1st Edition
The Anti-HDR HDR Photography Book A Guide to Photorealistic HDR and Image Blending
The Anti-HDR HDR Photography Book contains everything you’ll need to know in order to get the best results from your High Dynamic Range images. Designed for those who want to extend the dynamic range in their work, but are frustrated by over-processed and hyper-saturated images, this book proves that HDR techniques are capable of producing photographs that are both stunning and realistic.
In addition to helping you choose the right equipment and settings to optimize your shoot for HDR, the book explains how to use post-processing software to create natural-looking photographs, blend source images with layer masks, and establish an efficient workflow. By teaching you to effectively use all the most important tools of HDR, it will expand the scope of your portfolio and allow you to create images that you never thought were possible.
Key features include:
- What to look for when choosing a camera for HDR
- Description of gear that is important to the HDR photographer
- How to use the HDR software applications Photomatix and SNS-HDR Pro to achieve natural-looking results
- Discussion of blending multiple source images using simple masks and techniques
- An in-depth examination of the use of Luminance Masks for blending and editing bracketed images to a photorealistic composite
- Guide to workflow, from organizing images on the computer to pre-merge editing of RAW files using both Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Bridge
- The use of black-and-white in HDR and image-blending, including ways to convert color images to black-and-white
- Gear
- The Fundamentals – Exposure & Composition
- Time to Take Some Pictures?
- Organization & Prep – PreBlend Work
- Blending Using Photomatix & SNS-HDR
- Manual Blending Using Simple Masks
- Advanced Blending Using Luminance Masks
- Final Tweaking of Merged & Tonemapped Images
- Converting to Black & White
Choosing a Camera
Sensor Size
Mirrorless or SLR
Lenses
To Cable or Not to Cable?
Do You Have Support?
Tripod Legs
Tripod Heads
Memory Cards
Filters
Exposure and Metering
Metering
Exposure & The Triumvirate
Shutter Speed
Aperture
ISO Setting
Composition
Rule of Thirds
Golden Section
Leading Lines & S-Curves
Yield Not to Temptation (AKA, Because I Can)
What to Bracket
How Many to Bracket
Using HDR Software
Manual Blending
Can I Use My Segmented Meter?
What About ETTR?
Do I Have to Bracket?
Image Organization
Using Lightroom & Bridge
Importing Using Lightroom
Importing Using Bridge
Backing Up Your Work
Prepping Your Files for Blending
Prepping for Blending in HDR Software
In Lightroom
In Bridge
Photomatix
Tonemapping
Details Enhancer
Contrast Optimizer
Exposure Fusion
SNS-HDR Pro
Tonemapping
Masking
Preparation of Images for Manual Blending
Basic Panel (Tab in Camera Raw)
Curves
HSL/Grayscale
Blending with Simple Layer Masks
Creating Luminance Masks
Blending with Luminance Masks
Sharpening
Capture Sharpening
Creative Sharpening
Output Sharpening
Output Sharpening in Lightroom
Output Sharpening in Photoshop
Final Editing
Converting Source Images to Black-and-White
Converting in Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw
Merging in Photomatix
Blending in SNS-HDR
Converting to Black-and-White After Blending
Using Snapshots
Biography
Robert Fisher is a commercial photographer and freelance writer based just outside of Toronto, Canada. His love of photography began over 15 years ago when he was first exposed to the impressionistic style. As a writer, he has traveled the world to cover topics ranging from politics to concussions, and as a photographer he has exhibited his work in a number of shows and galleries. He is the author of The Digital Zone System: Taking Control from Capture to Print and The Mobile Photographer: A Guide to Using Android® Phones, Tablets and Apps in a Photography Workflow.
"You'll find a good discussion on tone mapping and excellent coverage of blending, both automatically and manually. Good comparison images too." - Peter Bauer, Photoshop User magazine
