Falling Down the HDR Hole – by Tours Departing Daily
HDR photography may be one of the greatest revolutions since the beginning of the digital age of photography. Although the concept of HDR has been around since the mid 1800s, its application has reached astounding heights with the creation of post-processing programs that allow users to create breathtaking photos of high contrast scenes.
During the rise of its popularity, HDR has received harsh criticism from people of all backgrounds, hoping it to be a passing fad. Because of the large flexibility of settings in post-processing, users can create images that range from realistic to ultra-surreal. That means that photographers have the freedom to make the scenes they shoot look identical to what they saw, or process them in a way that looks like an oil painting, or a computer animated film. And just like any form of expression, artists, in this case photographers, are bound to face criticism. HDR is no exception.
There are all sorts of misconceptions about how one achieves an HDR image. If you’re a novice photographer, you may think HDR is an “in camera” function or one click post-processing magic. If you’re the general public then it’s frequently defined incorrectly as “high definition resolution.” If you’re a hardcore medium to large format film photographer, HDR doesn’t exist. If you’re a teenager with an iPhone, it’s a cool setting on a new camera app. HDR is none of these.
California Gold by Matthew Hansen
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It literally means the technique used to capture the range of light present in a scene by using the combined exposures of different images, i.e. one that captures the highlights, one that captures mid-tones, and one that captures the shadows. The spacing and number of these exposures matter based the scene’s level of contrast and are measured in E.V. (Exposure Value). Once the light information present in a subject has been captured in these exposures, they can be combined in a program employing complex algorithms to create the scene you saw and then some.
When tackling this process, it really helps to have a camera with auto-bracketing or AEB as a feature. This setting will allow you to automatically capture multiple images at different exposures. The number of images and the E.V. spacing will vary between cameras. Even a handful of point and shoot cameras have this function. We use Nikon D90s and a Nikon D7000. Both models allow us to take up to 3 pictures at up to 2 E.V. spacing, which seems to be enough for most scenes we encounter. A situation you might need more than this range would be if you were shooting directly into the sun. It’s also a great idea to use a tripod. Not only will it help you produce crisp images, it will make it easier for whatever program you use to align and combine your images.
While there are many programs that will merge HDR images for you, including Photoshop, we use Photomatix Pro. It’s a fast working program with plenty of sliders to play around with to achieve a myriad of different looks with an image. Often the result achieved from Photomatix can use a little refining, such as selective sharpening, sky masking, color correction and/or noise reduction, for which we use Photoshop.
Headed for Adventure by Michaela Hansen
One reason it seems that people have apprehension towards HDR is that the process comes off as intimidating, learning a new technique. While the artistic freedom HDR allows at times feels like a rabbit hole without end, it’s really not as difficult as you might think. Sometimes we hear the question, “Why HDR?” Why not HDR? It seems we are always in search of new ways to create an interesting image, whether it be as simple as screwing on a neutral density filter to capture the silky flow of water or as intriguing as a tripod head that follows the stars. The depths of our curiosity knows no bounds. If HDR doesn’t interest you, then by all means don’t do it. Don’t waste your time, because time it will take. A small amount to learn and a lot more once you’re hooked because of the fun you’re having.
We primarily take pictures of Disneyland and the neighboring Disney California Adventure. They are playgrounds filled with amazing and inspiring subjects. Scenes shift dramatically from day to night and it seems there’s always something new. Even with frequent visits we constantly discover new things, which feeds our hunger for adventure. HDR allows us to capture not only what we see, it allows us to convey how we feel when we’re there.
An Evening Splash by Kevin Crone
Expression comes in many forms. Pencil to paper. Paintbrush to canvas. Carving tools to wood. The most wonderful thing about artistic expression is that its only limit is imagination. We don’t have to love every form of art for it to have value. Artistic value is a highly subjective thing. As photographers we are spoiled by the number of tools we have at our disposal. HDR is simply another tool in the grand objective of sharing our own vision.
About Tours Departing Daily
Tours Departing Daily Portrait
Michaela Hansen, Matthew Hansen and Kevin Crone are close friends who enjoy hanging out at Disneyland. They have a blog called Tours Departing Daily that features daily HDR photos and occasional film projects from Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and the greater Disneyland Resort. Their hope is to take visitors on a daily photo adventure, sharing the magic of Walt Disney’s Original Magic Kingdom.
Learn More About Tours Departing Daily Here: www.toursdepartingdaily.com
The images are stunning thank you for the post.
Great article, clear and understandable. I am not much for Photoshopped to death images that look like they are crayola pictures. But the ones I just saw on the tourdepartingdaily web you listed and the explanations you gave on how HDR works really sold me. I really would like to try it out. Is there a lighter weight camera available with HDR so I can get started. I have arthritis so am limited in weight I can carry. Thanks again for the article. Look forward to more.
I love taking pictures in HDR, then again if your going to start spend the money on a Tripod.
I’m still somewhat of a novice, and have been learning HDR techniques. As a Realtor, I like to use HDR to photograph houses I have For Sale, and post them on websites. I struggle with using HDR to improve the image, without it being noticable. I just want my image to “pop” a little more than my competition. I’m using HDR Photo Pro. It’s easy enough to use, but not sure it’s going to give me the tools I need to make my shots look better, without looking like cartoons.
HDR processing has its time and place. I really do appreciate HDR. I’ve seen some really incredible looking photos that have been truly enhanced by HDR.
That being said, I think it has become overused. There are times when I look at someone’s portfolio and it appears that they are so addicted to HDR that they can’t bring themselves to do anything else. They can no longer see the beauty in simplicity. HDR is simply one of many processing methods available to us and we shouldn’t get stuck in that rut.
Looking at the photos in this article, I can say that the first image is really beautiful and has been enhanced by HDR. However, the last one (of the three friends), seems overprocessed and the applied HDR really doesn’t add much or possibly even detracts from the image, in my opinion.
For ALL who worry about people using PS and HDR etc. you need to forget it and go on taking pictures like YOU like. For me I LOVE IT ALL. Regular pictures never got it for me but that’s just me. I appreciate all photographers works of art PERIOD. What they see and want in a image is what they are. Be it just the art of the camera or just like me my added touches it is that persons art and I enjoy it all. I know one woman that ONLY does DA and does it good. But that is what she likes and enjoys. I would much rather have a person doing what they want then trying to be someone else. The only thing that kind of bugs me are those that get a camera, test it etc and wait for the NEXT new camera to come out lol. Maybe I am just jealous a tad on how they can afford to do that lol. At any rate just be yourself and enjoy what your doing and try to enjoy others work to for what they are!
Honestly i am new to the “art of photography” and this HDR truly makes photos look artistic. I am now an official fan of it. Images are so vivid that I will no longer have to buy paintings for my photos will be personal achievements with superb color hung on my wall!! Thanks for the info!
Just like any form of art, it depends on the artist and the eye of the viewer. To me the value of HDR is another tool in the camera bag. Some scenes beg to be shot in HDR, and in capable hands, produce stunning results that cannot be bested using ordinary post processing techniques. It is worth every photographer’s time to learn about HDR, If for no other reason than to understand it. I was not a fan of HDR initially, but as I saw more and better photos from talented photographers like those from Tours Departing Daily or Trey Ratcliffe, I realized I owe it to my own education as a photographer to learn this technique.
HDR brings a picture to it’s dreamy, intimate setting, which is needed for any situation. i love hdr, i love the bloom effect and i love the KABLAM affect as well. HDR is great for pros and also newbies, as myself – not ashamed of it! You will definately see me using HD affects. hdr is like milk to babies for newbies like me. :] like…instagram. lol
I agree with those who say that HDR is another valuable tool in the Digital Darkroom. As many other amazing features that advanced editing programs have these days, you can use it when and if you want to. It is definitely worth taking the time to learn what it is all about and how to use it. The saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is so true in this case. I do think that HDR is not appropriate for every photo as many people are using it now, but again, it all depends on what you want and what you like. I have made a few tries at it and have gotten fairly satisfactory results. I find the first image in this article, “California Gold”, specially beautiful and clear. That is what I am aiming to, and I will keep trying until I achieve that level. Not far from it now.
I have to agree, HDR is a great thing. There was a time I could never understand why my pictures never looked the way I saw them through the viewfinder. This was a lifetime ago with a small point and shoot, but nevertheless, was mostly disappointed.
We typically are used to seeing many phenomenal landscapes that have been HDR’d, but there are many more mundane uses. Commercial uses.
This is not a plug, just a great example. I call HDR “ClearView technology” in my business. If you look at the web page: http://centralpa360.com/index.php/clearview-technology you can clearly see the advantages of using HDR in real estate. In this case, it just the on board HDR from my Nikon D5100 that did the processing.
I prefer NIK Software’s HDR Effect Pro, but agree that Photomatix is also awesome.
So don’t just consider HDR for fantastic effects because it is a great tool for some more run of the mill shots too.
-Tony