Playing with HDR
by Mark ~ June 16th, 2008. Filed under: Photoshop Tips, field techniques, landscape, nature photography, processing.
I know, I know, perhaps I am very late in the game to start playing with HDR – but after reading Royce Howland’s excellent article (even though originally published in 2006) – I decided to give Photomatix Pro a try. . I have never spent much time with HDR other than some quick trials using Photoshop’s HDR Merge feature, and I wasn’t very pleased with the results. . In fact, many of the HDR images I see I just don’t care for. There is just something ‘funky’ about them. . This is probably what made me not look into it much futher.
Maybe because I am not used to seeing that much dynamic range in a photograph, and it requires a bit of a paradigm shift. It could also be I didn’t spend enough time learning the subtleties to get a look more appealing to my own tastes. . . But Royce’s excellent examples look quite natural to me, prompting me to take another look at some of the capabilities of this software and the techniques of HDR. . I particularly liked his comparisons against similar blends made using Photoshop’s tools versus the results from Photomatix.
I have blended exposures before using Photoshop and masking techniques – mostly just a combination of two exposures – one for a sky, and one for a foreground to simulate the use of a graduated neutral density filter for complex horizons HDR certainly goes beyond that, blending tones throughout the entire image. . . . In these two images where I did shoot a range of exposures, I think I obtained results that very closely resemble the actual atmosphere and light at the moment I clicked the shutter. . That is something we all strive to capture – that ethereal feeling when the landscape just glows – but very difficult to replicate in a single image.
Photomatix is quite easy to use and worth a trial download if you are interested in trying this out on your own images. (Don’t forget to use your NAPP discount, or search for other coupon codes for Photomatix and you can save anywhere from 8-20%!. Tony Sweet offers a 15% discount.) Royce’s article linked above pretty much takes you through the process step by step I was pleased enough with the results that I will likely start capturing more exposure variations, particularly with landscapes, when in the field.
June 17th, 2008 at
Hmmm, these pictures make we want to do some experimentation with HDR. I have never liked the resulting photos that I have seen; however, these seem to capture that ‘glow’ that is so hard to capture using normal means. Looks like I’ll have to set he camera to raw and give it a shot.
June 17th, 2008 at
Thanks for the plug, Mark.
Probably as many do, having put “pen to paper” and seeing their work get out there, I look back on that article now and wish I could go back in time and revisit the subject with everything I know today.
But I think it holds up okay considering being ~2 years old in a fast moving area of digital photography.
While I have mellowed my stance on other techniques, including grad filters, I’ve also reached a better understanding about what HDR is really good for and how to use it for my purposes. I continue to think it’s going to be an area of important development in photography. After all, we are “writing with light” or however you want to say it… what’s not to like about getting our hands on all the light that was at play, and harnessing it to deliver the vision? It’s like the Zone System on steroids.
Theory and execution part ways many times, of course, and execution is where we need a lot more work. This means both better tools and the techniques to use them, as well as something you alluded to — a different way of seeing photographs, with a dose of that paradigm shift thing. I do find that HDR work gives a number of my images a certain “something,” partly tangible & partly perhaps just my subjective interpretation… but nevertheless something I’m starting to feel has legs as a legitimate “style” or “school” rather than just a funky fad that will flash in the pan and be gone. I can’t imagine not having HDR, now… and I want more of it, easier & better.
June 17th, 2008 at
Thank you for your comments Royce. I imagine it takes awhile to train your eyes on what will work well with HDR and what doesn’t. My two trials here perhaps aren’t even the best test of the capabilities.
@Paul – it is at least worth using the trial program to see if you get results you like. And yes Paul, it is one bonus you will also get from shooting raw.
June 18th, 2008 at
Thanks for the link Mark, I have shied away from HDR because of that funky look you talk of, but these images of yours are really nice and I found the article a great read. I think I might try to experiment a little with this and see what comes out !!
June 18th, 2008 at
I haven’t tried HDR either, and know I won’t for some time–have other, more basic, photo skills to learn.
I especially like the second photo. The colors are just fabulous!
June 19th, 2008 at
Beautiful shots, as always.
June 19th, 2008 at
Great photos Mark and excellent advice. I’m always searching for ways to create better images that fit my vision.
June 25th, 2008 at
Hi Mark,
I have been using HDR a little more. Like so many photography tools, I think it is often overused. But if used correctly, I think it can be a valuable and useful technique. That said, I would still rather use a GND filter if possible!
Chow,
Ron
June 25th, 2008 at
Ron – I am not ready to leave my GND’s home either.