The Golden Days of HDR

The Golden Days of HDR

HDR (High Dynamic Range) has its place, enabling shots to be made in areas where the brightness levels are so great that either shadows or highlights would normally be sacrificed but both could never be recorded. So, I use the 7 shot technique, with the camera firmly on a tripod. Exposures are made at 1 stop intervals, from -3EV through to +3EV. These are then combined in software, and I prefer to use Photomatix for this. Obviously HDR can be used for stretching realism into the fantastic and for adding drama to a shot, but it can also be used in a more subtle way to ensure a full range of tones can be condensed into an image that can be displayed on a monitor or a print. A typical example would be a church interior, where the deepest shadows and the brightest stained glass windows could both be reproduced in the one picture.

I don't do much HDR, just when I think it will enhance an image without being too OTT, but having said that we've all had our moments of excess. I'm going to have a look now in the HDR folder on my PC, so please join me and see what we can find.....

Chapel at Haddon Hall



Ripon Cathedral - a colour version of this won me first prize at the Wigan 10 Big Day of Photography a few years back



Library at Ripon Cathedral - unrealistic maybe, but I still like it



Boscobel House - it doesn't need HDR to look great, but it does make it more surreal



Boiler House at Victoria Baths, Manchester



Chapel at Arley Hall



Hall i' th' Wood, Bolton



Workshop



Carriage House at Dunham Massey, where the carriages were washed



Lancaster Priory



Courtyard at Manchester Town Hall



I enjoyed looking back at those and they certainly look more dramatic than a straight shot might have.