Wednesday April 6, 2011

HDR

A Primer on HDR Photography

There is so much to the new sport of HDR Photography! It’s a new a fun way to take photos and capture the world around you. This page will answer some of the basic questions and tendrils will drift off to other areas of the site that may interest you.

Farewell India - The Taj MahalI had a great time in India! I am very thankful to my various hosts for showing me such a good time. Besides a weekend trip to the Taj Mahal, I was also treated to a full immersion into Bollywood here in Mumbai, the center of the movie world here in India. It started with a 3-hour viewing of Om Shanti Om, complete with a pre-show standing for the Indian national anthem. Afterwards, we ate dinner at Olive's, which is a trendy place where many of the Bollywood stars go to see and be seen by the Page 3 newspapers. My host was leaning over to me telling me who was the sister-in-law of whom and which directors were entering while escorting which starlets. from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

A sample HDR Image of the Taj Mahal in India.  Many more samples below…

How to Make HDR Photos

Creating HDR photos is something anyone can do. Even you! I’ve taught thousands of people and I’m sure I can teach you too.

The best place to go is the free HDR Tutorial here on StuckInCustoms.com that describes the step by step process. If you’d like to get in deeper, I also have a bunch of videos available for download at the HDR Video Tutorial link.

What’s 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.

And yes, you can make an HDR out of a single photo as well. That is described in the HDR Tutorial here.

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! :)

HDR and Photoshop

Many people ask, “Why not just use HDR Photoshop?”  I don’t advise just using Photoshop, and I have a little article at that link that talks about it.

What is your philosophy behind art and photography?

…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“.

eBooks on HDR Photography

I’ve also penned a series of books on photography. You can find those over at my sister site at FlatBooks.com.

Some HDR Photos

Here are a few photos I’ve created… I make a new one every day here on the site, so you are welcome to come back regularly.

The Bamboo ForestToday's daily photo was taken while exploring the wilds outside of Kyoto a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful place! The walk took me into this giant bamboo forest. After strolling through it for a short eternity, I set up for shot. This is a standard 5-exposure HDR; it was shot with a 14-24mm lens. For those of you new to the site, you can find out more about my process in the HDR Tutorial.

Sunset in IbizaIbiza is a fabulous island off the coast of Spain that is the "in" destination for all the Euros that like to get trashed, party, dress in white, do medium-level-drugs, and stay on the beach without many clothes.I saw this girl bouncing around and very happy about something, so I went over and said hello, introducing myself. She didn't speak much English, but I managed to ask her if I could take a photo of her. She enthusiastically said yes, and I explained the sitch as we walked over to the water, mostly using interpretive dance to span the language gap. She was Italian and her name was Wendy. I think that is a strange name for an Italian, but I didn't question it. Anyway, I asked her just to walk off into the ocean and I would take a photo. She did just that, and I grabbed this shot just as the sun was dipping below the horizon.The rest of this entry resides here at stuckincustoms.com.

Fourth on Lake AustinAs for the process, it was a tough night because I was on the edge of a bridge that was rumbling as cars went across. The evening was very windy, and there was a light driving rain right into my lens. I had to wipe down the lens after every few exposures and try to cup my hands over the top during the shot.from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

The Chinese MothershipLook at this magical place in Beijing... it's on the edge of belief.I could hardly fathom the nature of this place. I expected the lights to appear on the grid with melodic tones a mystical, alien language, like in Close Encounters. But none of that happened... So I just stood there for a long time, thinking about how incredible this place was... and took my time, setting up my system for a fitting photograph.Remember when we were kids, and we never finished our food, even under the threat of starving children in China? Now, I say to my kids, you better eat your food, or else Chinese children will grow up and create an economic powerhouse. Well too late for that!This is the amazing National Centre for the Performing Arts, or as I like to say, the 国家大剧院 -- I find that rolls of the tongue a bit easier.from the blog www.stuckincustoms.com

HDR Photo

HDR Photo

The Open RoadIf you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks!I had a long lonely weekend in Iceland, so I took my rental Jeep out into the wild. I drove all over the country from dawn till dusk seeing what I could find. The sky and landscape was an ever changing palette of colors and clouds.The sun is so low on the horizon during the winter that it is almost like a 5-hour sunrise followed by a 5-hour sunset. I drove up and down one of these highways to the next, listening to all kinds of strange and eclectic music on my iPod, occasionally jumping out to take a shot of something like this... it was a perfect weekend.In the distance, you can see the snowy mountains which always seem to be just a few songs away.from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

The Bay at PortofinoThis isn’t really Portofino, but it sure does look like it, eh? We might even make the case that it is more pretty than the real Portofino! This is a beautiful resort in Orlando, over at Universal Studios.Google Buzz is great for photography and friends!Follow me on Google Buzz here. And, if you are a Photographer, come add a sample photo to this Buzz Thread - so that people can follow you too if they like what they see! For the first photo I released on Buzz, I decided to add a brand new unpublished work of boats at sunset at the Portofino Hotel.Here is why Google Buzz is great for photography and conversation and friends: The photos go Full Screen and can be viewed in their proper glory I get to see people's photos as soon as they go up and scroll through them in a nice lightbox It's very simple and built right into the GMail interface Conversations are real-time and it has all the "fun" of a chat room without the pressureWhat do you think about Google Buzz?Book Giveaway on Abudzeedo!The editors over at Abduzeedo (who, by the way, attended my talk at the Google HQ) launched a book contest to give away a free copy of "A World in HDR". Even before I mentioned it, there are already over 300 entries, so pop over there and leave a quick comment to enter. Easy and fast!from Trey Ratcliff at www.stuckincustoms.com

The Secret Passageway to the TreasureAfter the crowds of Angkor Wat, it was nice to go find a remote temple in the jungle and be alone. This temple laid under the jungle, completely undiscovered for centuries. The hallway and mysterious chambers seemed to go on forever.from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

A Sunset on a Texas FarmAs for this photo, it was shot about two hours outside of Austin in a little town called Brady. You'd like it. They have a Sonic there. This was a 5-exposure HDR shot at f/16. This kept everything in focus and kept the shutter open long enough to let the clouds drag across the sensor. In these conditions, you don’t have a lot of time to fool around because the sun is bookin’ it towards the horizon.

Sleeping InDriving from Reykjavik to Isafjordur is just about one of the longest possible drives you can make in Iceland in a day if you have a reasonable level of sanity. There comes a point when you feel like you're getting close, when you start weaving in and out of fjords. They are huge and each one seems to take over half an hour to drive around. (here is part of my driving path)In the midst of one of these, I espied an old house up the side of one of the valleys. It was partially obscured by a hand-built stone wall. I stopped the car and started hiking up the side of the valley to investigate. Once I got up there, I began to think that maybe this place was actually occupied! There were new lace curtains hanging in the windows and everything seemed to be in pretty good repair. So then, I felt like I was intruding, and not just exploring an old ruin. But, it was 3 AM in the morning, and I figured if anyone was indeed inside, they must be fast asleep. So I set up for a shot and then made a hasty elf-like egress.- Trey RatcliffRead more here at the Stuck in Customs blog.

A Neo-Rockwellian ChristmasIf you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks!When dad is a photographer, then there is a major degree of pressure to deliver photos on all the requisite holidays and celebrations! So, I decided to try to re-invent the family Christmas photo with HDR. Please note that many of my inventions go down in flames, but, as Winston Churchill said, “success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm”.Christmas scenes have a lot of light levels. The lights on the tree, the deep greens withn the branches, a roaring fire, lights in the room, reflections off the ornaments, and the like. It’s wild! I’m pretty sure this is why people like Christmas scenes so much - a wonderful treat for the eyes that is rich in texture and rich in light. Traditionally, it’s been very difficult to capture so much richness in a single photo, saving a lucky and heroic combination of shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and lenses.The tree lights made the faces of my three stunt-children (who are also my real children) glow perfectly. No flash could have achieved this, unless you are the kind of Rambo-flash guy that would go bury one inside the tree to hit their faces from the left. But, let’s face it. That’s hard.This was a 5-exposure HDR. You will notice that I often use 5 exposures, but note I could have done it with 3 exposures at -2, 0, and +2. Some silly Nikon cameras, like the D3X I use, will not let you step by twos, so I had to take 5 at -2, -1, 0, +1, and +2. The middle exposure, from which the kid’s faces were masked in and perfectly lit, was shot at f/4 aperture, shutter speed of 1/250, 100 ISO, and at 28mm.From the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

HDR Photo

Daily Photo - Central Park in the FallI had spent the afternoon alone while traveling (as usual, it seems) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the middle of New York City. It sits on the Eastern edge of Central Park. It was a little cold outside, but I decided to walk across the park anyway, just as the sun was setting. As I moved through the trees, I found this little place and thought it would be fun to share.HyperMac ReviewI have a new HyperMac Review here on the site! It's an amazing device, and even if you are not a photographer, you will probably find a reason you need one!Basically, it is an external battery that you can use to power up your Mac laptop and your iPhone. I keep running into situations where I am running out of battery power on my iPhone and/or computer, and I just am not near a power outlet.I bought mine from the Hypershop just recently, and I could not be happier! Maybe the worst thing is that all my friends are always using it to charge up their iPhones too... It's like I'm the guy at the party that brought the beer!New Version of Woopra OutYou guys probably know how much I love Woopra... I did a little Woopra Video Review here on the site several months ago. The product is even better now... and you can get the basic version for free. If you want all the cool features, you can upgrade, but that's up to you! Anyway, I continue to make it part of my web-life... and I am lucky enough to be friends with the clever guy behind it. But, I'd use this thing even if I didn't know the guy... !!from the blog www.stuckincustoms.com

An Icelandic Horse in the WildIf you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks! I consider myself very lucky to have a network of great photographers around the world. I met most of them through Flickr, where we are constantly commenting and giving feedback on one another's photos. This has enabled me to meet up with great photographers wherever I travel, and they are great people to hang out with because they already know the prettiest places around where they live! One of the people I was lucky to shoot with was Rebekka in Iceland. We met at a coffee shop in Reykjavik and talked about where to go shoot. We jumped in her car and drove a while until we reached a fjord. Nearby were these horses running around like wild beasts. They have no fear of humans, and we were able to go right up to them. Their hair is very long, and I'm sure it evolved from the hyper-cold whipping winds around the edges of the sea. I don't shoot a lot of animals, because I find it hard to improve upon what other great animal photographers have done in the past. However, here is a tip for shooting animals. It's kind of a lame trick, but it always works. Use a wide-angle lens and get in close. It always makes the head look really big and cute. Humans love big-headed animals and it always makes them smile. Why this is, I have no idea... Note this trick also kinda works with babies.Seriously, thanks to Rebekka for a great day tooling around the fjords of Iceland.Oh, and yes.... I have pictures of Rebekka coming up at some point wearing her green-thing ... nothing too salacious for public consumption, I assure you... but in more of a "photographer in her milieu" milieu. from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

HDR Photo

About Me
  • http://mattphotoshop.blogspot.com Matt

    Trey,

    How is it that you can had HDR shots with moving people and animals in it? Are you using different layers for them? I’ve started using pretty much everything you say on here. Frankly, I am nothing short of amazed by your work. I love it- I look at it every day. You have taught me so much with your tutorials and have really helped me to make a lot of money with my own photography. Thanks so much for that. The gift of knowledge is priceless…and it is free. You are awesome man.

  • http://www.stuckincustoms.com Stuck In Customs

    Matt – I talk a bit about that in the HDR tutorial. There is a final step that helps you mask in one of the original RAWs.

  • http://mattphotoshop.blogspot.com/ Matt

    Trey,

    Thanks man- I’ll look into that. So, would your reccomend that if I am shooting HDR that I do it in RAW? So far I haven’t been.

    Also, would knowing that I shoot HDR and travel photography like you do- would you reccomend the D300 or the D3? I’ve read a lot of reviews on it, but truthfully, your opinion would mean the most to me.

    Ps…you are my hero. Thanks for making so many great tutorials. I have purchased many of the lenses and software that you ahve reviewed. You have given me the tools to become a far better photographer. Thanks man.

  • http://www.stuckincustoms.com Stuck In Customs

    hehe thx…

    I suggest shooting in RAW yes

    Also – I have a My SLR Camera recommendations over there on the right – see it? That has some good suggestions.

  • http://mattphotoshop.blogspot.com/ Matt

    Awesome. Also, I reread the HDR tutorial, and you already answered that question about shooting in Raw. So- my REAL question is this: what will it take for me to be invited to shadow you on your next global excursion? FYI- I am COMPLETELY serious. I travel as much as possible, and would love nothing more than to tag along with a master. I’ll even voluteer to carry your stuff. Hahah.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/weeebo Wibo

    Have just read your HDR-tutorial. Best one I found till now. Gonna work at my HDR-techniques in the coming weeks again, because I really got exited again now haha.

    I created only one HDR-picture which I’m content with. Still not really good, but it’s ok hehe. http://www.flickr.com/photos/weeebo/2825903184/

    Anyway, with your site I have another website that I should follow :P

    Greetz, Wibo

    Groningen, Netherlands.
    Student photography.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Trey-Ratcliff/502475833 Trey Ratcliff

    Hehe thanks all – appreciate the feedback :)

    Matt – a very nice offer there to carry my stuff – haha

  • http://www.canoncompact.com Manop

    HDR is one of the most important factors to consider when buying the DSLR cmaera. Thanks for clearly explain it!

    PS. You have really nice photos.

  • Mary

    I am a former Disney World castmember, and now frequent WDW vacationer. My favorite thing to do there (right after—possibly even with riding the attractions) is taking pictures.

    I stumbled onto your Disney pictures tonight and I was moved beyond words! The intensity of the emotions that came over me was overwhelming. You really did capture the essence of how my mind’s eye sees the parks.

    WOW!! Thank you for sharing your amazing works.

  • http://www.stuckincustoms.com Stuck In Customs

    Thanks! Mary that is very nice of you :)

  • Carl Bostek

    Matt,

    I’d never heard of HDR until this morning when reading an update on Ken Rockwell’s site. I followed his link to your page and was blown away by your pix.

    I’m looking forward to reading everything on your site and studying your tutorial. I might even break down and buy PS if I can’t do anything with Elements or Graphic Convertor. Guess I’d better start reading!

    Thanks for the great pix and all the info.

    Cheers,

    Carl

  • http://www.stuckincustoms.com Stuck In Customs

    Carl,

    Cool! Welcome to the site – happy to have you :)

  • http://medinacolon.awardspace.com/foto/ zerokilled

    very stunning pictures! i like them! i has heard before of HDR but never tried them. will try your tutorials, thanks for sharing!

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  • http://www.lightpourerstudios.com/ Lightpourer

    Beautiful work, sir. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Many, many thanks for all the cool wallpaper!
    Steve.

  • lp

    simply incredible. i’ve always been somewhat wary (read: lazy) of image processing, but since discovering the possibilities of HDR and what it can do, i can’t imagine not touching up my photos! thanks for sharing all of your insight and techniques!

  • http://pristyutils.freehost386.com/ filip007

    I just use http://www.pixlr.com/editor/

    with 30% brightness + 30% contrast + Vignette filter and job done in 2s.
    Ok my it’s not true HDR but it’s very close to that.

    http://bit.ly/vW8XA

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Yolanda-Romeo/713303650 Yolanda Romeo

    Wow your HDR images are awesome, love them!! I have done some HDR work and now will go check out your tutorials and maybe pick up some tips :-)

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  • http://link Boy17

    But these were lies from a memeber of a terrorist group. ,

  • http://www.jonaslee.com Jonas

    @filip007: While the http://www.pixlr.com/editor/ Pixlr online editor is a delightful tool (and recommended), and while your 2s technique might give generally useful results, it has absolutely nothing to do with the motivations behind HDR.

    To be sure, generally “increasing contrast” in a photo will actually blow out color information and generate over/under-exposed areas, which is precisely the opposite of the HDR motivation. HDR may have contrast in hues, but it tends to have LESS contrast in light levels– kinda “flat” in that regard.

    Similarly, increasing brightness can also cause loss of information in areas of your photo that are already bright– another affront to the concept of HDR.

    The vignetting filter has absolutely nothing to do with HDR. [And again, can work against it by removing color information around the edges of your photo.]

    Kind regards,
    Jonas

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  • filip007

    Like i said it’s amateur approach but still good enough for wallpapers.

    http://files.myopera.com/Filip007/files/edo-ferrari-enzo-HDR.png

  • Deanna

    bellisimo!

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  • Graham Anderson

    Isn’t the best way to describe this to say that the eye rapidly adapts its aperture so that it can distinguish ratios of intensities over more orders of magnitude than a CCD can?

    Also, you imply that the goal of HDR is to make photos appear more like humans perceive reality, but many of the photos on this page look fake. A viewer spends more time considering the process of creating the photo than the subject matter. What is the actual goal of your photography?

  • Brenda

    Your work is brilliant! Cannot wait to get started on the tutorials!

  • http://www.sizersthings.com tommysize1

    i was on that portalarium website on the ‘About’ page.
    are all those photo’s from austin texas?
    looks crazy.

  • dingo8mybaby

    Trey~Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and the breathtaking pics. Truly, visual nutrition! But I was just wondering do you ever post, say a HDR photo next to the same non-hdr one? Or have a gallery of non-hdr photos? The reason I ask is that I feel like the odd man and a weirdo feeling this way but while initially a hdr photo pops out at me and is stunning if I look at too many of them or stare at one too long, I always get this fakish, Thomas Kincaidish type of feeling come over me. Would just be neat to study and see one of your photos unprocessed versus processed. Again, just flat out awesome work. Thanks.

  • dingo8mybaby

    @Graham Anderson ~Not to defend Trey, but I was amused at your post. No offense, but I’ll go out on a limb and say the goal of 99.9% of ALL photographers is too take visually stunning, memorable, emotional photographs of brief moments in time, the best they know how. (And hey, maybe make a little coin in the process.) Dissertations and philosophies aside, I’d say Mr. Ratcliff does that in spades. Just my $.02

  • dingo8mybaby

    duh, nevermind. I just saw your tutorial. my bad.

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  • Jodi Birston

    Holy Mother of God! I stumbled across this on my lunch hour and I am completely MESMORIZED!! You are my photographic Pied Piper! I am just getting my feet wet again after years of putting my camera down. I knew what style of photographs I wanted to produce but the means to get there were as clear a mud. Until this….UNTIL YOU!!! I will keep you posted on my progress. I am so excited that I will likely not sleep tonight!

  • Janice Champagne

    Totally awesome pictures- Love them all

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  • http://photoexpose.blogspot.com/ Evan

    These photos are stunning. I will have to look through your tutorial to figure out what I am doing wrong, hahaha.

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  • http://mostromantichoneymoondestinations.blogspot.com Jeremiah Urzua

    Mate, I think your travel article give ideas for preparation of our further vacation. Thanks.

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  • http://www.nuwomb.com Scott Webb | HDR Photographer

    I must say you have the most iconic HDR photographs around the internet. I’m continually inspired and motivated by the work that you produce. Keep pushing boundaries and I look forward to the iPad app!

  • http://www.stuckincustoms.com Trey Ratcliff

    Thanks man – you rock – I appreciate it!

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  • http://enthusiastphotographer.com Lee H.

    Trey:

    Just wanted to let you know I used some of your images in my blog about HDR. I appreciate your open use of your work for non-commercial purposes, which definitely describes me! Thanks for being such an inspiration to so many photographers!

    http://enthusiastphotographer.com/2011/11/09/hdr/

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