4/2/2023 0 Comments Photomatix pro tipsThis is very much less of a problem today, than it used to be as we see sensors with 11 and even 12 stops of native dynamic range. When digital cameras, particularly digital SLRs came out, the sensors were limited to between 5 and 6 stops of dynamic range, after which content either fell into unrecoverable blacks or blown out whites. The Zone System measured from Zone 0 to Zone 10, effectively 11 stops of exposure, although many implementations exist and range does vary. The principal was to use multiple meter readings to determine the dynamic range of an image to be made, to maximize the exposure and then to work in processing and printing to get the widest possible dynamic range. Before we get there, let's explore what the original point of all this was.Ī long time ago, Ansel Adams defined the Zone System. In this article I look at the benefits that HDR can bring and explore the output from Photomatix Pro 5, Nik HDR Efex Pro 2, Photoshop Merge to 32 Bit HDR and HDRsoft's 32 Bit Merge alternatives.HDR images don't have to look overcooked. Newer Nikon cameras have a setting called “active lighting” or something like that which attempts to do the same thing.HDR or High Dynamic Range has taken a beating over the last couple of years, and sometimes rightly so, not because the concept is bad, but because too often the execution is so over the top and screams fakerooni. Below are photos of Tenaya Lake, one “normal” and one HDR. My old Nikon D200 has a setting where I can take a JPEG and a RAW photo at the same time. It’s a fun program and I highly recommend it. There are lots of adjustments you can make to vary the final look. That is what I did for the Yosemite photos. Photomatix also allows you to create a pseudo HDR image using just one RAW file. Obviously you won’t have detail in the sun but this has the full 1-15 range. Here is an example from Anza Borrego Desert State Park: The underexposed photos contain the highlight detail and the overexposed ones contain the shadow detail.Īn HDR processing program like Photomatix combines all those images into one giving you detail in both the shadows and the highlights. Most DSLR’s have an exposure bracketing mode which makes this quite simple. With a RAW image file you only lose about one number off of each end.Ĭreating a true HDR image requires you to mount your camera on a tripod and take 3-7 photos in RAW format at different shutter speeds while keeping the aperture setting the same. The result is no detail in the shadows and blown highlights in a typical high contrast scene. That is what the human eye can see.Ī typical JPEG photo compresses that range. That is the dynamic range, also known as EV (exposure value), 1-15. Give the brightest area with detail the number 15. Let’s assign the darkest shadow area in which you can still see detail the number 1. Imagine you are outside looking at a nice view of a lake. The long answer requires a bit of an explanation. The quick answer is that I use a program called Photomatix Pro to process a RAW image file into a pseudo HDR (high dynamic range) photo. Our answer from expert photographer Greg Wood: Almost makes them look like a cross between a painting and photo. But there is something else that you’ve done that I can’t identify. Your images are really cool! They look like you have increased the ISO to give a grainy appearance which is really nice. Recently Kimberly Shawn Reeves asked us a great question on our facebook page:
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