HDR Photography, anyone?

[bikinpunk]

So, I stumbled on this picture while on Digg this morning:



If anyone's been to Disney World they understand how amazing that picture is.

I got to researching this "HDR" method and am BLOWN AWAY at some of the pictures produced. I'm going to give this a go-round when I get home tonight and see what I can come up with.

I'm curious if anyone here does this and if there's any pointers for me?

For those who are interested in the method themselves, here's a great tutorial I found. It's what I'm going to follow for now.
Tutorial

[moveinspace]

Get a decent camera and a tripod. And if you have Photoshop CS2 then let it create the image for you. It is under the file automate tool option. Make sure you have a computer with a lot of memory also as HDR images are a drag on a slow computer. And there are other ways to create these images just using photoshop. Search google.

[brdhouse]

I've done this a few times the ghetto way in photoshop... it's a good technique for saving photos with blown highlights, etc. post up your results when you've had a chance to play around.

[moveinspace]

oh and here's a plugin for photoshop that handles HDR images.

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

[shiftology]

photomatix is better for hdr.

best tip is don't use hdr if you don't need to. people seem to go hdr happy when they find out about it and use it when it really isn't necessary - wasting time, and often resulting in images that look worse than if it was just a single frame.

[dt07Si]

I have done a few HDR's just using the merge to HDR function in CS2 but I can tell you it isn't the most user/beginner friendly HDR program, there are better ones out there. HDR soft is just one example, but photmatix is probably the most popular HDR software.

Honestly if you know what your doing you can achieve similar results while shooting/editing in RAW file format.

HDR's are some of the nicest looking images to look at because of their High Dynamic Range, hence the name HDR. But they are also pretty unrealistic if you ask me. It is really almost a whole other world of photography and editing. There are people who have a lot of experience and knowledge when it comes to producing a well done HDR, its not just something that anyone can snap a few different pics at different EV's and slap them together and get an HDR.

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by dt07Si

I have done a few HDR's just using the merge to HDR function in CS2 but I can tell you it isn't the most user/beginner friendly HDR program, there are better ones out there. HDR soft is just one example, but photmatix is probably the most popular HDR software.

Honestly if you know what your doing you can achieve similar results while shooting/editing in RAW file format.

HDR's are some of the nicest looking images to look at because of their High Dynamic Range, hence the name HDR. But they are also pretty unrealistic if you ask me. It is really almost a whole other world of photography and editing. There are people who have a lot of experience and knowledge when it comes to producing a well done HDR, its not just something that anyone can snap a few different pics at different EV's and slap them together and get an HDR.

you don't even need raw... as long as you are good at photoshop you could do it with a high quality jpg.

[bikinpunk]

It just looks really cool to me.

I take a lot of night shots and it seems that HDR can really help with that.

I actually tried shooting in RAW a while back, but stupid CS2 "didn't recognize" the file.

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

It just looks really cool to me.

I take a lot of night shots and it seems that HDR can really help with that.

I actually tried shooting in RAW a while back, but stupid CS2 "didn't recognize" the file.

need to update Camera Raw.8bi in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Plug-Ins\File Formats with updated version from Adobe that supports your camera.

[bikinpunk]

Originally Posted by shiftology

need to update Camera Raw.8bi in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Plug-Ins\File Formats with updated version from Adobe that supports your camera.

I


Love



You



:)


Edit: +1 rep


Any idea where to file the update? I have the Canon Digital Rebel XT

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

I


Love



You



:)


Edit: +1 rep


Any idea where to file the update? I have the Canon Digital Rebel XT

i don't know your setup in detail, but this *should* work http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...jsp?ftpID=2931

[bikinpunk]

Originally Posted by shiftology

i don't know your setup in detail, but this *should* work http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...jsp?ftpID=2931

looks to be it.

Thanks again.

[bikinpunk]

Is photomatix free? It doesn't appear to be.

It seems there are 2 methods (software wise):
1. Photoshop
2. Photomatix

Is one better than the other? It appears that photoshop is simpler, but has fewer capabilities?

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

Is photomatix free? It doesn't appear to be.

It seems there are 2 methods (software wise):
1. Photoshop
2. Photomatix

Is one better than the other? It appears that photoshop is simpler, but has fewer capabilities?

i never tried anything but photomatix - it is not free. i used pirated and then bought after a while when i decided it was worth it.

[bikinpunk]

Is photomatix a user-friendly program?

I'd like my fiance to give this a go, but if she doesn't figure things out quickly she doesn't fool with it again (on computers). She "lets me do that".



Also, I'm about to stop by the camera store and buy a shutter-release remote. I see one that is $40, but the other 2 are < $10. Doesn't seem like there's anything special about them to make them that much of a difference.

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

Is photomatix a user-friendly program?

I'd like my fiance to give this a go, but if she doesn't figure things out quickly she doesn't fool with it again (on computers). She "lets me do that".



Also, I'm about to stop by the camera store and buy a shutter-release remote. I see one that is $40, but the other 2 are < $10. Doesn't seem like there's anything special about them to make them that much of a difference.

you can use the trial, but they watermark it and there may be a time limit. it isn't hard. you just merge hdr, select the three images, screw with the adjustments and save. keep in mind, i have not used anything else, so there might be something easier.

i bought a remote that was like $40. i don't remember the model number off hand, but it is a canon product. it enables you to lock, as well as use the button to focus/shoot (or a variation on that depending on your camera settings). i would not get the IR cordless one. it is a POS.

[bikinpunk]

Originally Posted by shiftology

i bought a remote that was like $40. i don't remember the model number off hand, but it is a canon product. it enables you to lock, as well as use the button to focus/shoot (or a variation on that depending on your camera settings). i would not get the IR cordless one. it is a POS.

This is the one I'm looking at. Not sure how in the world it goes on, though.

link

[shiftology]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

This is the one I'm looking at. Not sure how in the world it goes on, though.

link

thats mechanical and won't work. you need something like this for your 350d

http://vistek.ca/details/details.aspx?WebCode=107208

[bikinpunk]

Originally Posted by shiftology

thats mechanical and won't work. you need something like this for your 350d

http://vistek.ca/details/details.aspx?WebCode=107208

good deal. Thanks for the 3rd time.

[Si4Life]

i just got a lesson on how to do this from a pro photographer at my job , i cant wait to try it out