HDR - is it possible

[stewsmith]

Ok I have read a few HDR posts and if you dont like them, fine, stop reading this post now as I dont want you to tell me that you dont like them bla bla bla.

I do actually like them, if they are used in the way that does not make the final image look to over done.

So heres my question.

From what I have read you should take at least 3 shots 1 properly exposed 1 over exposed and 1 under exposed and then fire them into the appropriate program, pull a few sliders here and there and hey presto. Would it not be possible to take a raw file that has good exposure and then save it under exposed and then save it over exposed then fire all 3 files into the program. Would this work the same or not. The reason I ask is that i have a RAW file on a hard drive somewhere that I know would work well with a bit of HDR added. If this will not work then I will have to tell the Mrs that I have to go back to the Galapagos to take 3 more shots. To be honest I hope you tell me it wont work.

Answers on a post card please.

Stew

 

[karmagarda]

If I'm going to do a HDR this is the only method I'll use. I find with this method (I call it a fake HDR) you end up with a closer result to what the scene looked like at the time. So to me the results are far better. I haven't used any applications to do the HDR automatically, I use The Gimp to do it manually. Haven't done it in a while, so can't quite remember what I used to do

 

[sbowler579]

Yes that will work, have used it myself a few times. One example below.

 

[scraggs]

Yes it can be done
Have a read here http://www.vanilladays.com/hdr_tutorial/

 

[Thmaga]

It does work, and photomatix can do it from one raw in-program but the dynamic range will obviously be less than three raws.

 

[Yv]

It is of course possible and is often used - as Conor says, sometimes referred to as fake HDR or similar. The results can be as good as one done with 3 or more exposures, especially if a tripod or other steadying support was not available at the time of shooting.
The results can however sometimes be noisier than those done with 3 exposures. Also, the point of HDR is to return detail to high and low lights, thus balancing the dynamic range right across the image. Some of those details will not be present in a single shot that has merely had its exposure adjusted, so bear this in mind. Having said that, it's a technique I often use for everything from indistinguishable hdr all the way to quite extreme, but usually limit the exposure adjustment to +/- 1 stop - more will work, but depends on the image and the results you want to achieve.
Basically, there are no rules, play with it however you want, until it looks how you want it to look. Everyone has their own preferred methods and as you say, many don't like it at all, but they are your pics, for you to enjoy

 

[Rocket]

YEP, that can be done.
I personally use 1 x raw, converting this to various exposers etc, sometimes using up to 5 which are then saved as Jpgs.
Using these i open in Photomatix ( still one of the better pieces of software).
Depending on my wanted finished preference i use either HDR or Exposure Blending.

My results have so much benifit when selling my material.

As Yv said there can be a little problem with noise, but i find this more with dark skies, however this can be rectified by using software that removes noise, plenty of freebies out there....

The only way you are going to find out, is to try it, but don't be put off with a bad first one. It does take some practice.
Good luck.

 

[swanseamale47]

It wont work Stew, book 2 tickets to the Galapagos and I'll come with you and show you how it should be done!

Sadly for me the truth is it will work reasonable well.

 

[andy_fozzy]

It's how all of my HDR shots were taken......

Here they are!

It works a treat.
I only EVER use 1 raw shot to HDR.

 

[SamuelHearn]

Yep, 1 RAW will do the trick perfectly.
Really, I don't see the benefit of shooting a load of different ones at different EV, but there must be some reason for it. Do whatever works best for you

 

[andy_fozzy]

Yep, 1 RAW will do the trick perfectly.
Really, I don't see the benefit of shooting a load of different ones at different EV, but there must be some reason for it. Do whatever works best for you

It would (could??) result in less noise I believe.......

 

[stewsmith]

Karmagarda, Sbowler579, Scraggs, Thmaga, Yv, Rocket, Andy Fozzy and Samuel Hearn that is not what I wanted to hear. Swanseamale47 grab your bag. !!
Seriously thanks for the replies, Andy Fozzy I love the Chichester Cathedral shots. I will have to get down there when the skys have some blue in them again, it isnt far from me.

Stew

 

[Jimmy_Lemon]

I only use 1 raw as a last resort. 3 exposures will give less noise and MUCH more range. A raw file hold a lot of detail in shadows and blown highlights but not near as much as an under/over exposed raw. I always try and use 3 raws shoved into Photomatix, there is then 3 times the range of the 1 raw to play with. It is especially useful for white fluffy clouds (as they can be really bright at times, much more than a nicely exposed raw can pull back) and sunsets (where again the sun can be much too bright to be brought back from 1 raw).

 

[andy_fozzy]

Karmagarda, Sbowler579, Scraggs, Thmaga, Yv, Rocket, Andy Fozzy and Samuel Hearn that is not what I wanted to hear. Swanseamale47 grab your bag. !!
Seriously thanks for the replies, Andy Fozzy I love the Chichester Cathedral shots. I will have to get down there when the skys have some blue in them again, it isnt far from me.

Stew

Thank you.

Feel free to give me a shout if you do come down.
I'm always up for a Cathedral shoot!!

 

[stewsmith]

Nice one, thanks for the invite I will deffo keep you to that. It'll be great to actually meet up with some of the guys and girls that have been really helpful on here.

Stew

 

[andy_fozzy]

Nice one, thanks for the invite I will deffo keep you to that. It'll be great to actually meet up with some of the guys and girls that have been really helpful on here.

Stew

We have quite a crowd down here actually.
So there's always something going on!

 

[swanseamale47]

Karmagarda, Sbowler579, Scraggs, Thmaga, Yv, Rocket, Andy Fozzy and Samuel Hearn that is not what I wanted to hear. Swanseamale47 grab your bag. !!
Seriously thanks for the replies, Andy Fozzy I love the Chichester Cathedral shots. I will have to get down there when the skys have some blue in them again, it isnt far from me.

Stew

Consider it grabbed!

 

[karmagarda]

Karmagarda, Sbowler579, Scraggs, Thmaga, Yv, Rocket, Andy Fozzy and Samuel Hearn that is not what I wanted to hear. Swanseamale47 grab your bag. !!
Seriously thanks for the replies, Andy Fozzy I love the Chichester Cathedral shots. I will have to get down there when the skys have some blue in them again, it isnt far from me.

Stew

 

[Pork]

As said yes it can work, but I find a +/- 2 stop increment will give you a more accurate dynamic range. I use HDR an awful lot when adverse conditions restric, this is one of my many many HDR shots…

 

[andy_fozzy]

As said yes it can work, but I find a +/- 2 stop increment will give you a more accurate dynamic range. I use HDR an awful lot when adverse conditions restric, this is one of my many many HDR shots…

Stunning

 

[stewsmith]

You certainly nailed it with this one. Great shot.

Stew

 

[freefall]

As said yes it can work, but I find a +/- 2 stop increment will give you a more accurate dynamic range. I use HDR an awful lot when adverse conditions restric, this is one of my many many HDR shots…

now that is how I like to see HDR...stunning!

 

[karmagarda]

As said yes it can work, but I find a +/- 2 stop increment will give you a more accurate dynamic range. I use HDR an awful lot when adverse conditions restric, this is one of my many many HDR shots…

Wow . Would love to see the original if you have it?

 

[jgs001]

3 images works better, but I got a good result with a single raw on the Red arrows. I use a single raw (if I think HDR would help) for moving targets as you'll never manage to get three identical shots anyway, let alone with over and underexposure.

 

[Gordon Scott]

It is not a case of 1, 2, 3, 4,... 9 images at different exposures when capturing HDR, it is about capturing a set of images that give detail in all exposure ranges of the subject. A photo in a room with a bright window will need a wide range of exposures to get the room content and the detail outside the window exposed well. Alternatively a scene with very little variation in exposure demands may look pretty good from one RAW file.

 

[coldpenguin]

As said yes it can work, but I find a +/- 2 stop increment will give you a more accurate dynamic range. I use HDR an awful lot when adverse conditions restric, this is one of my many many HDR shots…

Is that a long exposure, or a very still lake?

 

[swanseamale47]

Is that a long exposure, or a very still lake?

I would guess still, if theres any movement water tends to look like mist in very long exposures.

 

[Pork]

Gosh, I’ve never had so many comments on a pic before, lol Thanks all.

Wow . Would love to see the original if you have it?

I’ll try and find the original three shots when I get home later and post them up.

I would guess still, if theres any movement water tends to look like mist in very long exposures.

Correct very still indeed.

Cheers
Paul

 

[dalex_257]

It is of course possible but then it won't be an HDR. The purpose of HDR imv is to capture high dynamic range scene that exceeds the camera capability (i.e. cannot be captured in single shot without compromising either highlights or shadows). So at least two shots are required - one exposed for shadows and another for highlights. They then merged into HDR image holding all the tonal details but with a drawback that cannot be easily displayed. Those full dynamic range of that image has to be compressed down to a dynamic range fitting in JPEG, TIFF or others. This compression process (tonal mapping) is what a lot of people confuse with HDR - but it is only part of the process of making HDR image.

Now having a single shot means you either was able to capture full scene DR in its entirety or you have captured it with blown highlights or lost shadow details (in this case I mean those extremes where RAW recovery won't work). In the former case, using HDR will have no extra benefits unless you want to use some wacky tonal mapping effects - you don't even need to create 3 images out of single one - just convert your RAW to any 32 bit HDR format directly in say Photoshop and then use any of those tonal mapping facilities in any other HDR applications. Th the latter case, having 3 files from single RAW will make no difference either since there is no information you can recover by doing that - highlights and shadows are lost so there is no information there and all you will be getting is just noise in the shadows or just white in highlights.

Sure a lot of people use the fake HDR mode but this has just an effect of applying tonal mapping and can be done with the same degree of success by extreme curve editing really.