Since I had the time this evening I started experimenting with High Dynamic Range photography. This kind of stuff requires time and a tripod so it’s not for everyone. It works by taking at least 3 “bracketed”photos – one underexposed, one normal exposure, and one overexposed. Then you use software to combine them and tone map them to create the finish the photo.
My example here is truly awful compared to others I have seen like this one. There is a large pool of HDR photos on Flickr here. I think the graininess here is coming from the fact that it was already dark when I took the photo. I can get much better texture to the photos by underexposing a daylight shot than by overexposing a night shot.
Yes, it is awful JD ! – too blunt ?
What software do you use to combine and tonemap the pictures ? Can GIMP do that ?
Jaffer, you can use qtpfsgui (you can get it via apt-get in Ubuntu) in Linux or for other platforms through Sourceforge and then combine the layers in GIMP. The link above: High Dynamic Range photography teaches how to do it using strictly open source tools.
Beautiful image! It looks more like a painting than a photograph. Absolutely gorgeous. Frame-worthy, I think.
Definitely a good photo JD. The effect makes the house come alive with Christmas spirit – or at least some sort of festivity. I had never heard of this type of photo before I saw this post, then today I stumbled upon this site here -> http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/50-incredible-examples-of-hdr-photography-done-right/
Some really good shots there too.
Yea, some of those are amazing!
I have so much to lean about doing them right. That one I posted is a very early experiment. Most of mine so far either look like a cartoon (see above) or its so subtle you can barely tell like the Reading Market Terminal Neon sign I posted.
My favorite so far is the Sake post I made.
(edit to fix links)