6 replies to this topic

[Photographa]

High Dynamic Range imaging is the process of increasing the range of brightness found in a scene.

 

When you take a photo, that photo is taken at a certain exposure level. If you were to take two photos, one after another, one with a higher ISO and one with a lower ISO, everything in the photo with the higher ISO would be brighter. The same is true if one photo were taken with a larger aperture, or if one photo were taken with a slower shutter - these photos would be brighter in every aspect.

 

However, what if there's a very bright spot and a very dark spot in our photo? Would we rather the bright spot turn out dimmer, or would we rather the dark spot turn out brighter?

 

HDR eliminates this compromise. When you capture an HDR photo, your camera captures multiple photos as fast as it can, each at different exposure levels (one brighter, one darker, etc.). Your camera's processor then merges these multiple images into one image, with the dark spots showing as a deep dark and the brightest areas remaining a vivid, bright color.

 

Simply put, an HRD photo is one where the range in brightness is high.

[anchor93]

When does one want to use HDR, and when should one opt for leaving HDR off?

[Photographa]

When does one want to use HDR, and when should one opt for leaving HDR off?

 

When a camera has an HDR mode (a notable example is smartphones) it's helpful to turn it on if you're photographing something that doesn't move. Your camera will take multiple photos with different exposures very quickly and combine them into one picture. A group photo or landscapes/items/food can turn out better with HDR.

 

If you're photographing something that is moving, like a car, or kids running around, you'll want to turn HDR off because you want to freeze that motion.

[anchor93]

Makes sense. How does a person turn on HDR mode on a Canon T3i?

[Photographa]

Makes sense. How does a person turn on HDR mode on a Canon T3i?

 

When you're adjusting the exposure on the LCD display you can spin the little wheel by the shutter to the right and you'll see three different tick marks come up on your exposure menu. These mark three different exposures that a photo will be taken at, and you can move them farther or nearer to the central exposure.

 

You then use software to create an HDR photo.

[Collin]

When a camera has an HDR mode (a notable example is smartphones) it's helpful to turn it on if you're photographing something that doesn't move. Your camera will take multiple photos with different exposures very quickly and combine them into one picture. A group photo or landscapes/items/food can turn out better with HDR.

 

If you're photographing something that is moving, like a car, or kids running around, you'll want to turn HDR off because you want to freeze that motion.

 

 

I have one on my Motorola Atrix HD, and I always wanted to know what it meant. If I am in a certain position or lighting environment, and HDR button will flash on and off, and when I click it, I see a difference. Does HDR make photos more clearer and bring more focus onto the subject? Should I use HDR when possible?

[Photographa]

I have one on my Motorola Atrix HD, and I always wanted to know what it meant. If I am in a certain position or lighting environment, and HDR button will flash on and off, and when I click it, I see a difference. Does HDR make photos more clearer and bring more focus onto the subject? Should I use HDR when possible?

 

It can't bring more focus onto the subject but it could make a photo clearer in a sense. If you're photographing something outside in bright sun and your photo looks a little washed out or overexposed or hazy, using HDR in that case could improve a photo.

 

Just be wary of apps that do HDR after the fact. There's an HDR-like effect that can be achieved by boosting levels after the fact (this is how these are made) but it's not the same as taking photos at multiple exposure levels - the combination of photos at multiple exposures is what makes an HDR an HDR.