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**JimJohnson** · 08-24-2012, 05:15 AM

I'm also new to trying my hand at HDR ... I made the mistake of thinking my newly purchased LR4 would include such tools, but it does not. Turns out Photoshop Essentials 9 (which I got bundled with a scanner) does have rudimentary HDR tools - go figure. Aparently my K-r will not do in-camera HDR unless I shoot just .jpg ... I store both the .jpg and RAW (DNG) formats on my card. .jpg for quick looks and "snapshot" type photos and RAW for producing something better (and I am convinced I can do better than my K-r's .jpg engine).

Okay, before I jump into acquiring better HDR tools, I need to figure out if this is even realistic for how I often shoot. Here are my questions-
#1- How critical is a tripod if I shoot with automatic bracketing? I often spot something and either don't have a tripod, or if if I did, the 'moment' isn't going to last for me to setup and breakdown a tripod. I'm pretty steady, but certainly not tripod steady.
#2- What if the main subject is moving - could be as simple as a gentle breeze or a deer walking across a field?

westmill · 08-24-2012, 05:46 AM

I use photomatics which is very good and inexpensive. Or i use adobe CS4. ( File... Automate... Merge to HDR ) A lot of people do not even know its there ! Photomatics works great with DNG files too.

**JimJohnson** · 08-24-2012, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by westmill

I use photomatics which is very good and inexpensive. Or i use adobe CS4. ( File... Automate... Merge to HDR ) A lot of people do not even know its there ! Photomatics works great with DNG files too.

That's fine. I'll look to figure out which tools after I figure out if it is worthwhile to spend any money on HDR tools. First I need answers to my two questions.

Thanks-

westmill · 08-24-2012, 06:02 AM

Both CS4 and Photomatics have an auto align function ! It has its limits of course but will allow for careful hand held shots. HDR is not really for moving subjects though.

westmill · 08-24-2012, 06:20 AM - **1 Like**

More food for thought for you.... You can use a single image in photomatics and produce results like this in tone mapping !

StephenHampshire · 08-24-2012, 06:29 AM

From my personal experience
Question 1) Yes, you can hand hold and bracket if you use a decent shutter speed - if the software used has an auto align function (as mentioned Photomatix as an example has this feature)
Question 2) Depends on software used and also shutter speeds used - 5 shots in quick succession will have less subject movement. HDR tools such as Photomatix have "de-ghosting" options

Two HDR shots, both taken handheld with RAW exposures blended in Photomatix
All Saints' Bakewell | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Bluebell Woods Micheldever | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Anvh · 08-24-2012, 02:35 PM

This one is done with CS5 and tonedmapped with NIK HDR plugin.

it's 3 shot deep and 3 shots wide (9 shots total) so a HDR and PANO in 1, done handheld. =]

mysticcowboy · 08-27-2012, 08:51 PM

Here's one done with Photoshop

My problem with HDR it to avoid the hyper-real shots like westmil's and the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR.

civiletti · 08-27-2012, 09:58 PM

Originally posted by mysticcowboy

Here's one done with Photoshop

My problem with HDR it to avoid the hyper-real shots like westmil's and the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR.

If you have LightRoom, try LRenfuse for realistic looking HDR.

Anvh · 08-28-2012, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by mysticcowboy

the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR.

That's what happen when you tone down the image to what the monitor can display, i can simply add more contrast/shadows to my photo but would that make it look better?
That's something personal.

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08-24-2012, 05:15 AM	#16
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	I'm also new to trying my hand at HDR ... I made the mistake of thinking my newly purchased LR4 would include such tools, but it does not. Turns out Photoshop Essentials 9 (which I got bundled with a scanner) does have rudimentary HDR tools - go figure. Aparently my K-r will not do in-camera HDR unless I shoot just .jpg ... I store both the .jpg and RAW (DNG) formats on my card. .jpg for quick looks and "snapshot" type photos and RAW for producing something better (and I am convinced I can do better than my K-r's .jpg engine). Okay, before I jump into acquiring better HDR tools, I need to figure out if this is even realistic for how I often shoot. Here are my questions- #1- How critical is a tripod if I shoot with automatic bracketing? I often spot something and either don't have a tripod, or if if I did, the 'moment' isn't going to last for me to setup and breakdown a tripod. I'm pretty steady, but certainly not tripod steady. #2- What if the main subject is moving - could be as simple as a gentle breeze or a deer walking across a field?

08-24-2012, 05:46 AM	#17
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	I use photomatics which is very good and inexpensive. Or i use adobe CS4. ( File... Automate... Merge to HDR ) A lot of people do not even know its there ! Photomatics works great with DNG files too.

08-24-2012, 05:53 AM	#18
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	Originally posted by westmill I use photomatics which is very good and inexpensive. Or i use adobe CS4. ( File... Automate... Merge to HDR ) A lot of people do not even know its there ! Photomatics works great with DNG files too. That's fine. I'll look to figure out which tools after I figure out if it is worthwhile to spend any money on HDR tools. First I need answers to my two questions. Thanks-

08-24-2012, 06:02 AM	#19
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Both CS4 and Photomatics have an auto align function ! It has its limits of course but will allow for careful hand held shots. HDR is not really for moving subjects though.

08-24-2012, 06:20 AM - 1 Like	#20
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	More food for thought for you.... You can use a single image in photomatics and produce results like this in tone mapping !

08-24-2012, 06:29 AM	#21
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	From my personal experience Question 1) Yes, you can hand hold and bracket if you use a decent shutter speed - if the software used has an auto align function (as mentioned Photomatix as an example has this feature) Question 2) Depends on software used and also shutter speeds used - 5 shots in quick succession will have less subject movement. HDR tools such as Photomatix have "de-ghosting" options Two HDR shots, both taken handheld with RAW exposures blended in Photomatix All Saints' Bakewell \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! Bluebell Woods Micheldever \| Flickr - Photo Sharing!

08-24-2012, 02:35 PM	#22
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	This one is done with CS5 and tonedmapped with NIK HDR plugin. it's 3 shot deep and 3 shots wide (9 shots total) so a HDR and PANO in 1, done handheld. =]

08-27-2012, 08:51 PM	#23
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	Here's one done with Photoshop My problem with HDR it to avoid the hyper-real shots like westmil's and the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR.

08-27-2012, 09:58 PM	#24
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Originally posted by mysticcowboy Here's one done with Photoshop My problem with HDR it to avoid the hyper-real shots like westmil's and the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR. If you have LightRoom, try LRenfuse for realistic looking HDR.

08-28-2012, 12:28 PM	#25
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by mysticcowboy the too low contrast (lacking realistic shadows) of Anvh's image. It's tough to get HDR that doesn't look like HDR. That's what happen when you tone down the image to what the monitor can display, i can simply add more contrast/shadows to my photo but would that make it look better? That's something personal.