In this post I will give you a short idea of how I’m creating my HDR images. Let’s start with the finished picture. It’s called “Silence”, and I took it earlier this year (April I think). I really don’t like to get up early in the morning, but it’s necessary to take these kind of pictures :-(
(Clicking on this picture will take you to the 2560×1600 pixel version in a new window.)
What do you need to make a HDR image like this? First of all, a tripod. You have to take three (or even more) pictures with different exposure, and your camera has to be fixed to do that, otherwise your final image will be blurred. This image was taken with my Pentax istD, a DSLR camera. Producing an HDR image requires taking enough separate exposures so that you place all of the brightness levels that you want in your final image into a range that your camera’s sensor can record properly. Ideally this means putting the darkest values no lower than somewhere in the mid-range of the sensor’s sensitivity range. According to Adobe’s instructions you want to take enough exposures to cover the complete dynamic range – not less than three, and as many as five to seven, or even more. For “Silence” I took 3 single shots and used the autobracket feature. Auto Bracket mode lets you shoot a burst of three exposures at different settings that can be set from + or - 2 stops. Here’s the result:
OK, after takin’ these pics I drove back home, got me a cup of coffee and fired up Photomatix Pro. This program allows you to merge your source images into one new HDR image. Just check out their website for more information. I will write some more detailed stuff about this program soon.
In a nutshell, this is how I create my pictures. A lot of people wanted to know how “Silence” was created, I hope this will lighten things up a bit.
More pictures and details are coming soon, so please check back.
October 27th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I saw your picture through ‘interfacelift’ site where I found a small text at the bottom at the picture that refered to ’shifted reality’, thar showed ‘Silence II’ that again refered to ’silence’, which I must say looks incredible, just outstanding.
I’m speechless. This is what I’ve been looking for - a real landscape picture that reflects so much: the darkend blue colours, the atmos, the fog ect.
I find myself somewhat of a ameteur photographer, and after finding out about this genius invention HDR, I’ve read a lot of the guides from both your site, HDRsoft and Adope PS_CS2.
Is Photomatrix superior to Adope and why?
I have a Canon DSLR EOS 350D with kit objective.
Do I have to convert my RAW files to jpg in order to make HDR pictures, I cannot figure it out.
Would you be able to awnser other questions that I might have.
Kind regards Allan Eskildsen - Denmark, Aarhus.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Hi Allan,
thank you for your comment.
I will answer your questions as soon as possible. Just have to solve my computer problems, I’ll be back in the next 2-3 days. Thanks four your patience!
February 5th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Dear Sir,
The picture “making of silence” is indeed on of the best pictures I have seen.
Can I use this picture in my blog which is completely non commercial and I guess will be available only to me and my friends?
Best Regards,
Deepak
February 5th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Hi Deepak,
yes, you can use it, no problem.
Thanks for your comment!
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Wow… this is really a beautiful picture. I never understood really how HDR worked before and produced such beautiful images, so I liked your explanation.
One question- can it be done with pictures taken from a digital camera when the images exposure is changed on the computer and not while taking the picture?
June 20th, 2008 at 6:38 am
The picture really brings out the beauty of silence…Awesome!