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See How Easily You Can Create HDR Photos (Ultimate guide)

tutorialblog.org — Collection of HDR photography tutorials and techniques with some amazing examples.

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  • GaffleSnipe, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24Nice collection of knowledge. I have mixed feelings about HDR, but it's good to know how to do it if I want.
    • keepclear, on 10/12/2007, -12/+24Why mixed feelings ?
      Its not like its going to replace traditional photography - Just some nice eye candy
    • GaffleSnipe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31I think it's neat right now, but who knows in about 6 months, and 5,000 HDR digg stories later, it might make me want to puke.
    • themarq, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3hear hear, now I have a project for the weekend.
    • KillerJ59J, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9http://tutorialblog.org.nyud.net:8090/hdr-tutorials-roundup/
    • supernova17, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3http://tutorialblog.org.nyud.net:8080/hdr-tutorials-roundup/
    • polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Great for lighting and mapping reflections in 3d. :)
    • polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3http://www.aversis.be/extra_tutorials/vray_hdri.htm
    • sxtxixtxcxh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15@gafflesnipe: if done right, you wouldn't notice. unfortunately, most of th HDR that hits digg is crap.
    • tenberg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2For you mac users (yes, that's me) here is a program (Photosphere) that will allow you to create HDR images and stitch them together. You can get it at http://www.anyhere.com/. I met this guy at a Color Imaging Conference...he knows some stuff about HDR imaging :). Hopefully his page can handle the digg effect...
    • 0crabby0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2People are probably reading this article right now, trying to figure out how to use HDR in their EBAY listings...lol
    • skEwb35, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1youeeyyyyy i eeeeyyyyyyyeeee loookeyyyy attt buttt... ahh.... *and now for the doctor* eeeeeee weeeeeaaaayyyyy no makeeeeee!
    • GaffleSnipe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1FYI everyone, I was looking at my digital camera features (sony cybershot, pretty common) and I found a setting that will shoot a 3 shot burst that captures the image with -2, 0, +2 EV! Makes shooting for HDR a whole lot easier. Maybe check out your camera features and see if you have this.
  • mikefitz2, on 10/12/2007, -9/+9creating lame HDR photos, great. At least get yourself a server that can handle the damn traffic
  • Jamie, on 10/12/2007, -16/+1http://duggmirror.com
    • dennbruce, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Please at least check if duggmirror grabbed the page before posting the link.
  • wiihuck, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2and now the page loads, so my question is answered.
  • Onwlyix, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3That's cool. Very useful for a photographer like me. =)
  • dualaudi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Dude... getting tired of these sites going down so fast...
  • vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I hereby accuse diggers worldwide of committing genocide against WordPress blogs.

    This act is vile and reprehensible, and cannot go unpunished.
  • masterchen, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2HDRI is awesome. Great for lighting scenes in 3D using Maya... etc.
  • iMoth, on 10/12/2007, -41/+6in soviet russia, hdr creates you!
    • rstarr, on 10/12/2007, -8/+11WHY DO YOU CONTINUE DOING THAT?
      You know you are going to get dugg down into the 9th ring of hell!!!
      And its NOT FUNNY!
      And if you think it is...well...then I'm sorry for yelling at the special kid....
    • tHePeOPle, on 10/12/2007, -9/+5The thing about that joke is that it actually works if the timing is perfect. Unfortunately, the timing is almost never perfect. People try it for every story thinking that because it worked for them that one time before, it's bound to work again.
    • snurfle, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4But will it blend?
    • 98acura, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4I, for one, welcome out new soviet HDR overlords
    • mga911, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12In Soviet Russia, the HDR overlords blend us!
    • 98acura, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1@mga911

      Holy crap...
  • chrisostermann, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8HDR is "neato"
    kinda like sweet tarts are
    every now and then but not every day.
  • nrvous250gt, on 10/12/2007, -6/+37It never fails. As soon as something becomes popular, people HAVE to hate it because they were doing/liking/listening to it before everyone else. Now that it's popular, the magic is gone.

    If you don't like it because it's not aesthetically pleasing to you, that's one thing. If you don't like it because other people do, you're a complete asshat.

    Get over yourselves, honestly.
    • vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6All of society is vulnerable to heard mentality, diggers, doubly so.
    • keepclear, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Nail on the head I think, nice one.
    • fotbr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4HDR is an interesting idea, but I personally can't stand it.


      I suspect my opinion is biased partially because I prefer traditional film and print b&w photography, but MOSTLY because of the plethora of sites like these where every schmuck with a walmart point & shoot special thinks they're a great photographer because they took some of their crappy images, ran them through a free script or tool or process they found on the internet, and thinks their crappy HDR makes them a great photographer. Fine for them, but I'll stick to what I like instead.

      But yeah, the people that hate it simply because other people like it are pretty lame.
    • ninetynine, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1well my scar is bigger than yours!
    • MrSunshine, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3My first impression of HDR photography:

      "Hey cool, looks like a painting... umm yeah, a painting. Why didn't he paint that from scratch? Nice eyecandy... so this is is done with special software? Damn photographer, better stick to good photography. I'd ask an illustrator if I wanted such a vivid scene. Oh no, HDR sure will become the trendwhore-style of photography. Instant eyecandy for the masses that sells but needs no skills and has no real value."

      I formed this opinion in about 10 seconds and still stick by it.
    • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"All of society is vulnerable to heard mentality, diggers, doubly so."

      Well I herd that!
    • vuke69, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3"Well I herd that!"

      *****... I'm retarded.

    • zaqintosh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12"needs no skills and has no real value".

      We are talking about artwork right?
      I'm tired of people treating everything in terms of l33tness. Just because something is easy to do, doesn't make it less appealing. HDR is a tool like any other tool, you can do it and make a photo look subtle, and you can do it and make a photo look like a cartoon.

      Artwork isn't measured based solely on technical skill of the creator. Sometimes a simple photo that took 2 seconds to shoot invokes real emotion in people, and that photo becomes popular.

      I can't believe I'm watching people bitch and whine about this. Is anyone over 12 years old here? Anyone??
  • b16madman, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Looks like it's dead :(
  • itsmrdumass, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I don't see how these stories keep getting dugg when the site is down. Do people just digg off of the digg entry?
  • fotbr, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2Thanks, but I'll stick to real photography.


    You know, the kind done with film and fun chemicals.
    • FieldAnonymouse, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Why not go all the way? Go back to REAL real photography. You know, with a pinhole camera, and film that takes 2 minutes to actually get a usable image?
    • Poco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Thanks, but photography is like cheating. I'll stick with sketches.

      You know, the one with a pencil and paper.
    • selrahc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Break out the silver, and heat up the mercury... good old Daguerreotypes are the way to go.
      • fotbr, on 12/06/2007, -0/+1If I had a good way to dispose of the mercury, I'd probably give that a try.
    • duckarrowtypes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Be careful not to sound too elitist.

      I'm a daguerreotypist which I think counts as "REAL" photography and people often think that I *hate* digital photography. Quite the contrary. Digital has its place as does emulsion and, indeed, daguerreotypes. HDR also has its place and it seems to me though I've not tried it myself that it is a technique that needs to be used sparingly and appropriately.
  • monergism, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12HDR is the junkfood of photography.

    Good, but has no value.
    • polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14It's GREAT for 3d work. I use HDRI's for mapping reflections and I also use it for lighting.
    • polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4Please tell me my blunder, ohhh so wise diggers.....
    • EthylAdded, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"It's GREAT for 3d work. I use HDRI's for mapping reflections and I also use it for lighting.
      Please tell me my blunder, ohhh so wise diggers...."

      Digg from me. Only an idiot would digg you down for highlighting a fascinating alternate use of HDR.
    • selrahc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7They don't understand what he is talking about, so they digg him down... HDR does have value, as most things do. Just a lot of people don't use it in a way that I would find all that valuable.
    • bgbs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1yeah its junk food. Because we dont have expensive equipment and thousands of dollars of lighting equipment and so on and so forth. So the alternative which give the same results, is hdr.
  • josegutz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3bitch.
  • bignaz2k, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Site is back up (at least I got it to load).

    Decent-ish collection of tutorials, but I agree with a previous poster that HDR is turning into the Web 2.0 of photography. More and more it is becoming a parlor trick to make up for people with poor skill.
  • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I've yet to get the site to load. However other searches have led me to other sites with samples and tutorials. HDR seems a little cartoonish to me. I was heretofore unaware of and stumbled upon "Photoshop Light Room" and was blown away. A $100 ish program that edits 100's of files simultaneously. Create slide shows for email in PDF files.
    Download it free for 30 days.
    • Poco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3How does $199 become $100 ish?

      And why would I want something that takes 30 days to download?
    • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Um, that would be TRY it free for 30 days.
    • bgbs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0or get it for free at piratebay.com
  • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7The GIMP does it too...
    http://turtle.as.arizona.edu/jdsmith/exposure_blend.php
    • robotify, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4yes, but this is still not HDR. In the end, the image from GIMP is still only getting 8 linear bits per color per pixel. HDR requires a much higher range than just 8 bits, and usually has either many more bits per pixel, or is stored in a exponential file format, rather than linear numbering.
    • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@robotify - Yeah, I was going to say that earlier, but as I wrote I realized that HDR is fairly new and the definitions seem a little vague so far (so I pussed out and erased the comment). Sure, the .hdr[i] format is definitely high dynamic range, but anyone who has an HDR file will convert it to .jpg for public consumption since most of the public doesn't have and hdri viewer. It's not an .hdr image at that point, but is derived from one and carries the visual benefits (as opposed to editing benefits).
  • witte, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Shadow/Highlight
    Shadow/Highlight
    Shadow/Highlight
  • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Hey, how about a few of you nay-sayers actually saying why HDR is over-hyped junkfood, web2.0, attention-whoring crap. If you don't have a tripod and you're just too lazy to take the bracketed images and process the data, just say so.
    • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Not too lazy. Too cheap to pay $650 for editing software. That would be CS2 for all you literalists.
    • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Not $650, free. See a few posts above (you know, the one containing relevant info that was buried by the brain-dead twelve year olds).
    • metlin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1All you need is a half decent digital SLR, a cheap tripod (hell, look at eBay for an Amvona) and download the Photomatrix Basic version (http://www.hdrsoft.com/download.html) and you are set. The whole thing isn't as hard as most people here seem to think it is.
  • Poco, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I don't understand why there are so many people here putting down HDR.

    The whole point of the technique is to get the range that you cannot get from current camera technology, not to create something unrealistic. Digital camera sensors are not capable of capturing a range of more than about 8 or 9 stops of light. That means if you have something really bright in a scene and something really dark you will loose one or the other. Nothing fancy here. The only way to take a photograph of that scene without blowing the highlights or loosing the details in the shadow is with HDR.

    Of course, once digital camera sensor technology improves, HDR won't be necessary anymore.

    Sure, you can get some crazy photos from it, but so too can you get crazy stuff from a film camera under the right conditions. Many of the examples on that page are a bit over the top but others are an excellent example of the use, like here http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/high-dynamic-range.htm

    • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Most comprehensible info on the subject I've seen thus far Poco. Thank You!
    • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Poco: "Of course, once digital camera sensor technology improves, HDR won't be necessary anymore."
      Not on the input side [camera], but at some point they'll need to develop HDR on the output side [monitor].
    • hobbers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I thought you could achieve the same thing by taking multiple shorter exposure shots and stacking them.

      http://www.tawbaware.com/imgstack.htm
  • ThirdPrize, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Seen quite a few now and the novelty has worn off. Some of then are quite good (changed my desktop to a photo of Chicago) but some are not. In the wrong hands the results look a bit like those paintings you get done on velvet. Normally of a unicorn or a waterfall or something.

    I take it HDR is a bit closer to how our eyes see a landscape than an ordinary photo of it? Thats why its a big thing in 3d modelling packages and in games like Half Life 2.
    • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If you want a good psychological comparison of HDR to regular photography have a look at some color photographs from ~1920 [ http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/ ] . You're used to seeing photographs from that era in B&W, but when you find color photographs from that time it's almost like you've entered a new world. The switch from LDR to HDR is the same. The switch from HDR to volumetric 3d will be the same too... and when the images bypass the eyes, optical nerves and are passed directly to the visual cortex - that'll be wierd too, but you'll get used to it.
  • MinisterOrange, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Next cool invention: Contacts that make everythin HDR
  • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1OK, I'm confused. (NOT a rare occurrence) What I've read thusfar has indicated the process of HDR requires Adobe PotoShop Creative Suite2. How is THAT free?
    • noopzilla!, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4www.thepiratebay.org
    • smokinjuan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The free GIMP does it too: http://www.gimp.org/ ...
      with this free plugin: http://turtle.as.arizona.edu/jdsmith/exposure_blend.php
    • Spiritcatcher, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Thank You Smokin Juan and Noopzilla. Thank you bookmarks creator. Thank You Digg creator. Thank you all Digg posters. I just very recently found this site. I've gotten SO much edification from you all. Suffering from a little system overload on my worn out synapses. Thanks again bookmarks!
    • bgbs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Dude photoshop is free for EDUCATIONAL purposes. Unless of course, if you are running MAC, then you are screwed.
  • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Wow, there's a lot of hate going around for HDR. I think it's important to remember that the effects can be extreme or subtle, depending on the needs of the photographer. Yes, HDR can be used to create shots that look like something out of a carnival (not that there's anything wrong with that), but they can also be used to improve shots taken in difficult lighting situations. The human eye has a greater dynamic range than a camera. There shouldn't be a problem with using HDR to more closely emulate what the eye can see.
  • feld, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Creating HDR images only becomes a "problem" when it is overused. Just like any filter in Photoshop or any other "special visual effect" it often gets over used when it first gets well know to the masses and then it starts to create a visual cliche and people (hopefully) back off from it for awhile.
    To me, it is only "misused" if people use it for the sake of using it rather than using it becuase the visual outcome meets a specific need or desire. This is true of any photographic process. For the needs of most of my clients, shooting with a medium format digital back gives them the type of image they desire, however, I also make platinum prints, cyanotypes, gum albumen, pinhole and several other "alternative process" prints and use these for clients only when it suits their specific, visual requirment. Rather than meet with a client and say, "we should use a pinhole image becuase it looks cool," I first come up with an idea based on what a client wants the image to look like or what their ideal outcome is and then pick a process based on that need, rather than the other way around.
    The same goes for HDR, as long as someone uses it because it suits their specific need and not just, "'cause it looks cool," I have no problem with it.
  • popothebright, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Looking for an even easier way to create HDR photos?

    Set the next generation of digital cameras to "HDR Mode".

    • CoolWind, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3That's right. It could all be done automatically by the camera.
  • OneBagel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Ever since I saw my first HDR image ive been very curious about it all...

    i do find this style of Photography very very appealing, in fact i find all "good" photos appealing.

    I have always been facinated with the whole "bloom" lighting ever since Valve introduced it in Half-Life: Lost Coast.

    (i just wanted to put my thoughts out here)

    :)
  • Farticus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2This so called HDR is just a rip off of the very old, back and white, zone system, and most of these non-linear compressed tonal range images look like a technicolor dog's turd. Now and then somebody with what it takes to be a good photographer (a good eye) uses the technique to enhance a composition effectively without the artifacts of the method dominating the result, but at the moment the web is flooded with talentless fools who are churning out complete crap.

    • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"but at the moment the web is flooded with talentless fools who are churning out complete crap"

      The world (not just the web) has ALWAYS been flooded with talentless fools churning out complete crap. The interesting thing is nobody is able to agree on what is crap, and even if we could it's not hurting anybody. Don't be such an elitist dick.
  • semicharmedchck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm not sure if it was linked elsewhere, but this site tells you how to do HDR from photoshop, so if you have it you don't need to purchase or download other software:
    http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml
  • lylesdesign, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0HDR is interesting in a scientific experiment kind of way, but...

    it always reminds me of computer games. Hopefully someone will use the lessons from HDR to "reverse engineer" more realism into CG environments. Less tonal range, appropriate detail range to create focal areas, etc etc. An image that is uniform in color, detail, and tone is too artificial, IMHO
  • bgbs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I think soon we will see real professional cameras that are capable of producing HDR Images. How I dont know, but it seems possible.
  • Shenaniganz08, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1can we have a hdr category so I can filter these stories out ??

    Its great to see one or two a month.. but do we need a "HDR image of ____" thread for every city, etc

    Digg for compiling though :D
  • levyjl1988, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Totally amazing! Anyway Digg should have a pictures section.
  • Vigo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1this is the best story ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • mimilena, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You can also do a "fake" HDR using just one image. This technique is called DRI (Dynamic Range Increase). Some of the tutorials listed don't actually teach you how to create a HDR file, it's just a clever masking technique using two exposures.

    How to create "fake" HDR/DRI using one image
    http://digg.com/software/Photoshop_Tutorial_How_to_create_fake_HDR_photos

    HDR isn't just for color photos, it's great for black and white photos:
    http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/770012/display/8015472 (Not the best work, but is an example of B&W HDR)

  • paulocon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1A very good read - please feel free to add to www.photographyvoter.com - the Digg-like photography website
  • smoreorless, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Latest Digital Photography - http://astore.amazon.com/digitalphotographycameras-20
  • Japan1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0I also shoot HDR photography, some of the work can be seen here: http://www.johninjapan.com
  • Lorwik, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1http://www.japan-images.com will also have some killer HDR images posted
  • Japan1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0MY hdr photography tutorial is up at http://www.hdrjapan.com
  • Japan1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0MY hdr photography tutorial is up at http://www.hdrjapan.com
  • Forshman, on 11/23/2007, -1/+1Killer HDR Photography from Japan: http://www.hdrjapan.com
  • sering, on 12/14/2007, -1/+0What a news here
    http://health.jurugan.com
    http://www.jurugan.com
  •  

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