Little About Photoshop™

67. HDR Previewer in PS Click on OK

68. Let PS Do Its Thing…

69. Save As Radiance (.hdr)

70. What Now? Open the Radiance (.hdr) file in Photomatix Pro and, you guessed it… Tone Map the image anyway you like it.

71. Questions? More Importantly… THANK YOU!