High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Picture

[mastacox]

So, I've been messing around with creating some high-dynamic-range images using multiple exposures for the fun of it. Some of my pictures have very dark shadows and bright highlights, and it's impossible to capture all of the information in one exposure. SO I'm trying out HDR to get the effect I'm looking for.

For example:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/FJ%20Wheels/4RUnnerHDRComponent1.jpg

In this picture, the vehicle is exposed correctly, but the sky is completely blown out, and the shadows are very dark and contain little information. To help the picture out, I take two additional pictures, one purposely underexposed to capture highlights, and one purposely overexposed to capture shadows. Then I combine the best parts of all 3 in photo editing software to get the picture I want.

Underexposed:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/FJ%20Wheels/4RUnnerHDRComponent2.jpg

Overexposed:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/FJ%20Wheels/4RUnnerHDRComponent3.jpg

Final combined picture:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/FJ%20Wheels/4RunnerHDR3Resized.jpg

HDR photos will tend to have a bit of an unnatural look to them purposely; mainly because our brains are used to seeing a certain amount of information in a picture. Here I've regained a lot of detail from the tire tread, wheel wells, and undercarriage, and at the same time have great detail in the sky with the dramatic clouds and stuff. What do you think?

[oly884]

Very nice, HDR using photoshop (CS3 or CS2?). That photo actually looks quite appealing, it's not way overboard. The clouds add a much more dramatic look to it. Well done!

I've done my fair share and where they really shine is getting that silky smooth water in rivers.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Photography/Untitled-HDR-00.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Photography/sunset.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Photography/UntitledHDR00Custom.jpg

All done using the merge to HDR in photoshop. I have yet to do any more, but I'm glad you got this going again!

[slosurfer]

Cool pics, both of you. :smokin:

[expatoz]

Wow..nice images

[Nick]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa298/b612photo/4Runner.jpg

With people it' a little tougher....

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/relicsred/l_1.jpg

Some very nice shots up above mine! It's really late so I can't think.

[paddlenbike]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa298/b612photo/4Runner.jpg



Wow, that looks pretty amazing. Can you explain how you got these results? I am familiar with HDR photos but I have never owned a camera capable of capturing the colors in the foreground that appear in this photo.

[calrockx]

cool shots guys.

yeah i like hdr a lot, it makes for some rad pics.
i have a few up on my site here http://charlesrubinoff.com/work/photography/

i need to get out and shoot some more!

what are you all using to make the HDRs? i know you can use photoshop cs3, but i think photomatix pro gives better results.

[Seanz0rz]

looks like i need to NOT buy another point and shoot camera this time.

awesome guys!

[paddlenbike]

From the quick search I did on HDR photos, you can get decent results with any camera that has adjustable exposure settings--even P&S cameras have that.