This HDR Guide is a work-in-progress refer to the old guide for more complete information.
Welcome aboard to Captain Kimo’s HDR How to Guide! Let us learn and have fun exploring the art of HDR photography. Every single section of this guide is written for you – whether you’re a professional or a budding photographer. In the simplest way possible, I will explain what High Dynamic Range photography is, what you need to shoot in HDR, and how to create HDR photos. As you journey with me, surely, you will get excited to capturing that postcard-perfect shot. To make it easier for everyone, I have included bits and pieces of video, charts and links that I found all over the Internet to help you jumpstart your trip to this style of artistic photography.
On your first stop, you will come across what HDR photography really is. In this section of the HDR How to Guide, you will learn how important lighting and shadows are in photography, especially when creating your HDR photos. Once you have learned from this section, you will be amazed with the beauty of HDR photography in capturing real-life scenes. You can even let your imagination run wild and opt to create surreal or painting-like HDR photos.
Now that you have learned what HDR is, it’s time to start shooting. But you can’t really start if you don’t have the basic tools, right? This style of photography basically only needs 2 things: a digital camera and HDR software. The HDR Basics section of the Captain’s HDR How to Guide will tell you all the nitty-gritty of the different tools you need. Whether you are new to HDR or just trying to improve your craft, and if you are planning to own the perfect camera that is HDR photo friendly, I have even made a descriptive list of cameras for you to choose from.
At this time, with the right gear in hand, you are finally set to go. But HDR photography is not just pointing your camera and pressing the shutter; it is the intermarriage of art and technology. By learning how to get the right exposures and merging them using computer software, you can create something beautiful. Thankfully, this HDR How to Guide, subsections “How to Get Multiple Exposures”, and “How to Merge Exposures Using Different Software” will teach you how to achieve what you have pictured out in your mind as your perfect HDR photo.
You are not done yet. The fun has yet to begin with the “How to do Tone Mapping for Desired Results” section. This is actually the most exciting part where you can explore all the different tabs and options and preview them while you are on the process of creating your piece of art. Furthermore, in the HDR How to Guide, subsection HDR Tutorial; it is actually the smallest things like a color one shade lighter or an image one step sharper that will make the difference. Thus I have included tips and bits of information to spice it all up. How about some shots, then?