HDR Photography

I have been getting better at setting up and processing HDR images. When I started seeing HDRs I found it interesting, but really did not see a use for it. Things have changed as I learn Photomatix, the best HDR software out there.

Denali or Mount McKinley

I started using HDR techniques on tough lighting days. The foreground was very dark in comparison to the sunlit mountains in the background. I used my histogram and it told me that indeed the dynamic range was too broad. I was clipping the highlights. I set up for a bracketed shot with -2,0,+2 EV. Photomatix takes these 3 seperate images and combines them to be tonemapped.

Denali

Another shot of Denali using 3 images combined in Photomatix. I do not like to overdo HDR too much, but sometimes I play around with its effects.

Denali National Park

This one, HDR was able to bring out the clouds much more dramatically. This is from a fall shot within Denali National Park.

Denali and Fireweed

Denali HDR

Hatcher Pass Lodge HDR

Mendenhall glacier, Juneau

All of the above show what you can do with landscapes. More challenging is adding moving objects in the image.

Turnagain Hike

Jim Creek HDR

Of course, my wife is used to modeling for me and can hold quite still. How about a train?

Turnagain Train

This requires a little photoshop work to bring the train in from the best exposure.

I have found myself taking 3 exposures of every landscape now. I just took a trip to Haines and if I am going to get the tripod out, I might as well take 3 exposures and see what HDR processing can give me.

Haines Alaska HDR

I will have more photos from my Haines trip soon. It was great weather and had some awesome photo ops.

Mike