A quick guide to what HDR actually is and how it works

4.  The human eye can see about 12 different
exposures of light:

5.  But a camera only sees about 5 exposures:

6.  These 5 exposures are set by you (or the
camera’s Auto mode!):

7.  These 5 exposures are set by you (or the
camera’s Auto mode!):

8.  You can’t pick up the extreme detail in the
shadows and highlights:

9.  You can’t pick up the extreme detail in the
shadows and highlights:
Too Far Apart!

10.  Take three photos at different exposures:

11.  Take two or more photos at different
exposures:

12.  Take two or more photos at different
exposures:

13.  Take two or more photos at different
exposures:

14.  Take two or more photos at different
exposures:
All 12 ‘Exposures’ Covered

15.  Take two or more photos at different
exposures:
There is a way to get the
same result using a single
RAW photo – but that’s for
another day

19. BUT THERE’S A
PROBLEM…

20.  True HDR needs to use 281 trillion colours
(16 bit)
 To discourage professional photographers
using PSE, Adobe limits it to a mere 16
million colours (8 bit)!
 But luckily it can be faked…
GEEK
ALERT!

21.  There’s free (and paid for) software that will
do the job for you:
 HDR Photomatix
 HDR Fusion
 …and others
 …or use layers and blending modes in
Photoshop…