HDR Tutorial April 11, 2011 |
Chicago, IL
Welcome to my HDR tutorial!
I plan to keep updating this tutorial, so please be sure to leave any advice or feedback in the comments section below. Let's get started...
I divided the tutorials into two videos, Part 1: Capturing the Brackets, and Part 2: Processing the Photo. There is really a lot that goes into both of these steps. I designed this tutorial for beginners and HDR experts alike, so feel free to skip any steps that you can't do (for example if you don't own a specific program that I am using, or your camera doesn't bracket in as many intervals), and you should also keep evolving your own workflow, don't change it completely based on what I provide here. This tutorial is the culmination of what I have learned over a couple of years making HDR images.
One thing that I left off is materials, these are very important, so here you go:
- DSLR Camera: This is the most important. You can't do HDR without a camera, and I recommend a good one. The HDR process tends to bring out the details in the images that you will capture. Unfortunately, this means that if you don't use a good camera, the flaws in the images that you take will be exaggerated even more by the HDR process. It is also necessary to make sure that your camera does autobracketing. Autobracketing is the process by which your camera takes multiple pictures consecutively at various exposures. It is the process of combining these images that creates an HDR, so make sure your camera can do this. I shoot with a Nikon D700, most Nikon DSLRs are capable of autobracketing.
- Tripod: A tripod is a necessary piece of hardware for shooting HDR. Since you will need to capture multiple images of the same subject, you need a tripod to keep your camera secure while your camera brackets away. I shoot with Induro CT-114 legs, and a Manfrotto 498RC2 head.
- Software:
- Adobe Lightroom 3: I use this software for manipulating my RAW photos and also storing my photo library.
- Photomatix: This program is at the heart of my HDR processing. I use this program to combine all of the exposures that I take, and turn those images into a tonemapped, high dynamic range image.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Nik Color Efex 2.0: This is a series of photoshop plugins that I use in every HDR image that I produce. These filters are great for adding contrast, texture, and structure to HDR images.
Part 1: Capturing the Brackets
Part 2: Processing the Photo
And the final result...
My HDR Tutorial
Great tutorial. I would love to shoot with you one day in chicago and learn more from you. Keep up the good work. http://twitter.com/dvsphotos http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsnuckel
Great videos dude!
Good stuff Matty! Love to see how others make their magic!
Really a good Tutorial :)
Thanks very much for taking the time to produce this tutorial; it was good to see the way you process.
This is a slight change from the way I have been processing photos and has made a great difference in quality for me. Thanks for sharing!
I've been following the blog for a little while and always enjoy it. I get out when I can to photograph sunrise. Maybe our paths will cross one of these days. Jovially, Brad
I'd also like to thank you for the video teaching. Your Flickr site is fantastic - very inspiring and it's a great help to see some of your techniques. Best regards, Ralph
Just one question, if I may. When I copy one of the tiff files to blend with the tone mapped image I receive the message "it is too large to export to the clipboard". Is there some way to get around this? Regards Ralph
Thanks all! @Safetorque - in photoshop under general preferences, uncheck "Export clipboard". Give that a try.
Hey Matty: I love your tutorials on HDR. One question: Wouldn't you use the anti-ghosting feature of PhotomatixPro since the clouds are moving, although ever so slightly when you captured them, so as to have just one of the cloud images in your final image?
Nice tut. I'm actually surprised I didn't see any noise reduction. Your photos are velvety smooth. Good work. bfhstudios.com/blog
Great tutorial. Love your images!
Thanks everyone. @Frank - I definitely could have used the anti-ghosting feature in photomatix here. In hindsight I probably should have. @bfhstudios - Depending on how far up I turn the notches in photomatix I sometimes use noiseware pro. In this case I didn't feel the need to.
Thanks for sharing your tutorial. I tried using Nik Software and it completely changes my HDR shots! Thanks again http://arcreyes.blogspot.com/
Brilliant tutorial, thank you. Can I ask you, is that a plastic cover you have on the LCD screen or a glass one?
It's a plastic LCD cover. It comes with the D700.
that is the very best one that i have seen!! thank you
Glad to have stumbled across your site. Well done tutorial.
Hey Matty! I just found your Blog today. I'm so impressed about your Pictures! EVERY Pic looks fantastic! Great work, great motives and perfect processing and finishing! Love to follow your blog and see more of your fantastic work! Best regards, Thomas from Germany.
Thanks for the tips. Great example. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the Tips and Tutorial. I'm new to HDR and live in Chicago, hope to meet you and shoot with you one day. Keep posting. Love to see all your photos.
Nice tutorial, Matty. I thought that I had this HDR thing figured out, but I picked up a few tricks from the videos. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the Justin kern workshop. Chris www.outofchicago.com
Nice tutorial, Matty. I thought that I had this HDR thing figured out, but I picked up a few tricks from the videos. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the Justin kern workshop. Chris www.outofchicago.com
Superb photography love the HDR's! Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/lee10/
can I know where I can get photoshop filter plugin?