How to do High Dynamic Range Photography?

What is HDR?

HDR photography picture stands for High Dynamic Range photography pictures, which show range of image greater between the light and dark area. In order to achieve HDR, you need to take the same picture on the same position for at least three times with different EV settings (i.e. -1, Normal, +1).  One of the picture is taken with normal setting , the second picture at least with one stop down (-1 of Normal ) of the normal setting and the last picture at least with one stop up than normal (+1 of Normal). HDR is measured in EV differences (known as stops) between the brightest and darkest parts of the pictures.  An increase of one EV (or one stop) is a doubling of the amount of light. The +1 stop help to expose the detail of the dark area and the  -1 stop the detail of the bright area.  Combining three pictures using a HDR software can made a picture showing details of normal light setting, the dark area and the bright areas.

HDR Image Taking with Normal Setting

HDR image Taking with EV difference (-1, Normal, +1)

Step of Using Digital Camera without Auto Exposure Bracketing

1. You need a camera that can can set +1 stop or more, and -1 stop or more. Any digital camera has this kind of setting.  Put the camera in a tripod, take a picture at normal setting, one picture at -1 stop and one picture at +1 stop of normal setting.
2. Combine the picture using a photo editing software such as Photoshops or Photomatix. Photomatix is the standard software used for HDR pictures.

Step of Using Digital Camera with Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)

1. Set the camera AEB to take three pictures with different stops (i.e -1, 0, +1) to take the picture.
2. Combine the picture using a photo editing software such as Photoshops or Photomatix. Photomatix is the standard software used for HDR pictures.

If you do not want to go through the above steps, buy a DSLR camera (e.g. Sony a57 DSLR) or compact digital camera (e.g. Panasonic ZS20) come with built in HDR function to produce HDR.


I took the following HDR pictures using an Olympus E-PM1 micro 4/3 digital camera:

HDR Picture - Olympus E-PM1 Digital Camera

HDR Picture - Olympus E-PM1 Digital Camera

I bought a Sony T10 digital camera in 2006 which has built in auto exposure bracketing (AEB).  I used this AEB function to take the following HDR pictures:

HDR Picture - Sony T10 Digital Camera

HDR Picture - Sony T10 Digital Camera

Android cell phone or iPhone 4s both can take HDR Pictures
A few days ago I posted a few HDR pictures using digital camera of  cell phone(LG P500). Click here to see these HDR pictures. using Camera Phone.


Sample of HDR Pictures on the Web:
Stuck In Custom  - Good site to learn about HDR

HDR Tutorial Video

HDR Using iPhone or Android Phone
 

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