Any easy to follow tutorials for HDR Photography?

ikthius · 19-10-2008, 13:16

Hey everyone,

I am trying out RAW format on my Fuji S6500FD camera.
I know in Photoshop CS2 I can play around with most of the data of the image, although most of it is not known to me.

I was reading that RAW allows you to set the exposure & stuff to make unique images from one file, which I played around with.

I made about 6 images and they all look different in exposures and such likes, but merging to HDR does not work as there is not enough different data.

So my questions are really:
what do I have to change in one file to make it totally unique for photoshop to recognise it as such?
How can I do this in photoshop or GIMP?
Is there an easier way to produce HDR Quality images?

ik

Alien · 19-10-2008, 15:00

This any good to you?

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 16:15

I don't think you can make a HDR image that way. You need to use three (or more) images of the same scene each with different exposure settings, that way you get all the information in the highlights and lowlights that are needed to create a HDR image. Your camera should have a bracketing option allowing you to take three images with a user decided change in the exposure value (EV), normally this is set in 1/3rd increments. I use a +/- 1 EV setting, which gives me one image an f stop under the meter reading, one image at the meter reading and one image a f stop over the meter reading.

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 16:22

Examples:

ikthius · 19-10-2008, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta Whiskey

I don't think you can make a HDR image that way. You need to use three (or more) images of the same scene each with different exposure settings, that way you get all the information in the highlights and lowlights that are needed to create a HDR image. Your camera should have a bracketing option allowing you to take three images with a user decided change in the exposure value (EV), normally this is set in 1/3rd increments. I use a +/- 1 EV setting, which gives me one image an f stop under the meter reading, one image at the meter reading and one image a f stop over the meter reading.

yeah but is RAW not supposed to be a digital negative in that you can set set the exposures??? cause thinking about it, taking 3 images seperately things can change in the scene, for example check this out:
http://exxx2005.deviantart.com/art/F...DR-12-80485628
No way can 3 shot be taken at different exposure for this shot (I don't think anyway)

will look at the link soon Alien, cheers

ik

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 16:39

You can manipulate RAW to some extent, but not enough to create a HDR. The point of HDR is to extend the amount of detail you've got to play with. It's really meant for 'still life' situations where you have a large tonal variation in the scene which can't be captured within the camera's normal range. Trying to take an image of a stained glass window with the sun streaming through and include the interior of the building as well for example. There are programs (like Dynamic Photo HDR - http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/index.html) which will make a false HDR image out of a single image. The image of the Ford Focus appears to have been created like this.

This is the middle of the three images above manipulated by Dynamic Photo HDR:

19-10-2008, 16:48

Nice advice DW.
Starting to delve myself, but getting confused with how to bracket on my 400D.
Googling's not doing much for me at the moment.
I can't work out how to set it up properly.

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by kryogenik

Nice advice DW.
Starting to delve myself, but getting confused with how to bracket on my 400D.
Googling's not doing much for me at the moment.
I can't work out how to set it up properly.

According to the Canon website, the EOS 400D has the Aperture/Exposure compensation button (AV +/-) situated at the top right of the back display screen. http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Prod...0D/eos400d.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value

19-10-2008, 17:01

Yeah, I can see that. I just don't fully understand how I get the camera to shoot a bracketed set of 3.

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by kryogenik

Yeah, I can see that. I just don't fully understand how I get the camera to shoot a bracketed set of 3.

I was hoping the manual was going to be on the website as a .pdf, but I couldn't find it.

If you have a manual is bracketing not mentioned at all?

Seems it's a menu option:
"The menu is only used for more uncommon adjustments, such as flash power output, bracketing parameters or colour space, which is a sensible arrangement that will suit most users."
http://www.trustedreviews.com/digita...on-EOS-400D/p3

With my new Ricoh R10 compact I can change the EV with the press of a button, so I bracket that way rather than using the auto-bracket feature,
I find it far quicker. http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/r/r10/index.html

19-10-2008, 17:22

I do have the manual, yeah. I'm just holed up a bit poorly at the mo so not going searching for it.

Thanks for the link.
Yeah, I have a rotary dial - I could do that I suppose.

It's a fairly new concept to me - I was thinking there was an 'auto-shoot' of three pics with three exposures (a la on a tripod, click, stand back) but looks like I'm wrong on that one.

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by kryogenik

I do have the manual, yeah. I'm just holed up a bit poorly at the mo so not going searching for it.

Thanks for the link.
Yeah, I have a rotary dial - I could do that I suppose.

It's a fairly new concept to me - I was thinking there was an 'auto-shoot' of three pics with three exposures (a la on a tripod, click, stand back) but looks like I'm wrong on that one.

I hope you feel better soon, nothing worse than feeling ill.

It's possible the Canon has a auto bracket feature, but if it's like the Nikon D80 you're expected to do that sort of stuff for yourself.

19-10-2008, 17:32

Thanks.

Heh.

I'll have a good old mooch about mate.
Cheers again.

---------- Post added at 17:32 ---------- Previous post was at 17:30 ----------

:edit: http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/bracketlist.html

Delta Whiskey · 19-10-2008, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by kryogenik

:edit: http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/bracketlist.html

Well spotted.

I'm off to slap my mate who told me his Nikon D80 didn't have auto-bracketing...

...S.L.A.P.

Uncle Peter · 20-10-2008, 23:54

This is the general procedure I use for HDR processing.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...amic-range.htm

Bear in mind that auto bracketing won't provide enough latitude when you're shooting a scene where extremes of exposure would be required to capture the full tonal range of the scene so a steady tripod and manual metering are your friends. Don't forget that apeture is your priority so make sure you're just using shutter speed to alter the exposure