Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs

Our eyes are capable of seeing a wider range of visible light then film or camera sensors. High Dynamic Range
photography involves taking extra steps when capturing photographs with a digital camera plus extra processing using
computer so#ware. This document will provide some of the necessary guidance needed to photograph NDR images. For
additional information on how the process works there are a number of excellent books published on the topic.

Steps to creating an HDR image

1. Take at least three bracketed photographs of the same scene

2. Import the images into your computer
a. Use a program like iPhoto, Picasa, Lightroom or Aperture.
b. Rate the images
c. Tag your images - for NECC use the tag NECC09HDR
d. Stack bracketed images, if so#ware supports stacking.
3. Export the images out of the so#ware cataloging program
a. Export as raw files to keep all available data
b. Export as TIFF
c. Exporting as JPEG is not recommended as image data is lost during the jpeg compression. Convert images to
JPEG when you are ready to share copies.
d. Full size or a reduced size images will work. One strategy is to export using a small image size to experiment,
once appropriate setting are determined and the results are acceptable then export a larger quality image and
process again with the same or similar settings.
4. Blend multiple images into one with Photoshop > File > Automate > HDR
5. Tone map image when converting from 32 bit to 8 or 16 bit, many other programs that don’t support 32 bit images
6. Adjust color, exposure, and contrast within Photoshop.
7. Save HDR image, a common practice is to add HDR to the file name for recognition.

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs
Capturing your photograph

To capture a wide range of visible light you need to take more then one photography. Mount your camera on a tripod and
adjust your exposure so the first shot is exposed correctly for the situation. Next take two more photos: one with the
shutter speed adjusted so the image will be two stops over and the other exposure two stops under the correct exposure
image. In some situations more then three bracketed shots will be necessary. Some cameras have a setting for bracket
exposures, with this setting a#er you take the first shot the camera will automatically adjust the exposure to capture the
over and under exposures.

HDR vs. LDR

A high dynamic range photograph (HDR) provides greater detail in the highlights and shadows then a low dynamic range
(LDR) photograph. The HDR process attempts to gather digital information that covers the full range of visible light.
Camera sensors and film are not capable of gathering all the data in one exposure so multiple images must be taken. In
many cases taking three images will be sufficient, there will be times when five or more images will be required to
capture the full range of light from black to white.

Exposure

The range of bracket adjustments can be set in many cameras, a typical setting will be a 2 stop variance up and down from
a normal exposure. If a wider range of exposures are warranted then go up and down two more stops, your final image
captures for one photograph may be: a normal exposure; two stops down; four stops down; two stops up; and four stops
up. If your camera is capable of only capturing three bracket exposures and you wish to capture a scene with a wider
range of light, such as an interior with exterior views then take two normal exposure readings. Exposure for the interior
with a 2 stop bracket range then adjust the exposure for the exterior with a two stop range. Be careful not to move your
camera while adjusting the exposure.

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs
Histogram

A histogram shows a visual representation of the range of light captured by the camera when making the image. A
properly exposed image’s histogram will fit within the frame without touching either the right or le# edge. To capture the
extra detail needed to make an HDR image extra exposures are needed that capture the upper range and lower range of
light. Learn to rely on your histogram for exposure data analysis and not on the visual image displayed on the back of the
camera. An image can look to dark when viewed in bright sun light when actually the image may be properly exposed.

Proper Exposure Two Stops Under Two Stops Over

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs
Pointers on capturing images for HDR

• Hold your camera as still as you can, concentrate on being still until a#er the shutter has finished capturing all
images.
• Use the eye piece on your camera not the LCD if you are hand holding the camera.
• Brace your body against a ridged support (pole or wall).
• Use a remote, wired or wireless.
• Use the camera’s timer so the camera will have time to stop vibrating a#er pressing the shutter release.
• Use a tripod, if you don’t you’ll wish you had.
• Alternatives to tripods
• Set the camera on a solid stable surface, if necessary brace the lens by placing a lens cap or cell phone under the
end of the lens.
• Use a bean bag to support your camera on a solid surface, this allows the lens to be pointed in any number of
directions.
• A camera bag, purse, or “Man Bag” can also be used to support a camera.
• Shorter length lenses will produce images with less motion caused by lens movement.

Subjects

Some subjects do not reproduce well in HDR but don’t let this stop you from experimenting. Plants are difficult to capture
because even a slight breeze will make leaves and flowers move. Portraits in HDR o#en have harsh looking skin because
every pore, scar, and detail is shown. Realizing this can also produce opportunities for experimentations.

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs
Processing Images

Importing Photographs

Use any method available to import photos into your computer, image cataloging programs aid with locating and
tracking images.

• Bridge
• File > Get Photos from Camera
• Locate the images folder on the camera and import
• Provide a name and location for image storage
• Add meta data including a keywords (NECC09HDR) and copyright owner
• Click Import
• Lightroom
• Connect your camera or card reader to your computer
• Open Lightroom
• Select the Import icon
• Locate the images
• Provide a name and location for image storage
• Add meta data including a keywords (NECC09HDR) and copyright owner
• Click Import
• Aperture
• Connect your camera or card reader to your computer
• Open Aperture
• Select the Import icon
• Locate the images
• Add meta data including a keywords (NECC09HDR) and copyright owner
• Click Import
• Memory Card
• Connect your camera or card reader to your computer
• Open My Computer and locate the memory card
• Navigate into the memory card to locate the images
• Copy images into a folder on your computer

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs

Merging Images

• Open all three or more bracketed exposure images in Photoshop or images can be opened after starting the Merge
to HDR process.
• If you were shooting in RAW then you will need to use the Camera RAW conversion tool, it will automatically pop up.
• When the images open click Select All > Open Images, donʼt bother with adjustments at this point.
• Select File > Automate > Merge to HDR and select open files, make sure you only have the intended files open.
• A merged photograph will display with thumbnail images on the left side. One or more images can be taken out of
consideration by removing the check from the check box.
• Adjust the image as necessary using the slider on the right side of the window, this is your first adjustment and it is a
very basic adjustment.

Tone Mapping

Tone mapping is where major adjustments are made to the image. The tone mapping process has two types of
adjustments that need to be considered:

• Global adjustments are made to the overall image.

• Adjust image so there is no clipping of highlights or shadows.
• Adjust balance between highlights and shadows.
• Local adjustments are made between specific ranges of captured light.
• Adjustments affect the contrast between pixels and their neighbors.

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs
Begin the tone mapping process by selecting Image > Mode > 16 bit or 8 bit.

• Exposure and Gamma

• Exposure will adjust the overall lightness and darkness of the image
• Gamma will expand the highlights and darken the shadows or lighten shadows and darken highlights
• Highlight Compression - ignore in most situations
• Equalize Histogram - ignore in most situations
• Local Adaptation
• Select the Tone Curve and Histogram triangle to reveal the graph
• Make adjustments by clicking on the line and dragging points up and down

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs

Telling a Photographic Story

As photographers it is easy to get into the habit of capturing images where most of the focus is on techniques. The
following information is provided to help keep us all grounded with the Arts and how photography is really about the
story one or more photographs are trying to tell.

When telling a digital story with images it is always good to make a plan concerning the types of images you wish to
capture. Use the following list as a guide.

• Establishing shot: Take a photo to tell your audience about the setting. This could be a physical space or a type of
event such as a wedding, meeting, out doors, etc.

• Medium shot: Photos in this category help to show what is happening, it could be a person swinging a golf club or
sailing a boat.

• Detail shot: This is a close-up showing some details, a golf ball being hit by the club where we only see the ball and
club head. Or is could be a hand pulling a rope to adjust a sail where we see a close-up of a hand grasping a rope.

• Portraits: A portrait will show us who is involved with the activity, it can be the head and shoulders the golfer or the
sailer sitting on the rail of a boat.

• Moment: Every event will have a defining moment where activities come to climix, try to capture this moment. The
expression on the face of the golfer just as the ball drops in for a hole-in-one or the sailer hanging over the edge of
the boat as a sharp turn is made.

• Closer: In every event there will be one or two photos that just make for a good ending or closing photo. This photo
does not have to be of the last event of the day, it should be that wraps up the event bringing closure to what has
been happening. The golfer filling in the last score on his score card or the sailer taking a nap on the deck of the
boat.

Photoshop CS4 HDR

Photoshop CS4 High Dynamic Range Photographs

Processing HDR Images

HDR So#ware Programs

• Photomatix
• FDR Tools
• PFS Tools
• EasyHDR
• Halo control
• Naturalness

Photoshop CS4 HDR