Hey Trey, love the new stuff to the site. Just saw a typo for ya. Under your suggestion for the D3x, “his is my camera…”

Keep up the awesome work! I check your site every day and I’m constantly motivated to push myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

Hi, Amazing stuff. kindly let me know how can i use this technology for shooting weddings.kindly see my web gallery and plz let me know ur reviews.
thanks
Raja jain

Equipment is great, but you have to know how to use it and know what you are doing. I mean I could certainly get better photos with a nice DSLR, but YOU could get amazing photos with my Sony DSC-H50. I’m still learning and trying to remember what an f-stop is. 😉 Then I can justify the DSLR. (Hard to tell my wife I want to spend that money on a camera when we have other things that need the money, like kids, pets, needing to eat, etc. haha

I’ve tried HDR a little, but haven’t had much luck with just Photoshop. I have also done some fun fake HDR’s with loading the jpg into camera raw. It is fun and cool, takes a photo from just a photo to a photo with emotion.

LOVE your photos! They are really fantastic! Thanks for your tutorials and the photos – and for putting the really big size on Flickr! They make great wallpapers for my computers. 🙂

Hey there, Trey! Like Chip, I’d love to hear more about how you actually travel with your gear, and what you generally pack in your camera bag and how/what you carry around on-site once you hit the photo destination. I seem to recall seeing a picture on some website from an interview I think you did where you had a picture of the Kata backpack you carried (still using the same one?) and wondered if you actually carried the 70-200 in there routinely, or if you preferred to leave it at home because of the weight. Reason I ask is that I find myself traveling a fair bit as well and, almost always, find myself leaving that lens at home because of the extra weight. Instead, I end up carrying (these days) the Nikkor 14-24 2.8 (love this lens), the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 and a Tamron 90mm just in case I want to shoot close-up or want a bit more reach than the 24-70 gives me, though not by much. That said, I sometimes find myself taking the 70-200 in my Kata backpack (the sweet R-103 GDC) and then, if I do not anticipate needing it for the day, leaving it in my hotel room (like I did on a recent trip to Germany). Tripod wise, I have been traveling with a Gitzo Traveler (love it, ’cause it’s rock solid, small and super light weight) and using a RRS BH 40 ballhead (super sweet gear). Tripod mounts very nicely on the R-103 (just gotta watch myself when turning around in tight spaces with it on my back, lest I whack some unsuspecting potential photo subject in the forehead).

Another thing, my friend. I think a sweet, comfy workspace is super inportant, and I wondered if you would mind posting a shot of your current set up. Again, I recall seeing a long time ago a shot of what I think was yours on that same interview I mentioned above. It was a white wooden desk, white wooden chair, a mac, etc. I could never find that link again, but recalled I really liked the desk setup because it had plenty of room for the computer, a printer, a wacom tablet, etc. and was still uncluttered. I think it was L-shaped. I have been scouring the net for good workstations because I plan to have one custom made here in Indonesia before I leave so I can take it with me.

Love all the changes to your website and all the great tutorials, tips and inspiration you put out!

Warmest Regards from Java;
Jacques

Can you talk about which filters you reccommend or use?

Thanks,
PJ

Hey there, Trey. Came across your site few weeks back and was an instant fan. Taking photos is one thing I like to do and one that I’d like to pursue at least as a committed hobby, if not professionally.

Saw some of the equipments you use and while I can’t afford any of them as of yet, and since I’m not doing it professionally, I bought myself a very beginner’s digital camera, if you must, which isn’t the SLR type (Nikon S16). But I thought it be a good place to start with, getting basic practices on picture compositions and what-nots.

Just to let you know that your work have become an inspiration…=D

The name of Nikons lenses is not nikon as you write in your posts, but it is “Nikkor”, maybe you should correct this so that it will be more easy to find them?

As a PC guy who has often contemplated the move to Mac, I’d love to know more about your recommendations of an appropriate Mac setup for Photoshop work. Appreciate it!

I have just a simple point and shoot digital and am beginning the process of researching for a ‘good’ camera …. I see you go with Nikon. My father has a portrait and wide lens (no idea the technical names) from the 70s … i’m wondering if those lenses will fit on the new nikon digital cameras?

Also, I’m wondering why you prefer Nikon over Canon …

I know you’re busy but even a totally brief answer to these questions would be so helpful as I begin my journey into better photography. =)

Hello Trey, thanks for such good information. Like some of the other readers have mentioned I too would be very interested in how you travel with your gear…. bags / rucksacks etc

From my experience very few bags house a large pro camera like the D3X properly sould very keen to hear what you use???

Regards
David
Scotland UK

What, no mention of filters? I’m curious as to what filters you prefer, the brands, and why you chose those particular models.

Trey I’d almost wanna say that a D90 is entry, and a D300 is mid. Almost for the bracketing features alone. IMO…..guess that’s what it always comes down too. Although if anyone is considering a D300 best to just wait till the upgrade hits. Shouldn’t be too much longer. At this point a D90 is practically a D300 with out the tougher casing and such. Noise levels and sensor is the same size so yea. Maybe my rambling just ran me in a circle lol.

question: got a D60 i know it doesn’t have autobraketing…
but u think it’s possible to make an HDR as well by using a tripod and changing the shutter speed manually for each picture???
THX…!

Yes I saw your HDR tutorial, it was great, and even though I feel my photos are improving, it is always a great reference to have, so thanks again for writing it! Signed up for the newsletter too :O)

I have a lot of bags… I will review some in the future I think! But, my best advice is just to go to your local camera store and try a lot on!

Uggh. Martin, I’m with you. I was all set to get the D90, now this D5000 is popping up here and there. Trey, I noticed you changed your recommendation from the D90 to the D5000….any insight as to why? Anyone else have any input? Thanks so much!!

Hello, your HDR works are so inspirational!!!
I have one question. In your HDR images which contain moving subject like people and animals, are you done it with done single RAW shot? If taken in Auto Exposure Bracketing mode, for example if I take 3 different exposures for people walking in city, I will definitely end up with “ghost” problem. Yes, the cleaning can be done in Photoshop, and I did but it always look unreal. But yours, just perfectly align and seamless photo realistic! Please, any advice? Thanks in advance!

Hi there Trey, just recently started to take HDR shots and your site has been super useful – thanks for all of the great tips and pics.

I have one quick question. When watching your Walk Around with Trey video it looked like you cable release clicks/fits onto your flash mount. Can I ask what type of cable release you use that has this ability as its a useful way to transport it around the place.

Thanks again!

Greetings,
I have been researching HDR photography for a while now and, without a doubt, your images are head and shoulders above any others that I have seen. They are truly in a class by themselves. I will strive and hope to one day achieve your level of excellence.
Sincerely,
Kim Eakin

Trey, I worked in commercial photography for 7 years awhile back and used lots of different tripods while assisting other photographers. Some were slightly better than others (at least in that league of equipment) and I remember using a Gitzo perhaps once and how smooth the leg slid and clamps worked. The real test of a tripod in the end was how well it did its job given the conditions in which it was used.

I agree that entry-level tripod you had was something you needed to trade up from but to pay over $700 for just the legs is way too much for the masses out there while having our fun with HDR. I would suggest you throw in there something mid-level so the step up is not so obscene! Around the $300 price point perhaps? People could well put the remainder in better lenses or a body upgrade (not the surgical kind, at least for that price!).

I have seen many, many people who were photo equipment ‘investors’ thinking that better and more expensive equipment will make them better photographers. (Don’t fear, I’m not counting you as one as you’ll see). These people swallow camera advertising hook, line and sinker. Only the newest and most expensive equipment will do and you can spot them in the office by how much more time they spend talking with each other about their equipment and all the functions included (they’ll never use) than the time they take shooting photos with it. (I mean, you use it a LOT!)

I always felt that everyone should view photographic prints, in person, produced by the greats such as Avedon, Adams and so many others who did so over 50 years ago. When you see the quality and beautiful imagery of those prints and contemplate the technology they used to achieve it, you realize that our magical mega-pixel digital machines are so far beyond what they could have imagined. Its all the proof you need to bust the myth that better equipment makes you a better photographer.

Practice, practice, practice is the only road to improvement for my money.

Thank you for the inspiration… GREAT JOB!!!

How AWSOME are you pics??? I mean… they are REALLY cool 🙂

Have been reading your tutorial all afternoon… whilst i should have been working really… but thats no problem!

Am gonna head home and get my camera straight out and try to master this awsome trick…

Thank you sooooo much.

Safe travels!

Kelvin

I found your blog about a week or so before Christmas and it helped me pick software and a camera. I was on a budget so I got the new Canon Powershot G11, rather than the Nikon D40, because it has autobracketing and shoots RAW and jpegs. I also picked up Photomatix Pro and am using it along with Photoshop CS4 and the still-image version of Magic Bullet Looks 1.2 (video color grading software). I’m really happy with my choices and am enjoying getting back into still photography again. The G11 makes it so easy to fire off 3 bracketed shots, and I can’t wait to get home and “cook up” an HDR! I’m going to check out your book also. I’d love to have a hard copy of those amazing images!

This blog I find really interesting and will let others know about this

Hi Trey,
Have you ever done any lightening strike shots? If you have, have you ever heard of or used a lightening trigger? What is your opinion? Are they worth the $300?

Thanks for being a great source of inspiration for us all..

Michael..

Trey,
I’m just getting into photography and wanted to know in what order I should purchase to the software? I just bought a macbook pro and a dslr camera. What programs are a must have and which ones can I purchase down the road? Love your work!
Thanks,
Jeff

Thanks everyone.

I’ve recently updated this page with new info, and it should be better organized!

Jeff – It’s best to see my hdr tutorial for software suggestions at http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial

Ciub – sorry I don;t know much about the olympus or sony cameras!

Hi Trey,

THanks for updating the recommendations page. I’m constantly agonising about which body and lens to get. I’m also interested in the 18-200mm lens. look forward to your review!

yep, new Nikon D90 user here to ! thanks for sharing your Nikon and HDR experiences !

Great article and beautiful work! For some reason, at least ever since you moved servers, all the links that follow the form http://www.stuckincustoms.com/links/… seem to go nowhere though. =[

Hey, just wanted to let you know that the link to Green Cube does not work 🙂

You might consider the Canon S90, which has the same (larger) sensor and many of the same features of the G11, but is way more pocketable (plus lower priced). It has auto-bracketing, full manual, and lots more.

Thank you for sharing your information and techniques. Fascinating.
It has made me think of new possibilites. You work is fantastic. I would like to say though, that I do not think all photos should be HDR. In some cases it makes the photo homogenous with the whole frame being so vivid. In some cases, I belive it is too unrealistic to have the whole scene at its “best” lighting or settings. Sometimes the magic of natural reality lighting is enough. I am so drawn to your Chrismas image…….It hits and emotional chord.
Thank you again for your work.
Sandra Cannon

The 8th photo while scrolling down India/Temple/people walking…how can you do that in HDR with the movement of the people?

What is your opinion of the Nikon D300s? I currently own a D200 and want to move on. Still trying to decide if a D300s is for me. Also, love the website and your images are fan-tas-tic!

Trey,
Another aspect of doing some HDR on the move….I typically use my Canon 5D Mark II for HDR, but when I am on a bike touring trip, I use the Canon G11 to cut down on the weight on my bike. I use the 11 ounce camera with a flexible Gorilla tripod. This sure beats the 25 to 30 extra pounds of camera and tripod which is not only heavy but really awkward to carry on a bike unless you have panniers. Less weight, better biking. I’m taking it in August on a Bicycling Adventures trip to the San Juan Islands for six days of island hopping on my bike. Thanks for all the great tips and information. Angi

I appreciate what folks are doing with HDR and I am experimenting with it myself but I believe there is currently a tendency to over do it. If your intent is to create a SyFy colored world of the imagined based on images you take then I guess then you’re painting with light more than representing something closer to the true image, space and time. I see colors that really do not exist – a lot of day glo kinds of colors – shades I just don’t see in real life. Am I wrong?

Any Canon DSLRs that you can recommend for HDR? 🙂

How about the new Nikon D3100? Good enough for HDR?

Hey Trey,

Thanks for the recommendations. My D200 went kaput and I’m thinking about getting a d300 however the d7000 just came out and although there’s a lot bugs with this release I’m thinking about it. For $500 savings it seems like I’m not going to miss any features on the d300 – You have any thoughts on this?

Thanks

Daryl

Excellent website and tutorials. I’ve had a nikon d80 that i bought over a year ago so i could just get into this hdr photography as it definitely is something that i would love to do and havent had a chance. But now after looking at your side its re-inspired me to give it another shot(no pun intended).
How do you think the D80 compares to the ones listed in your camera section?I have a couple of nikor lenses 200mm and 55mm.

@jehzlau – all of the current Canon DSLRs are fine for HDR. They do RAW and auto-bracketing and have fine image quality.

I purchased this tripod as a backpackable tripod, because I couldn’t afford a carbon-fiber model. That said, this tripod is great, considering the relatively low price. My setup can be rather heavy, with a Nikon D200 + 80-200 f/2.8 lens, but so far the tripod in conjunction with the midi-ball head, has been very sturdy.The great things about this tripod are the thumb clasps on the telescoping legs (rather than wingnuts), the leg warmers (great at 5am when it’s 30 degrees), and the well built and adjustable pivot points on the legs. I find the ability to have legs go totally horizontal is highly useful.

Might want to check out the Sony Alpha a33 and a55. These are small, DSLR cameras that Sony calls SLT since the mirror doesn’t move out of the light path. I have one and not only can they do bracketing but they will do respectable HDR images to jpg in camera.

Hey Trey/stuckincustoms followers,

Just wondering if anyone could help me decide between purchasing the Nikon 14-24 f2.4 lens that retails for 1,784 or some other lens that is similar. I have rented the 14-24 and really like the photos I have taken with it but given my salary $1,784 would make the next month or so a bit tight.

14mmview.tumblr.com is my site if you want to get the feel of my shooting style and subject matter, I just started posting there but I’ve gotten some of my personal favorites up.

Thanks for the suggestions.

You are so ridiculously good, I’m amazed by every photo on this page.

good publish, i clearly adore this site, keep on it.

Hey! Love your site and tutorials.

I’m considering getting a new camera. I currently have a d3000, and would like to stick with Nikon. I looked at the d7000, but that is a bit too much for me – What do you think about the d5100? It seems to be fairly similar.

Thanks!

Hi, I was looking at the specs for the Nikon D7000 and it can only do 3 bracketed shots instead of 5 or 7 like the D300. Have you found that to be a real disavantage with HDR or is there a real workaround? Thanks

very appreciate for Prambanan Temple on your Header:)
yes i want buy nikon D7000, but before that done i’ll pick D70 first coz the price more friendly for me, is that camera good enough to make HDR photography?
thank you!

Wow great introductory post to the HDR world! Does one of the example pictures come from Glacier Grey in Patagona, Chile?

Your photo’s are so beautiful!  I am very interested in finding an DSLR for myself and want to start doing photography, and your blog is very informative and helpful.  

hope you got your 7D it is great and i recomend add a little more and get 5Dmk2 as 7D price is high and still not full frame. 5Dmk2 much better as think to use the L glass. U will be more satisfied. A little saving will help you and it is worth buying the 5Dmk2. Good luck and i am canon user from the time i was 13 and it is almost 20 years i use canon. i have a 50D and used much more in the past and my next will be the the 5Dmk3 or the update of 5dmk2.

I love my recently acquired a 7D and am not sure I agree with Ashish.  If your set of lenses works for you with your rebel, then a move to a full frame camera (such as the 5dmk2) would mean that the lenses will all be 1.6x reduced in effective focal length (and any EF-S lenses you have won’t work at all).  Also the focusing and drive speed are better on the 7D.  The drive speed is useful for HDR as there is less room for movement between the shots.
The main advantage of the full sensor on the 5Dmk2 is the low light performance, but I think you’ll find the move from the Rebel to the 7D in that regard will be amazing anyway.

Then zoom out a bit (ctrl + scroll down), and hold ctrl when clicking on links.  This is standard net practice.  (I’m not using widescreen, but it fits fine.  I zoom into and out of images or I believe there is an extension for firefox that can autosize images for you.  These tools are there for those of us that prefer browsing our own way.)

I’d like to see how you use the intervalometer to automatically shoot the multiple images.  I have one on my backup (D7000) but I’ve been using the self-timer in conjunction with the bracketing setting instead.

I’m interested in your view of the tablet you’re using.  What’s great and not so great about it?  Tablet vs mouse for PS work.

any thoughts or experience with the Sony a77??? as an entry level DSLR

Gorgeous photos!!!

Fantastic images!!!!!!

What do you think about the Canon 60D? Is that a good camera for HDR?

I am a novice. Just need a great camera with the HDR, similar to what you’ve recommended. However, two of my friends have $700-900 Sony cameras that have editing/cropping in the camera, so that you can make the picture fit better and or crop it or zoom it as necessary.
Do have a recommendation for a mainly auto camera that does this?

Forgive my newbie question…. but what does it mean when a camera sensor can capture “up to 14 stops” versus another camera which can capture up to 6 stops? i’m not sure i know what a “stop” is… Also, if a camera can capture more stops than usual, does it give the same results as an HDR photo? or does the # of stops not matter, regardless whether its an HDR photo or not?

It’s just as they say – better in low light for sure, but otherwise less megapixels than the A7r.

What do you think about the Canon 60D? Is that a good camera for HDR?

harga kamera

This was exactly what I’m looking for, but…I’m looking fo a second camera only for HDR photography (my main camera is the tiny RX100 M2) and I’d like more automation for the bracketing than the A7R offers.

Would you happen to know a decent camera (preferrably mirrorless and full format) that I might get used which has this? Thanks in advance!

The various sensors are all limited to a range of darks (shadows) to whites (highlights) which they can adequately record of a scene in a single exposure. If the scene has a range of 14 stops (a stop is a doubling or halving of brightness) relatively few cameras today could record it all in one shot. [ The Nikon D800 is measured to hit that level… ok…. ] so because most cameras can’t record them all in one shot, you take a set of frames which capture the shadow end (and blow out the highlights) and the high end (and let detail in the shadow areas fall out) by over and under exposing from what the camera meter says is “right”… then you use software to combine the data in the frames – voila, you get a extended range image to work with on computer/print etc.

If you are not trying to get a color “tone mapping” that creates a graphic effect and just want a realistic photo – a camera with a higher dynamic range (eg. 14 you mentioned) will likely get it for you in one exposure. There are lots of scenes which do not require HDR to be recorded fully. The ones that benefit from it are those with extremely high lights and very deep darks. As cameras continue to develop there will likely be cameras which build the “HDR” in camera for you when a single shot doesn’t get it all.

The 14 quoted on that camera or the 810 come from a test lab. In actual use you’d probably experience between 10 and 12 at best. If you’re reading about exposure, the difference between 2 EV scale values and “a stop” are synonymous.

I am new to HDR photography and wanting to purchase a decent camera easy on the budget with changeable lenses. Does anyone have some suggestions? Links too would be greatly appreciated.