Tag Archives: shadows/highlights

HDR Imaging – What Is It

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A lot has been written about HDR Photography in recent years.  Many photographers have become quite prominent using HDR techniques. Having used Adobe Photoshop for quite a while, I became intrigued with using my old, trusted tool for High Dynamic Range photography. And since starting my exploration into HDR imaging, I’ve also incorporated Nik software into my processing work flow.

This definition from Wikipedia gives a brief overview of HDR or HDRI:  “High dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wide dynamic range allows HDR images to more accurately represent the range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight, and is often captured by way of a plurality of differently exposed pictures of the same subject matter.”  For more information, please check out the full article or just go to the web and search for “HDR photography techniques” for more than enough information.

Some have mentioned that the ultimate HDR expressions are achieved with software specifically designed with a unique approach to digital imaging.  That usually refers to specific tone mapping algorithms that have been developed to give an image a look that is not quite realistic.  But, by using a more conservative approach, extremely realistic images can be produced; images that portray reality much better than straight, right out of the camera photos.

I have been using various techniques and have found that, despite what some purists say, very acceptable, well balanced HDR images can also be produced with only one raw image. It’s almost like using a well exposed negative and using dodging and burning techniques in a darkroom – A reference to the old days. :-)

I am currently shooting camera raw images with .5 to 1 f stop (ev) ranges between shots.  I have used up to 9 images, 4 evenly spaced below normal exposure and 4 above with interesting results.  But, the 3 shot technique that most photographers use, seems to work well also. For most of my work, I prefer using 5 or 7 images to get slightly smoother tonal variations.

This is a simple example of a 3 image, realistic High Dynamic Range photograph. Yes, the color is that intense. The HDR technique allowed me to maintain lots of shadow detail and left enough highlight and shadow to manipulate the final results for a well balanced image.

The image below was created with nine exposures at .5 ev increments from -2 to +2 ev. Notice the very smooth tonal presentation.

HDR – Hibiscus in Red

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Our Hibiscus plants were just about bare for this year but I managed to find one last bloom for this HDR image. It’s been about a week since I shot this one and I’m sad to say that the limbs are empty. Oh well, next spring will bring more beauty.

Processing: This photo is about 60% of the original which accounts for a slight lack of sharpness and definition. But with a subject like this, the softness isn’t always a negative.  For some unknown reason (to me anyway), flowers usually need additional work when doing HDR imaging. The tones and shadows seem to get swallowed up with my Nik HDR Efex Pro software so I used the File > Automate > Merge to HDR Pro process in Adobe Photoshop CS6. With three exposures, I was able to get the limited tonality that I needed while still maintaining the shadow and highlight details. After creating my image, I used Camera Raw for sharpening and adding luminosity. My final step was to do some very subtle dodging and burning on selected areas for more depth.

For the monochrome version, I used Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 and increased the overall structure for a more textured look.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens at f/22, ISO 800. Manfrotto/Bogen tripod and ball head.

HDR – Classical Grass, Weeds, Whatever!

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This High Dynamic Range (HDR) image is the product of cropping a larger image. It’s about 80% of the original but still holds enough detail. I really like doing these “Intimate Landscapes” since the intricate beauty of nature can be presented more intimately. :-)

These very tall and wispy whatevers were in constant motion as you can see from the tops of some. I decided to use the motion for a softer look . . . more of an artistic expression than a statically realistic one.  And yes, the color is also just a little more saturated than reality as I think it adds to the art of it.

Processing: I used seven exposures, shot from -1.5 to +1.5, loaded into Nik HDR Efex Pro. Since the majority of this scene has a much tighter dynamic range, I didn’t need to extend my exposures beyond this limit. I did selective Control Point work to balance the tones and bring out the detail in the grass/weeds. I also used control points to manipulate the light to draw more attention to the foreground and sunny area in the upper left.

In Adobe Photoshop I used Shadows/Highlights to add more depth and then Hue/Saturation to get the color to the just beyond reality stage. I finished with High Pass filter set to 8 pixels using Soft Light with opacity and fill at 100%. This gives a beautiful sharpening without getting too brittle. I used Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 for the monochrome version below.

My focus was to get more of an edgy, black and white look by increasing the contrast and eliminating some of the tonal smoothness.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens at 35mm, f/16, ISO 3200.

HDR – Warm Woodsy Way

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As we head into the fall season, the colors are starting to change and provide a warm, relaxing view of nature. Though this HDR image was shot at the beginning of summer, I decided to give it an early fall look using the Adobe Photoshop Photo Filter. Warming Filter(LBA) set at 25% gives enough warmth to change the season.

Processing: I used nine exposures from -2 to +2 ev at .5 ev spacing. In Nik HDR Efex Pro, I used Control Points to selectively maximize Structure and tonal variations.  With Adobe Photoshop, I balanced the colors with Hue/Saturation, added contrast with Curves and used Unsharp Mask for sharpening. I added another layer and painted selective areas to balance tones and lighten the path. With a final layer I applied Photo Filter and adjusted the fill to 60%. Sometimes artistic license can make a big difference.

Here’s the original, combined image.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, 35mm, f/8, ISO 800. Manfrotto 190XPROB with 486RC2 ball head.

HDR – Orchid Cream

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This macro High Dynamic Range (HDR) image of a small orchid is an example of how a very selective, shallow depth of focus can create a creamy, dreamy photo of a simple subject.

Processing: I loaded five shots exposed from -2 to +2 ev into Adobe Photoshop CS6 for a single blended image.  I used Hue/Saturation and Shadows/Highlights along with very selective sharpening. For a final enhancement, I added a layer and painted additional shadow areas in the orchid for more depth.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, f/11, ISO 200.

HDR – Amaryllis

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I’ve decided to post a few macro HDR images starting with this Amaryllis bloom. I never get tired of the intricate designs of nature.

Processing: I loaded five images into Nik HDR Efex Pro for tone mapping and kept the image as close to natural as possible. It’s easy to go overboard with the HDR process but I think this bloom deserves a realistic presentation.  I used Hue/Saturation and Shadows/Highlights along with selective sharpening in Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, f22, ISO 400 with backlit white Photoflex LiteDisc and silver LiteDisc for front fill lighting.

HDR for Real and More

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Dreary days are perfect for HDR transformations. Even though I prefer to keep my High Dynamic Range images as realistic as possible, the weather sometimes gets in the way and I will take a flat image and try to liven it up. I’ll do this by taking it a little beyond reality.

With all of the tools available, it’s pretty easy to develop a few quick methods to transform an image into a unique work of art. Just look up HDR in an internet search and you’ll see what I mean. Of course, not everything that is called HDR is the real thing. Some photogs just apply a few extreme tone mapping processes to single images and call it HDR.

Processing: This image is the result of a blending of five exposures in Nik HDR Efex Pro for realistic tone mapping, then using HDR Toning in Adobe Photoshop CS6 (see below), and finally applying Shadows/Highlights in Photoshop to take it to the beyond reality stage (image above).

 So, sometimes a lifeless shot can be enhanced with just a little bit of artistic enhancement.

What do you think?

Just for fun, and since I haven’t posted a monochrome for awhile, I decided to convert this image to a pseudo Kodak P3200 TMAX Pro version using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. I thought the gritty graininess would work with the gritty subject matter. Even though the Nik software has a preset for this type of film, I decided to apply the # 24 Full Contrast & Structure preset and then add some grain.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens, f/1.8, 800 ISO.

HDR – The Souvenir Shot

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This Monochrome HDR image is a Phone Friday shot. Even though I used my trusty Nikon DSLR, the nice folks in this pic are having their picture taken with a cell phone. That should count, Right!?!

Processing: Nine shots from -2 to +2 at .5 ev intervals loaded into Nik HDR Efex Pro for Tone Mapping. I used the preset called Granny’s Attic and did a few modifications for structure and contrast. In Adobe Photoshop CS6, I applied Shadows/Highlights for a smoother color/tonal blending and then did overall sharpening using High Pass filter. After flattening my layers, I moved the image into Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 and applied the Agfa APX Pro 100 film type preset and used a Selenium #4 toning and a Black Frame #1 vignette. Back in Photoshop, I applied a warm Photo Filter (LBA) at about 90%.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 lens set at 35mm, f/8, ISO 400.

HDR – Since 1962 as Photo Art Texture HTDS

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An HDR image from my “Poppin a few with the Nifty Fifty” photo walk in (Little) Washington, North Carolina this past winter. It seemed like everything on the street was pretty dreary except for the awning at the front of Washington Jewelers, est. 1962. So, here it is in all of it’s colorful beauty.

  • Photo Art – Texture for Real

This was another exercise in strategic cropping since I was limiting myself to one prime lens. All of the zooming was done by my two legs that day.

Processing: Five images were loaded into Nik HDR Efex Pro for tone mapping and selective Control Point processing to add some structure to the bricks. Then I used Adobe Photoshop for Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlights to balance the tones. Using Hue/Saturation, I adjusted the colors of the bricks and added a little life to the awning. Sorry bout that. Sometimes an image needs a little more than what is natural.  Artistic license, ya know!  I finally added a bit more depth with Curves.

  • Photo Art – Texture for Surreal

And speaking of artistic license, I’ve included a How To Do Stuff (HTDS) segment on turning this image into a textured, artsy, grainy work using Photoshop.I like to think of this as a more artistic version since I’ve distorted reality enough to make it look less photographic and more techno-graphic. Notice, in the shots below, that I didn’t need to apply very strong effect in the Texture > Grain selections to get this “Beyond Reality” look.I’ve enlarged a portion of the almost, realistic image for comparison.Sometimes a subtle application of an artistic filter in Photoshop can add a lot to an image.

  • Photo Art – Texture for Old Times Sake

I know, this is not at all related to the current post. But, since I’ve been on a monochrome roll lately, I decided to include an old timey version of this shot, in faded sepia of course.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with AF 50mm f/1.8 D lens set to f/6.7, ISO 800.

HDR – Clear The Beach

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This realistic HDR image was shot just before a huge storm rolled into the beach at Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina. Within an hour, the day went from bright and sunny to dark and cloudy. But, this is still the sunny side with the beautiful clouds and blue sky.

Even though the beach is beautiful, on this day, the sky was the main event. This is usually the case in eastern North Carolina along the Crystal Coast. These shots are a prequel to my post from yesterday where the approaching storm was just about to break. I just couldn’t wait to post those images . . . love the drama of nature!Processing: The first image was produced from seven shots from -3 to +3 ev at 1 ev intervals. The second shot is from nine shots at .5 ev intervals. Nik HDR Efex Pro handled the overall tone mapping and selective Structure. I used Adobe Photoshop CS6 to add a little more depth with Curves, adjust the Hue/Saturation and sharpen with High Pass filter.

Equipment used: Nikon D700 with 28-70mm f/2.8 lens set at 28mm, f/22, f/13, ISO 400.