Camera Labs

Im interested in giving the HDR thing a shot. I know it involves combining three differently exposed images of the same thing but im unsure how to go about it.

*What camera mode do you put the camera on? Aperture priority?
*Do you just change where the arrow is on the exposure line?
*how far apart should the exposures be, eg -2, 0, +2?
*how many different photo's should be taken to combine?
*What Mac software is there to combine these photo's, can Lighroom do it?
*Do you need a tripod?
*Do you need to shoot in RAW?

Any other tips?

Thanks.

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Tobywuk personal website || My Flickr
Gear: Sony a700! || CZ 16-80mm! || Sony 75-300 || bag: Crumpler PB xxxl / Lowepro slingshot 200

Hi tobywuk,

You may find Mark's (aka ChinaMark) thread a useful read.

http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtop ... 61&start=0

Mark

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Canon EOS 40D / EF-S 17-85mm IS / EF 50mm f/1.8 / My Flickr

.
I'll move this thread across to the Imaging Software forum where we traditionally discuss how HDR is accomplished.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi Tobywuk
I'm pretty new to HDR too, but I'm getting there. I've learned that if you don't want to achieve HDR using the more complex route of Photoshop, then you can use Photomatix Pro software. You can download a fee trial of the complete programme at http://hdrsoft.com/. Only downside is you will get a watermark on your final images until you purchase the programme.
In Photomatix you can achieve an HDR effect with a single raw or three bracketed jpegs. I have also discovered a way to achieve the same effect with a single jpeg, which is useful for those times when you don't have a tripod to hand. See the tutorial at http://flickr.com/photos/cleever/255026221/.
The effect isn't as good as achieved with three different exposures, but it's passable and fun to do.
There are some excellent examples of HDR in Flickr. Just type HDR in Flickr's search engine.
Good luck in getting started.
Duncan

The only thing I want to add, is the fact that sometimes three pictures isn´t enough for a good HDR. If the "dynamic range" of the scene is greater you will need a wider bracketingsequence.
And, yes, I use Photomatix myself which I find the best HDR-software so far. Photomatix also does exposure blending which doesn´t tonemap the pictures but give some more natural results. And so far as I´m correct you don´t get this watermark in your final picture (if you have the trialversion of course!)

ngc94227