HDR Photography
I put together this short page to answer a few quick questions that people always have about my style of photography. I’ll see if I can answer some of the basics.
New Book on HDR
This site here is a wonderful resource, where I share all my work and my methods with you freely. If you want to know more, there is a new book called “A World in HDR” that you should get your hands on!
How do you make your photos look like that?
“Anyone can do this!” This is what I always tell people when I speak at universities, photo clubs, seminars, and the like, and I mean it! I am very open about my process, and I made an HDR Tutorial here on StuckInCustoms.com that describes the step by step process.
What is HDR Photography?
HDR is short for High Dynamic Range. It is a post-processing task of taking either one image or a series of images, combining them, and adjusting the contrast ratios to do things that are virtually impossible with a single aperture and shutter speed.
An HDR image is commonly made by taking three photos of the same scene, each at different shutter speeds. The result is a bright, medium, and dark photo, based on the amount of light that got through the lens. A software process then combines all the photos to bring details to the shadows and highlights both. This helps to achieve the same task in the final photograph that the human eye can accomplish on the scene.
I would say that about 75% of my images use the technique, and if you are new to it, then you may notice a slightly different “look and feel” to the photographs. There are all kinds of nerdy technical things I can say about HDR, but in case you are like me, you can learn best by example. I posted a bunch of my HDR photos below.
To me, the HDR process helps the photos look more… let’s say… evocative.
I can talk a little bit more about the philosophy behind the photography style here for a quick moment. You might consider that the way the human brain keeps track of imagery is not the same way your computer keeps track of picture files. There is not one aperture, shutter speed, etc. In fact, sometimes when you are in a beautiful place or with special people and you take photos — have you ever noticed when you get back and show them to people you have to say, “Well, you really had to be there.” Even great photographers with amazing cameras can only very rarely grab the scene exactly as they saw it. Cameras, by their basic-machine-nature, are very good at capturing “images”, lines, shadows, shapes — but they are not good at capturing a scene the way the mind remembers and maps it. When you are actually there on the scene, your eye travels back and forth, letting in more light in some areas, less light in others, and you create a “patchwork-quilt” of the scene. Furthermore, you will tie in many emotions and feelings into the imagery as well, and those get associated right there beside the scene. Now, you will find that as you explore the HDR process, that photos can start to evoke those deep memories and emotions in a more tangible way. It’s really a wonderful way of “tricking” your brain into experiencing much more than a normal photograph.
What kind of camera do you need to make HDR Photos?
Really, the hardware does not matter… The bulk of the look comes from the software process, as described in the aforementioned tutorial.
I have a Nikon D3X, but it does not require a camera that beefy to make photos like the ones you see on the site. In fact, many of my photos were taken with a camera that only costs a fraction of this beast. I have a full rundown of some HDR camera recommendations here on the site as well. You can get started in this hobby fairly cheaply! 
What is your philosophy behind art and photography?
Ahh! That is a good question, even if I did write it myself! Well, the answer is too long for this format, but you can find a few nuggets of truth inside this article I wrote entitled “10 Principles of Beautiful Photography“.
And here are some HDR photos for you:
Oh, thanks for the HDR camel!
Thanks Trey – this is great.
It would be great if you might expound a bit as to how much PS work you do on your photos. I realize, from your HDR tutorial, that you use PS for post-processing, but I’ve always wondered how you achieve your stunning work. For example, I’ve never even seen the type of clouds you capture in your shots. Is there PS work behind them?
Thanks!
CatXTwo
CatXtwo – I do use PS – but not to paint in clouds or anything like that.
I think a lot of the cloud effect comes from using my wide angle lens… and maybe I get lucky with good clouds too!
Sweet… my only question on the clouds is how you do these shots without getting ghosting from the clouds moving. When I do hdr’s I always run into this problem.
Thanks,
Joe
With fast moving clouds, that can be a problem. I talk a little in that tutorial how to handle ghosting with people – it is similar with clouds.
Another good tip is to use a low fstop. For landscapes, the DOF is usually fine… the low fstop will have quick shutter speeds, minimizing cloud movement.
Wow. This is incredible! I am new to photography and I’m very slow when it comes to technology, so about 60% of all this blows right over my head, but WOW! I’m geeking out right now. This is about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Nice work!
Hey Trey,
I was so inspired by your work that I bought Photomatix yesterday and started messing around with it immediately. Check out my latest entry in the Peterman’s Eye contest, under CKG, to see my first attempt.
Thanks for the tutorial and inspiration> I’ve got a long way to go (and a lot of money to save before buying LucisArt), but it’s fun getting started.
Keep up the good work.
[...] muß ja alles mitmachen! In der Digitalfotografie sind zur Zeit sogenannte HDR (high dynamc range) Fotos angesagt. Man fotografiert ein Objekt drei- bis fünfmal hintereinander mit unterschiedlicher [...]
If you don’t mind me asking…
My very limited experience with HDR shows that moving items poses a challenge to taking the handful of shots to merge.. but yet I see you pulling it off with portraiture and animals…
I think I’m gonna start poking around your tutorials now.
Unbelievable.
These images are stunning — thanks for sharing, and for spreading the word. I have a question though: What kind of printing do you do for these images? It seems obvious that looking at them on a monitor (I would think any monitor) isn’t going to give you the full effect (which makes editing them hard), but as I understand it, most printers even ones at print shops are 8 bit 4 color, 5 at best. I would think you would need an extreme level of color resolution and print accuracy to see what’s really in the data. Yes, no, maybe so?
Mike
I’d never heard of HDR imaging until the day I saw a woman shooting pictures with a camera that takes bracketed photos. She explained it to me and that night I went online and googled HDRI and found your site. Since I’ve have been creating HDR images and pseudo HDR image for many years without knowing anything about that area of photography, I was glad to finally learn that there was a name for what I was doing. Seeing this amazing site gave me the motivation to create one of my own. So I gathered all my HDR and HDR-like images (about 60)and put them into an album within my massive Photobucket.com gallery (arnash). It’s url is http://photobucket.com/hdr_imaging
Then I went a step further and created a Wetpaint.com website to showcase them along with explanations of what HDRI is and how I created individual images. It’s url is: http://hdri.wetpaint.com I’d like to invite all who are lovers of HDR images to see what I created over the last 7 years as I’ve sought to capture many of the amazing natural wonders found in California’s northern-most coastal county (Land of the Giant Redwoods -think Moon Endor from The Empire Strikes Back) I hope that word will spread about HDR imaging and people will learn how to create HDR images so they can capture the many amazing sights that simple snap-shots can’t.
[...] restraint, but it’s kind of fun to just blast out like this. Check out Trey’s website, Stuck in Customs (that link takes you to his HDR tutorial, which has some nice samples of this type of thing) for [...]
Man you are so Good, keep up your work, I have become one of your fan and you have truly inspired me. All the best for your future.
Just got turned on to your blog from digital photoraphy school, and wow how inspired are your photographs! I am so exicited you share so much info on how you do your work, so inspiring! Thanks!
your newest blog stalker, Lisa
Trey,
Just caught the interview you did on Pro Photography Podcast, awesome job. What struck me most about the interview was the passion you have not only for creating these images but with sharing what you have earned with others. I listened to a few other podcasts where the focus of the discussion revolved around defending HDR as a legitimate form of photography. It was refreshing to listen to someone for whom its not a question and likely not even a concern.
There is one aspect of HDR that I seldom hear about, actually two aspects but there related. In all the tutorials and podcast’s I’ve seen on HDR little if any reference is made to applying HDR to B&W or to applying HDR to interior photography. It’s easy to understand how dramatic and colorful landscapes can show off what HDR has to offer but it leaves me wondering if some aspects of HDR are being left in the dark (OK bad pun).
It could be argued that B&W is more dependent on a wide range light and tone then is so in color. This would seem to imply that B&W HDR could in some respects lead to even more dramatic shots then color.
HDR would also seem to offer some significant advantages for interior architectural photography although in this case the advantage would seem to be more technical then artistic. I’ve seen HDR used to great effect in capturing the dark corner of a room without blowing out light coming through the windows. Yet for all the advantages it offers interior HDR does not seem to get much attention.
Bias, conspiracy, or am I just off on a tangent?
THanks all!
Yes – HDR is great for architecture and for B&W. You might notice some of my cambodia shots are really HDR B&W with a sepia feel.
Hi,
Just want to know how you get multiple shots of moving objects such as the camel above for your various exposures without getting ghosting?
Dulal – I talk about that step there in the HDR tutorial
hi, thank you so much for sharing this amazing style /format /ethos.
The shot with the fireworks going off, the road sunset, and the blue mountains are my favourites, though the camel shot is right up there.
they are so beautiful , I totally understand where your coming from with the emotion/feeling link to imagery. sometimes the camera can’t come close to the depth that you felt when you took the shot, but with HDR we can seek to bring baxck the emotion/
Superb.. i am almost brought to tears.
Hi Trey!
I absolutely love your photography; the camel one above never fails to make me laugh!
Once I found your site, I decided to try a little with HDR. I think I’m rapidly improving, but there’s one thing I was curious about. Your clouds all seem so beautiful. Unless I capture a sunset, sometimes my skies and clouds fail to look as nice as the rest of the picture. How do I keep my white fluffs from turning to that nasty gray?
Kate – thanks! I have a step for that in my HDR Tutorial here on the site… it involves remixing with the orig Raw. See the HDR Tutorial link there on the right? Try that one out!
I have a question. How you can make HDR of people? What I understad is that to do a HDR you need at leas to shots. Am I right? so, how can I get HDR of people who is moving all the time?
thanx
p.d. great picts
I would not HDR people… maybe the background or the clothes a bit… HDR people always look a bit strange.
Blown away by your pictures. They are just amazing!!
Got here by chance and have spent a most enjoyable half hour, gasping and exclaiming.
Wow!
Hi,
I love your site and you have given me much more to think about than just bracking and pressing the button.
In a few weeks I am hoping to walk all the way to Mount Everest Base Camp. Do you have and hint, tips, or just thing I should be aware of for photography at high altitude or when taking pictures of mountains in general?
One thing I can never understand is how to you get so sharp an HDR image from scene that is constanly moving. I followed your tutorial on the NY Time SQ scene and I understand the idea of using the original image to remove ghosting, but is this the only method? Do you do this alot?
Any insights would be great.
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Have a good time in Everest.. I suggest just taking a good camera that will be hardy in that weather and wind.
That’s the best method – I have others but too long to write about here – sorry bsy here mate
which version of photoshop do you recommend?
I think the Basic version is just fine… in Fact you can probably get CS3 pretty cheap nowadays!
i like your stuff.
I live in Austin and am taking more and more HDR shots around town.
I also spent a ton of time in Argentina – as, apparently, did You.
Anyway, Nice work!
really great pictures here. You’ve just inspired me to try making hdr photos. But i have a question. Will the sony cybershot DSC-T77 do?
Hey Trey
im a huge fan of your work! I have never been able to do well with landscapes at all.. But I find shooting people my main love and I do them in HDR only.. if you get a chance please check out my work and let me know what you think
and congrats on your new book i plan on buying one
Robert
I love your work. Your pictures are mesmerizing. Thanks for all the great tips. I’m just getting into photography and HDR. There’s a lot that I need to learn. I’m thinking about getting a wide angle lens. What do you think about Tamron lenses? I’m thinking about getting Tamron 10-24 lens.
Thanks!!!
I absolutely LOVE your photo’s! Based mainly from info from your site I have downloaded the demo model of photomatix and started playing with varying success. Before I buy all the software I want to have a little more confidence in my ability to work through the processing. One question (if you know): I have an old version of Photoshop (6.0). Is it possible to use your masking techniques with the version?
One other question (if I may). I read your opinion on the wide angle zoom with interest. Your 14-24 sounds (and looks from your results) to be an awesome piece of glass. Any recommendations for those of us shooting with smaller sensor camera?
[...] HDR PhotographyI like HDR when it’s not overly ridiculous and distracting. Some of this stuff crosses that line but not all of it. I’d like to learn more about it. [...]
I like the HDR photos and am wanting to learn how to do them. I would like to know your recomendation on a monitor. I am thinking about getting Photomatix and I already have Adobe C3.
Hi Trey – love your work and find it a real inspiration. I’ve been playing around with Photomatix to try and achieve ‘the look’, often with limted success, but wondered if you had any experience of HDR Photostudio which seems an interesting product ?
This is superb! What can I say more?
Will it work with Photoshop Elements 5.0?
Thanks!
Yes – you can do this sort of thing with Elements – all that is required is layers — you can still follow my http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial
[...] FocalPoint is on my short list of favorite Photoshop plugins, is one sale at OnOne software website until April 30, 2010. The price is down to $100. You can read my review of the software by clicking here. A great resource for learning HDR photography is photographer Trey Ratcliff’s website. [...]
Great collection, and I’ve seen them all!
My goal for 2010 is to have at least 50 great images and back links to StuckinCustoms.com from my blog (VictusSpiritus.com). I think I’m close already
This is great and amazing, as always !
Your photos always let me speechless.
They seem so unreal that they take you to a whole new world and at the same time offer a completely different way to look at the planet we’re living in…
A million thanks for sharing.
[...] High Dynamic Range (niveau débutant première fois) [...]
A lot of great inspiration! Thanks for this post!
[...] HDR Photography – All about HDR – If you aren’t interested in learning about creating HDR photos, at least go check out the gorgeous pictures. [...]