Back to porto...

As there are some bridges in recent posts, lets continue in this manner.
I am back in my trip to Porto - Portugal.

It is very spectacular city built on steep banks of Douro river just before mouth of the river into Atlantic ocean. With its five bridges it offers many options for spectacular images. 

 
All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

 

Nikon D7100 announced

New Nikon D7100 is announced. It will be available in second half of March. As I had Nikon D7000 and it is really great tool I cant wait to test Nikon D7100. 

New features of new model are a 24mpi sensor and 51 poind focus. 

I will write more about new camera as soon as I get it in my hands!

Here is an HDR image created with D7000. 

We will compare it with a D7100 image!

More posts about Porto in future days.

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

Porto at dusk...

Two years ago I visited Porto in Portugal. As always on travels I tried to make as much good photos as possible. For this particular image I arrived to a location just a bit too late and I had a bit too dark sky. A bit more detail would do better, but I was pleased with the Image anyway.

Porto is a very spectacular city for anyone who loves to make good images! This shot was taken from a fort just above Dom Luis Bridge and Douro river.

More posts about Porto in future days.

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

What about books...

Actually I read only one book on HDR topics and it was very good. It covered all the topics that photographer needs to get started in HDR.

The book is Trey Ratcliffs  A World in HDR available for $30 at Amazon.

This book is definitly worth of the money. Author takes us through entire process of making great HDR photos! So for anybody who is getting started and wants to upgrade knowledge about HDR, I recommend this book.

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

 

Almost no light...

In some extreme conditions when we are in very low light, we might have only option one shot HDR. If the correct exposure goes over 10 sec there won't be option to bracket +-2EV. We work on lowest ISO for lowest noise and record a RAW file.

I had such case when I was shooting entrance to Planinska cave. Only dim light came from entrance behind the corner. I took one 30sec exposure at ISO200 with Nikon D700 camera and in Lightroom I made 3 exposures. There was so dark in cave that I didn't see anything with my eyes and I had great troubles with focus.

This is the cave shot that came out.

All in Passion for HDR!  
Greetings from Slovenia!  
Samo Trebižan 

 

Ancient cave castle in Predjama...

Five images merged into one HDR of castle which stands on cave entrance and has an interesting story to tell.

The castle is great at any time of the year and in any weather. I was there two years ago at the end of winter.

All in Passion for HDR! Greetings from Slovenia! Samo Trebižan 
 

Carnival was not totaly successful

As the masks should banish the winter, I guess the carnival was not totaly successful!
Here is a winter story HDR!

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

Invisible things will blow out

When making HDR it is very important to have really clean sensor and no dust or any other dirt on lens. Any dirt that is not really visible on normal image will pop out on HDR and you will need some additional work to get rid of it. 

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

Taste of Venice

Just a shot from Venice carnival!

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

HDR from one RAW image

In previous post I wrote about merging images to HDR. That is perfect procedure. But what about animals, or in some cases people? They won't stay still for you to take 3 or 5 images. In that case we make 3 images in digital darkroom. 

You need to take image as perfectly lit as it is possible and it must be taken in RAW format to include as much information in darks and highlights as possible. Make sure you have lowest possible ISO speed to minimize noise.

Then take the image into lightroom, export it in 00Ev, than in -2Ev and than in +2Ev.

Everything else is same as with merging three images into one. 

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

Creating HDR

So we have taken three different exposed photos on our computer and we need final steps to merge them into HDR. As I mentioned in earlier posts I will only comment and recommend equipment, software and other solutions, which I have already tried and it worked for me.

For merging photos into HDR I use Photomatix pro 4.2. and I find it really good program.

Now after opening Photomatix 4.2 you get program window and you are ready to start!

First you choose Load bracketed photos in upper left corner. Another window opens.

Choose Browse

Select three bracketed images Av0, Av-2 and Av2 and click open. 

Click OK, and once more OK. 

Merged photo opens in window. If it is not yet selected. select option Tone mapping in upper left corner. 

There your creativity begins!

Experiment with first four sliders, move them to extremes and find mode of image that you like the most. 

In lighting adjustment you have 5 options experiment with clicking buttons.

In more options

white point brightens highlights, do not over light highlights if you don't want blown out highlights.

black point darkens and adds black into image.

Gama controls brightness and temperature controls temperature mode of image.

On the right side of window you have presets that you may use to get your image close to what you like. 

After you are satisfied choose the button Process.

After processing is finished you may adjust contrasts, colors and sharpening and click Done!

And you have the image!

Now you may start and experiment with HDR photos - you know sky is the limit.

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan 

Lets start

So many people mentioned that they would like to make some HDR images but they don't know how to start.

In previous posts we covered some topics about photography, gear, and safety. I assume that reader knows how to handle camera and is familiar with basics of photography.

To create HDR image we first need one or more good images to merge them into HDR.

For creating HDR out of 3 different exposed images we need image with proper light, 2ev underexposed image and 2ev overexposed image. To get that we may bracket 3 or 5 images. It depends on your camera.

This three images should look something like: 

And after process the result is:

If you only have one image, there might be different reasons for that, but the most important reason is moving of subject. In this case RAW recording is a must. Then you take this raw image and make out three images:
export normal lighted,
export darkened for 2ev and 
export brightened for 2ev.

To minimize noise take photos on minimal ISO in both cases!

On Monday I will take you through my work flow!

All in Passion for HDR!
Greetings from Slovenia!
Samo Trebižan