52 Week Project | HDR

HDR was the theme for the 52 Week Project. HDR = high dynamic range.

Typically this is an editing process used for static subjects (for me I use it on landscapes and classic cars) where at least 3 different exposures of an image are created. In a 3 image HDR one image is overexposed, one under exposed and the last is neutral. The exposures are combined to create a more evenly toned image. It is very challenging to photograph animals for an HDR because they tend to move. If they move enough you can get ghosting. This is where the images don’t align. Keep an eye out below, there’s a couple of images of Bender with minor ghosting (one he has multiple tails!)

Bender and I meandered to the abandoned part of the bike trail where a quaint bridge is. The sky was very moody and the whole scene had a lot of dynamic range (dark ground, light dog, dark to light texture in the sky) which means it was perfect for an HDR image!

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This before and after shows how much evenness in tone can be achieved with an HDR. Processed with a custom preset in Photomatix I made called “moody car warmish” haha! Also shows off leash removal magic!

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Can you spot the differences?

We shifted away from the bridge for more sky and a sense of landscape. The presets I have for HDR images tend to “push” the image while keeping it closer to a natural look. A fun thing that does tend to happen, esp with skies earlier in the morning, is add an extra bit of color to the sky. Fun little bit of pizazz.

Bender has 3 tails…

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It was fun to process these images with a method I use for my hobby photography. Might have to play with it a bit more and see about manipulating an HDR from a single image to avoid the ghosting or try a composite of sorts, but it will not be something I offer to clients.

Next up visit Pet Love Photography, serving Greater Cincinnati and the San Francisco Bay Area to see how she captured and processed her HDR images!

 

5 thoughts on “52 Week Project | HDR”

  1. These are beautiful! Wow! I’m personally not a huge fan of HDR unless done really well, and yours are the perfect example. Great job showing the differences via the slider too!

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