If you spend enough time on photo sites, you've probably noticed a lot of photos with deliberately bright images. This is an HDR photo. Let's see what this term means.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) is an imaging technique that allows for a wider dynamic range of exposure than would be possible with conventional photographic methods available. HDR is commonly used for landscape photography to emphasize the visual impact of light and shadow over a large range.
by Helmut R. Kahr
No person can be credited with the invention of HDR photography. It is rather an evolution in photography that began with Ansel Adams' zonal system and continues all the way to modern photo post-processing programs.
During the reign of film photography, the cut-off range was added by altering the negatives when printed. They darkened or brightened the necessary places in the image in order to eventually get a picture well worked out in all problem areas.
by Ansel Adams. Falls Nevada. Rainbow. Yosemite National Park. California. 1946.
When digital photography began to rule the world, users very quickly figured out how to increase the dynamic range of an image by shooting the same frame with multiple exposures. You can love or even hate HDR photography, but there is no doubt that it already firmly occupies a certain niche today.
by Marc Perrella
This type of photographic image is characterized by “heavy” color saturation, a strong halo along the border of contrasting shades and a general surreal look at the image. Most viewers, having seen enough HDR shots, say that: “It looks like a painting!” It would be considered a compliment if it were not added: "This is not a photograph."
Meanwhile, there are more and more photographers who often use HDR in their work to create a big effect. As with any art form, do not overdo it, then even the acrimonious criticism that HDR destroys photography as an art form will not be taken so seriously by those who are just taking their first steps in mastering photography.
by Basile Francesco
It is important to know that the increased brightness and expressiveness of the image is not a prerequisite for the HDR process. The term HDR applies to all images in which . The original goal of HDR photography is to look at the world around you in terms of the fantasy of the image, while remaining in the range of balance between light and shadow.
by Danny Xeero
Traditional HDR is achieved by taking multiple frames with different exposures. You need to take 3-7 photos, each with a slightly different shutter speed. After the received images are combined into a single one, the result is that the dynamic range becomes much greater than the most modern digital technology can provide, which sometimes cannot reproduce even the semblance of what the human eye sees.
The HDR photos themselves are designed to bring the digital image closer in saturation and detail in highlights and shadows to how a person sees and perceives the surroundings. And as in any creative process, a lot depends on the taste of the photographer, on his preparedness and ability to distinguish a good photo from a bad one. In essence, you need to know when you can use HDR without harming the final result.
Landscapes HDR photo
Whenever a photographer is dealing with an expansive mother nature scene, it's an excuse to take multiple shots of the same scene at different exposures. When there is a large contrast difference between the sky and the ground in the landscape, it creates a problem for the camera, which cannot decipher how to properly process the image that entered the viewfinder due to conflicting data. By exposing first on the ground (water) and then on the sky, the photographer, when overlaying, will receive a more truthful image in the dynamic range as a result.
by Karl Williams
Lighting
When you have to shoot in low light or a backlit subject, this can result in an image that is darker than you hoped. In this case, the use of HDR can be the best.
When not to use HDR
Just as there are situations to make the best use of HDR, there are times when you shouldn't use it at all.
Motion
There are several reasons why objects in motion don't translate well into HDR. If your subject is running or running or moving, say, on horseback using the HDR technique, you will most likely end up with a blurry shot. Why? It is because the object is moving. Remember that for HDR you need to take at least three shots? In this case, the moving object in a fraction of a second will be in a completely different place in each subsequent image. With a high degree of probability, when combined, blur will occur.
Bright colours
If the scene you are shooting has too many dark areas or too many bright areas, HDR will "invent" some colors on its own in those areas where it is not enough. And if there are many bright colors, then with a high degree of probability it will lighten, “wash” them.
HDR can be a great tool for getting artistically interesting photos, as well as technically better ones when you have to shoot in bright sunlight with dark (failed) shadows. How this tool is used depends largely on the photographer. It is necessary to try, experiment and learn to translate new skills into reality in order to raise the level of your skill and be able to find a way out of seemingly hopeless situations from the point of view of photography.
