My First HDR

As we will well be on the road to San Diego this time tomorrow... "short timer's" syndrome has definitely kicked in... and while I got a bunch of work dumped on me yesterday, I think it's in good enough shape to return to it after the holiday weekend.

And while I should be doing something to get ready for the trip, alas I got sidetracked with a bit of a photography project.  I have seen some HDR photos on the web ... and with my renewed interest in photography thanks to the new camera... I have been meaning to get around to exploring it a bit more.

What is an HDR image?  Well, HDR stands for High Dynamic Range... and what it does is combine three or more images at different exposures to create a super-duper combined image of the three.  It does require some special software (after my successful attempt, I did purchase a license for Photomatix Pro... which seems to be one of the most popular ones out there)... and some fidgeting around with "tone mapping"... which I won't even attempt to explain...

Fortunately, my camera makes it easy to do/create this ... using Auto Exposure Bracketing, Continuous Shooting, and the timer... it does all the work, automatically snapping 3 images at the self-defined exposures... one each at a "correct" exposure, over-exposed, and under-exposed.  I think that is order of the three original images below...

And then the fun begins, you load up the three pictures into the software and start playing with all the settings!

You can create some very hyper-real (or perhaps, unreal) images... some which can even stop looking like a photograph after awhile.  I didn't go that far with my first attempt at it... but you can see how it turned what was an "okay" sunset into something really spectacular.

Here's the end result!

While the sunset is always the attention-grabber, I was particularly impressed with how sharp the foreground came out -- the shrubbery, rocks, railroad tracks, and wall (all of which barely show up in any of the above pix).

So I've probably entered yet another time-sucking black hole with this latest sub-hobby... but I am sure there are worse things to having another artistic outlet.

I have nothing prepared for you while we are away in San Diego... but I am sure you can live without me until next week!   If there's the opportunity or ability or desire (!), I may Twitter, Facebook, or Plurk over the weekend... so keep an eye on the sidebar for potential updates ... but don't count on it.

Have a great holiday weekend and see you on the flip side!

Comments

[jen maiser]

You've only had the SLR for what ... 2 months? And you're already employing techniques I have never used. And I'm about 3 years ahead of you with my didge. I'm going to have to try this. Have a good trip.

[Scott-O-Rama]

The end result is gorgeous. I don't know much about photography and even less about HDR. I've never heard of that software you mentioned.

Have a safe trip!

[Beth]

Ed, Here's a podcast I listen to every so often, called the Digital Photography Show. http://digiphoto.thepodcastnetwork.com/

Scott Sherman and Michael Stein have done HDRs (that's where I first heard about it). Perhaps might be worth checking out.

[BOSSY]

Holy Hell - you have now perfectly described Bossy's next item for the Wish List.

[BOSSY]

YEah, so: Bossy just read more carefully, and it's not something she can purchase but rather something she has to learn how to do? Oh crap.

Safe trip!

[dinah shore]

i thought the point of capturing a glorious sunset
was that you actually saw it in it's glory.

seems like faking an orgasm to me. sorry.