High Dynamic Range Imaging

HDR: High Dynamic Range Imaging, as you may have figured out, some of the images on this website are made from multiple photographs taken at different exposures. The photographs are combined to form a single image. The process of combining these different exposures creates a result with more detail in the shadows and highlights than normal, as in the photographs below.

For the photographs shown on this page, multiple exposures were used in 2 stop exposure difference. To take the photographs, use the same focus, aperture, and vary the shutter speed. If you vary the aperture, the depth of field in the photograph will change. If you are not shooting in raw mode, then set the white balance. If you leave the white balance on auto, it may change between photographs.

The process that I use for creating a high dynamic range image involves:

1. Take 3 or more photographs at different exposures. Use a tripod for best results, set white balance, focus, and aperture, vary the shutter speed.
2. Use software to combine the images. An example software application is PhotoMatix by HDRSoft
3. A native high dynamic range image in up to 32-bit/channel color cannot be viewed on a normal monitor. So use the tone mapping feature to convert the high dynamic range image to something that is viewable on normal computer monitors.

The following composites were taken in Hampi, India just after sunrise:

The jet engine of a Boeing 767-300ER on the ground at Vancouver Airport in Canada, enroute from Toronto to Seoul, South Korea.

South Australia

Snowdon, Wales, United Kingdom

Devil’s Peak near Quorn, South Australia.