HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it is a technique in which many images – usually around 3 or 5 – are merged together, so that details from all the different images show up in the final HDR image. It is simply using the dynamic range over many exposures in one single image.
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Photoshop is a great and very effective tool for merging the…
As some of you already know lately I'm a lot into HDR photography. For most of the times I'm shooting from a tripod, but sometimes (just sometimes) I'm lazy enough to take tripod with me. In most cases I end up damning myself for not taking tripod this time and most often avoid HDR shooting. Also in a lot of popular tourist spots (churches,cathedrals) it's forbidden to use a tripod - so you are left with handheld and no flashlight photography.
Thus, that doesn't mean you cannot shoot HDR without a tripod, you can actually make really striking HDR photography handheld. You don't need flash neither.
Here’s a three-exposure shot with bracketing set to +/- 2 increment.
Canon Rebel T5 with kit 18-55mm lens f/11 three brackets merged with Photomatix, ISO 100
A few months ago I did a similar HDR photography but with a tripod - the scene was pretty much the same - some interesting architectural element, blue sky and cool clouds.
Here is how I did above shot handheld:
- ISO 100 (I use ISO100 95% time)
- f/11
- Timer 2 sec
- Shutter speed 160 - Histogram helps a lot to determine optional shutter speed
- Freeze
Photomatix can do miracles with handheld photography - when importing your pictures in Photomatix make sure you check box under hand-held minimal or auto (In most cases I go for hand-held minimal). Ok great - if there is a plenty of daylight you can most probably make a decent HDR photography, but what to do in really low light resolution, for example a HDR photography in the cave? Not a problem
HDR in Low light
Another three-exposure shot with bracketing set to +/- 2 increment.
Canon Rebel T5 with kit 18-55mm lens f/5.0 three brackets merged with Photomatix, ISO 3200
Shot in the Prometheus Cave, Republic of Georgia - this one actually is one of my first HDR images. Probably I was not following any photography rules or advices- and figured this shooting technique by my own - how to get story telling pictures from this cave. You can read an article about this cave here: Prometheus Cave near Kutaisi (Georgia)
Here is how I did above shot handheld:
- ISO Auto- (The only time I use ISO higher than 100 is in really low light and when without a tripod)
- f/5.0 - for allowing maximum light enter the sensor
- Timer 2 sec
- Shutter speed 1/21- It's a superb hard to freeze the frame anything bellow 1/15
- Tripple Freeze (A good technique to freeze your body - put a strap on camera and hang it over your neck, stretch your hands with camera shoot and freeze)
I hope this technique will help you next time wanting to do HDR photography, when it's forbidden to use a tripod or you are traveling without a gear.