Fun with HDR
03 August 2008
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I've been taking pictures in a RAW file format for the past few months. The images are much larger than an equivalent JPEG and they require some post-processing, but I think it's worth it. With the growth in flash sizes (16GB for ~$50?!?!) and software that automatically handles the post-processing, you might as well grab as much data as your camera will give you.
I've also been reading up on high dynamic range imaging (HDR) and picked up a nice little program called Bracketeer that can combine multiple exposures of an image to create a more evenly exposed image. Typically this is done with bracketed exposures by the photographer, but a tripod is needed to allow for a clean merge.
With a RAW image, though, you can play with the exposure details in software after the fact. It's debatable whether the final result is as impressive as a true bracketed exposure (or so I'm told), but the convenience can't be beat! Below is an HDR image created by merging three exposures (-2EV, 0EV, and +2EV) and a little bit of Photoshop action. The difference is subtle (mouse-over for the HDR), and I probably could've obtained the same result by tweaking the RAW, but I think it has a punch that the original lacks.
I've also been reading up on high dynamic range imaging (HDR) and picked up a nice little program called Bracketeer that can combine multiple exposures of an image to create a more evenly exposed image. Typically this is done with bracketed exposures by the photographer, but a tripod is needed to allow for a clean merge.
With a RAW image, though, you can play with the exposure details in software after the fact. It's debatable whether the final result is as impressive as a true bracketed exposure (or so I'm told), but the convenience can't be beat! Below is an HDR image created by merging three exposures (-2EV, 0EV, and +2EV) and a little bit of Photoshop action. The difference is subtle (mouse-over for the HDR), and I probably could've obtained the same result by tweaking the RAW, but I think it has a punch that the original lacks.
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