How to capture the best HDR shots.

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2 What is HDR? How to capture the best HDR shots. Processing HDR. Noise reduction. Conversion to monochrome. Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening.

3 Standard shot What is HDR?

4 HDR shot What is HDR?

5 Bits of an image What is HDR? A bit is the basic unit of digital information For computers, each bit can take one of two values 0 or 1 For camera sensors and image files, each successive bit represents twice the value of the previous color or brightness JPEG files 8 bits 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 256 This is the dynamic range of the file format So jpeg files can only resolve 256 shades of gray or color That s a problem if you're trying to pull up detail in deep shadows, or burn down from highlights!

6 Bits of an image What is HDR? JPEG files 8 bits 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 2 8 = 256 RAW files bit depth depends on your sensor* Newer Canons bit = = 4,096 8,192 Newer Nikons and Sony 14 bit = 2 14 = 16,384 TIFF files 16 bit = 65,536 HDR files are usually 32 bit = 2 32 = 4,294,967,296 Some HDR files can be 48 bit = 2 48 = 281,474,976,710,656 * AND on ISO rating figures here generally apply only to ISO 100. For example, high ISO can reduce a 14 bit sensor to less than 8 bits

7 What is HDR? Why does the bit depth matter? JPEG 8 BIT HDR 32 BIT Bits Bits 1 Bit of deep shadow detail Pixels can ONLY be either black, or one shade of gray Shadows appear blotchy and noisy 4 Bits of deep shadow detail Pixels can be black, or one 15 other different shades of gray Shadows are smooth and detailed

8 How to Capture HDR HDR files contain more information (bits) than your camera sensor How do you add more information than your sensor provides? Answer multiple exposures

9 How to Capture HDR How many exposures? How many stops between the exposures? Depends on the scene and on your ISO setting You can spray and pray bracket wildly and hope for the best Or you can guarantee good results: Spot meter the brightest and darkest areas of your scene Note the shutter speeds associated with the two extremes Spread your exposures to cover this range How many exposures? 1 to 3 stops between exposures is typical Low ISO & RAW 2 to 3 stops is fine High ISO or jpeg 1 stop between exposures

10 How to Capture HDR Tripod is strongly advised Turn image stabilization off if any exposures exceed 1 second Keep the aperture fixed Pre-focus then turn autofocus off Select the lowest ISO practical for your situation (maximizes the dynamic range) Keep the ISO fixed (preserves the dynamic range) Vary the shutter speed for the exposures Image pixels remain perfectly aligned

11 How to Capture HDR But if you don t have enough time for all this Tourists waiting, light about to change, etc Set the maximum number of HDR shot sequence your camera will allow, then shoot with the exposure compensation set to minus 5-7 stops, then set to plus 5-7 stops. Pick the good frames later -11 to +1-1 to shot HDR capture 2 stop intervals 22 stops!

12 Processing HDR Don t use Photoshop Use a dedicated HDR program Photomatix Pro 6- Excellent HDR, but can appear a little soft $99 Aurora - Can be more natural looking and very crisp, but highlight areas or shadows can be a little muddy $79-$99 I have both software packages, and I use both. Aurora is v-e-r-y slow compared with Photomatix I use Photomatix 70% of the time I use Aurora 30% of the time

13 Photomatix Processing HDR

14 Photomatix Processing HDR

15 Photomatix Processing HDR

16 Photomatix Processing HDR

17 Aurora Processing HDR

18 Aurora Processing HDR

19 Aurora Processing HDR

20 Aurora Processing HDR

21 Aurora Processing HDR

22 Noise reduction pre-hdr This is the most important step if you want the best results HDR won t distinguish between noise and image data in the shadows noise can be selected as part of the image. Without pre-noise reduction With pre-noise reduction

23 Without Pre-Noise Reduction

24 With Pre-Noise Reduction

25 Without Pre-Noise Reduction

26 With Pre-Noise Reduction

27 Adobe RAW Noise Reduction Under the Detail tab in Adobe RAW Use the Luminance slider to reduce salt and pepper noise Use the Luminance Detail slider to preserve features and textures Use the Color slider to reduce red and blue speckle noise Use the Color Detail slider to preserve features and textures Both very effective, but don t over-do it! Apply just enough to fix any issues.

28 Noise Reduction Within Photoshop Not as good as RAW noise reduction Use Despeckle or Reduce Noise Both work, but tend to lose more detail than the RAW version

29 Noise Reduction Within MacPhun Luminar $69 Very good WAY better than Photoshop noise reduction and maybe slightly better than Adobe RAW noise reduction. But limited functionality just strength and amount sliders

30 Noise Reduction With MacPhun Noiseless CK $29 Very impressive better than Adobe Raw and loads of control sliders Stand-alone software and comes with modules for Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture

31 Conversion to Monochrome

32 Conversion to Monochrome

33 Conversion to Monochrome First step increase the saturation and/or vibrance and/or levels Ignore how horrible it looks! Just concentrate on the histograms for individual colors The idea is to stretch the histogram for each color Why? To maximize the dynamic range of each color This will give you the widest possible control of tonal range in the converted monochrome image Then apply your favorite monochrome converter I use Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 (free software by Google)

34 Conversion to Monochrome

35 From within Photoshop Conversion to Monochrome

36 Conversion to Monochrome Silver Efex Pro 2 from within Photoshop

37 Conversion to Monochrome Silver Efex Pro 2 from within Photoshop

38 Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening Within Photoshop Add two layers One each for selective light and dark sharpening

39 Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening Pick the sharpening tool select sharpen lighten

40 Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening Brush in sharpen lighten over shadow and mid tone areas choose 5% fill, carefully bush until desired effect is reached

41 Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening Brush in sharpen darken over mid tone and brighter areas choose 5% fill, carefully bush until desired effect is reached

42 Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening Original Unsharp Mask Sharpen Darken Sharpen Lighten

43 Unsharp Mask Sharpen Darken

44 Unsharp Mask Sharpen Lighten Sharpen Lighten

45 Before Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening

46 After Enhancing room textures through local area sharpening

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