Did you know our cameras cannot see the same way, the human eyes can see? Well, the human eyes can see a huge range of light & details, both in bright and dark parts of a scene at any one time whereas our camera (sensor) cannot see as much details in bright & dark parts of a scene at any one time. This gives rise to the need of HDR Photography which is used when the exposure is affected due to the presence of extreme contrasts/tones in a scene.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is useful for capturing the detail in the darkest and lightest elements of an image. Most of the high-end DSLR Cameras have built-in HDR mode.
In this mode, the DSLR takes a series of images of the same scene with different exposures/brightness levels, then combines them to create one final image. Here, the photographer can set the exposure and the number of images the DSLR must shoot.
Since the DSLR will reduce the shutter speed for dark exposure, you will have to use a tripod to prevent camera shake/blur. HDR is ideal for Landscape Photography and Night Time Photography.
What if I don’t have HDR mode in my DSLR Camera
Well, check the menu in your DSLR for Exposure Compensation (Expo.comp) or Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) setting. It will help you capture HDR photos and bring out the highlights and shadows of the image.
How to use Auto Exposure Bracketing to capture HDR photos
Exposure Compensation (Expo.comp) or Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) allows you to adjust the meter’s exposure value. With this option, you can set the exposure value from -5 to +5 (it will vary depending on the DSLR camera you are using).
At 0, you will get an image with normal exposure; at -1 you will get a slightly underexposed image and at +1 you will get a slightly overexposed image. Experiment with different exposure settings and take a series of photographs of the same scene. Later, combine these photographs into a single image using post-processing software like Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop to create the image, close to what you remember seeing while photographing it.
We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to Jo.
To understand HDR Photography, Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of HDR Photography with the help of practical examples.
When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.
Do Share The Learning – Like It, Post It, Pin It, Tweet It!
