Shooting in HDR May 15, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Asia, Photography , 5commentsRecently, I was looking at some photos on Flickr and came across some pictures my friend took.
I WAS AMAZED.
He took this picture of the London, England LDS Temple.
Amazing, right?
Turns out, he used a technique called High Dynamic Range (or just HDR). Because I had never heard of this technique, I thought it was new. (I’m so obnoxious. Obviously it must be new if I’ve never heard of it because I’m so in the know, you know?)
Check out more pictures from him on Flickr.
This is the tutorial he recommended to learn how to shoot in HDR. Basically, in basic Emily language, this is how you do it:
- Set your camera to AP mode (aperture mode)
- Using a tripod (or arms as immovable as a robot) shoot your subject in three different exposures. -2, 0, +2. Most DSLR’s have an option to do this for you.
- Then, you buy really fancy software Photmatix, Photoshop, and Noiseware Professional (noise reduction software) to make the magic happen!
I haven’t tried this technique yet (because you actually have to plan to shoot this way by taking three consecutive pictures at different exposures and merging them, and I don’t have Photomatix . . .) but I can’t wait!
Trey Ratcliff, the photographer who teaches the HDR tutorial, is AMAZING. He’s been all over the world, photographing it the way he sees it. Not they way a regular point and shoot sees it.
This is Hong Kong. Honestly, every time I try to describe how ginormous the city is, I can’t do it adequately. “It’s ten times bigger than NYC!” Is my “go to” explanation. But really, how big is NYC? HUGE. Right? So Hong Kong must be HUGER! 
Okay, I have no idea, but it is huge, and beautiful. This is exactly how I remember it. Not the very sad way my point and shoot captured it.
This is the skyline across the harbor from Kowloon. I’ve been on this ferry to see the city lights at night and I loved it.
In 40 years, when my husband is out of medical school and we have an income, we’re going to Hong Kong.
And I’m going to shop like there’s no tomorrow.
And I’m going to take pictures like these.
And he’s going to golf.
And I can’t wait!
