HDR (high dynamic range)

While digital cameras have become very sophisticated, there are shortcomings. Any camera has limited ability to capture both shadow detail and highlight detail in a single image capture. Situations arise where the actual range of light (dynamic range) exceeds the camera’s capability. HDR photography techniques are used to capture both the shadow and highlight information and then post-process the information such that it looks proper and natural.

Though all of my cameras include HDR capability, they do not always create a pleasing result. Furthermore, I have used multiple software applications that automate HDR, but do not always create a pleasing result. More often than not, I resort to a more labor-intensive approach in Photoshop using luminosity masks. This requires advanced planning to capture the necessary exposures in the camera.

Here are a few examples.