Some questions regarding HDR photography?

[CallmeGoose]

Ive asked over at the talk photography forum, but no one has gave me a direct answer... I own a nikon D3100 that doesnt have automatic bracketing. Am I right in assuming there are 2 ways to take HDR photos?

1 - By putting the camera into Aperture priority mode, and changing the Exposure compensation value (the little +/- icon in the menu). Then taking your series of shots (ie -2, 0 and +2)



2 - By putting the camera into full manual mode, (selecting a fixed aperture, fixed iso, manual white balance, focus manually) and changing the shutter speed for your series of shots (ie -2, 0 and +2)

which is the best way to take HDR shots?

[ka$h]

I suppose it all depends on what you are taking a pic of in HDR. The usual architecture type shots can use either method of there is something moving, I wouldn't recommend adjusting shutter speed.

I you are wanting to dabble, there is a 3rd way, and that's in software. take a shot in RAW and make copies in photoshop (or similar) adjusting the exposure to your +/- 2 respectively and merge them from there

[CallmeGoose]

thanks mate, most of the shot i will be taking in the next few weeks will be static shots, like landscapes, buildings etc. I might have a play with moving subjects at a later date, but think ill get the basics first :-p

the 3rd method you mentioned might be beneficial for when im offshore, and the ship is constantly moving. :- )

[BertRoot]

I would use 2 but why manual focus? Shitloads of guides on the net for this other than TP where most folk tend to hate HDR. I usually find read first then if something isn't clear ask questions.

http://tinyurl.com/85dro94

[CallmeGoose]

thats what I have been doing, I just couldnt seem to get a clear answer from the folks over at TP. forget my focus manually comment, I think i must have meant autofocus - then switch to manual to avoid the camera automatically focusing on something else between shots.

[cybollox]

I would use your method 1 mate and try to minimize camera movement when changing the exposure comp, a local tog to me who inspired me to have a go is Pete Carr, he has published books on HDR so have a look here http://www.littletimemachine.com/hdr_tutorial/

The other method of using one raw image also works and is explained in the tutorial above but you wont get exactly the same effect as a camera 3 or 5 bracketed shot. As usual a tripod, remote release or delay timer all help if you have them.

[neo2810]

Goose, using the software method will give you almost the same result as a bracketed shot if you're shooting RAW. It's the safest way if you don't have a camera function to take 3 exposures instantaneously. Taking 3 shots separately is only viable with completely static shots where the environment lighting is controlled, otherwise the shots are not identical and the exposure may not be exactly +2 -2. Outdoors you have moving clouds, changing light conditions, so that even .2 of a second can wildly vary your metering.

For landscapes, manual focussing is the correct method as well, since you want to be calculating your focal depth to work out focus points for the best range of clarity. If you haven't already, read up on hyperfocal distancing to get a full understanding.

[CallmeGoose]

@ cybollox thanks for the info, ive went and bought his book so i can read up on the subject in more depth!


neo2810 - the shots i will be taking are of Angkor Wat in Cambodia in about a weeks time, ill experiment with both the single shot HDR and multiple and see what i come up with, but i agree, the seconds between each shot count and would most likely ruin the shot

[cybollox]

It's a good read m8, I had the first edition and it goes into it in detail.

[greaseweasel]

It's a good read m8, I had the first edition and it goes into it in detail.

Looks very good that. Is there any free HDR software that works well - I have Canon DPP and Elements 10 for my main processing but would like to have a play with something like this.

[CallmeGoose]

here are the resulting HDR photos from my recent trip....

[Zoots]

They look great.
I'm not sure if the last one has some tonal issues in the foreground though, and while I'm a big fan of monochrome, I prefer the colours and shades in the colour shot - it feels to have more depth. It's a nice shot.
But yeah, I think you've a good balance. It's far too easy to overcook with HDR and you benefit from a bit of patience and quite often walking away and coming back. Your first impression when you do will usually give you the gut feeling it's either right or wrong.

[CallmeGoose]

yeah the last one doesnt quite look right to me either, i might have another bash at it later and see what i can come up with