HDR Photography

What is HDR Photography?

High Dynamic Range photography or HDR photography is an advanced set of photography techniques that play on image’s dynamic range in exposures. HDR Photography allows photographers to capture a greater range of tonal detail than any camera could capture thru a single photo. While many imaging experts regard HDR photography as the future of digital photography, the discipline has long been in existence.

HDR photography is present in many pictures taken through modern day digital cameras. The truth is, if you are a real photography enthusiast then there is a great chance that you have taken at least one photo exemplifying HDR photography.

The real functions or even executions of HDR photography may be debatable. But no matter which website or source you consult they will always say it is a technique that employs the great use of exposure range to get distinct values between light and dark areas of the image. Its real intention is to create an image that accurately characterizes the intensity levels found in natural scenes. If you ever wondered why the picture you took was different from the scenery you actually saw, then maybe it’s time for you to learn HDR photography.

HDR Photography is the technique used to capture and represent the full (as possible) DR found in a scene with high perceptual accuracy and precision. To remember things better, think of the 3S: sunlight, shadows and subjects. These are the things that make an ordinary picture an HDR image.

© Tara Craigon Photography

Theory Behind HDR photography

There are two theories behind HDR photography. And as the technology around HDR photography evolves so is the discipline itself. But if one wants to take HDR imagery seriously then he must first understand the concepts and theories that make up this discipline.

The most fundamental of all HDR photography theories is to take multiple shots at varying exposure levels of a particular subject. A special computer program will then combine the images together into a single image. This is just an incarnation of the original theory during the time when there are no digital cameras and advanced computers and programs were nothing more than a work of science-fiction.

The second theory is the one that capitalizes on the RAW processing software to create various exposure levels of the same image. Modern Digital SLR camera and a lot of the Point and Shoot models allow photographers to capture RAW images. A RAW image or file is the data captured by your Camera’s sensor that is not processed yet and therefore does have color information. You can manipulate this file, adjust its color, lighting or while balance.

Post-processing

Post processing is the last stage in HDR photography that you can really control. This is where technical skills merge with creative sensibility. And with the introduction of advanced digital cameras and photo editing software, HDR image post-processing is made a lot easier.
However, this does not guarantee that having an excellent HDR image will be as easy as clicking the shutter button. There may be times that the three or more images you took with varying exposure values are simply not enough. With this, the only chance you are left with is to do a post-processing of the image.

Post-processing generally involves color correction, saturation, contrast and brightness and darkness adjustment and other image element manipulation. But in HDR photography we need to concentrate on contrast and brightness and darkness adjustment. Brightness and darkness adjustment is the direct digital translation of exposure manipulation in the picture taking stage. If in the camera you adjust exposure settings, in the post-processing stage you will adjust the brightness.

The main advantage of process is surpassing the limitation of actually configuring your camera in different exposure levels. While some cameras may have eight exposure settings and therefore 8 different images, post-processing can simply give you a limitless number.

After the shoot, transfer the images to your computer. There is a merge to HDR feature in many photo editing software including Adobe Photoshop CS2 and above, Photomatix Pro, Dynamic Photo HDR and others. Post-processing software also allows you to blend photographs with different exposures. This clearly increases the dynamic range of the final output photo. There is also tone mapping which reveals highlight and shadow details in an HDR image made from multiple exposures.

Text credited to Haje Jan Kamps, www.pixiq.com

Shooting Crystals; All The Colors Of The Rainbow

© Tara Craigon Photography

Text courtesy of Jim Zuckerman, PhotoGraphic Magazine, March 2011

One of the more interesting projects I’ve explored in photography is shooting birefringent crystals. Birefringence is the splitting of a light ray by a crystal into two components that are at different velocities and are polarized at right angles to each other. What this means in terms of photography is that when light passes through the crystals, you can see rainbow colors in the unique and beautiful forms that make up the crystal.

The Chemicals
The first step is obtaining the crystals. Common birefringent substances that will crystallize are Epsom salts and photographic fix (the type used to fix black and white prints in the darkroom).If you choose to use Epsom salts or photographic fixer, you have to dissolve the solid white chemical in water and then pour the liquid on the sheet of glass. Over several hours or even days, the water evaporates forming crystals on the glass. You won’t see any colors at all at this point.

Polarizers

To get the rainbow colors, you have to use two polarizing filters. A circular polarizing filter screws onto the front of the camera lens, and a second (in the form of a sheet of polarizing plastic) is placed between the sheet of glass on which the crystals have formed and the light source.

© Tara Craigon Photography

The Technique

When a light source passes through the sheet of glass from behind, and one of the polarizers (it doesn’t matter which one) is rotated, the brilliant colors of the crystals are revealed. It’s a beautiful sight. I like to position the polarizers such that there is maximum contrast and maximum color. This is obvious when you look through the viewfinder because you will see exactly what you’ll be able to capture.

Make sure that the camera’s white balance is set correctly. I recommend using the Tungsten White Balance setting assuming you are using a tungsten light source, and you should use Daylight White Balance if using window light (you can use window light but the exposures will be long). Don’t use AWB (Auto White Balance) because the colors won’t be correct.

The crystals that have formed on the glass are quite small, and to reveal the wonderful detail and color you will need a macro lens or a set of extension tubes, or both. A bellows would also work well.

Macro photography requires technical discipline. This means a tripod is a must, and at the same time it’s critically important to make sure that the plane of the glass is parallel with the back of the camera (i.e. the plane of the digital sensor).
Look at the set up from the side to make sure these two planes are as parallel as possible. When taking the picture, use the mirror lock-up feature to minimize vibration, and I recommend triggering the camera with a wireless trigger, a cable release or the self-timer set to 10 seconds. In addition, make sure no one is walking around in the room in which you are shooting. When a tiny subject is magnified with macro equipment, even a subtle vibration will cause the tripod to vibrate, thus making the picture disappointingly unsharp.

Focusing

With significant magnification, focus is unbelievably critical. If the sheet of glass isn’t exactly parallel with the plane of the digital sensor, even f/32 won’t give you enough depth of field. Therefore, I looked through the viewfinder and tweaked the angle of the glass in tiny increments until the crystals looked sharp to me from edge to edge. I turned the autofocus mechanism off so I could add tiny adjustments manually. In this situation, autofocus doesn’t work.

This technique, and all macro photography, works best when your tripod head can lock the position of the camera firmly. If there is a tiny amount of slippage typical of inexpensive heads, you’ll be very frustrated !

Give it a try! You will be amazed with the possible results!

Beauty Photography

 “Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes.
It is not something physical.” - Sophia Loren

It was a long, cold winter and even though we are a 'hearty' folk here in Winnipeg, we still have the need to shake off those winter blues and rejuvenate ourselves for another season. 

Now that spring has sprung, what better way to feel renewed and refreshed (and perhaps a little bit sexy!) than to re-discover and reveal your inner and outer beauty? Have you ever had the desire to have a gorgeous portrait taken to either give to a loved one or perhaps just for yourself? 

As a professional photographer, I meet with you to discuss planning and creating a set of beautiful portraits. Photographed in the comfort of a centrally located, private and cozy studio, you can feel relaxed and confident that I will bring your vision to reality.

Perhaps you are looking for just one great enlargement to hang on a wall or maybe you would prefer a collection of images complied in a beautiful custom designed photo album. I can meet whatever your needs may be! Being a photographer and graphic designer, I am ready to create some beautiful work for you!

I am currently photographing out of The River Studio;  a collective of creative and talented visual artists. 

Contact me today to set up a consultation!

Group B's Lake of the Woods Adventure!

Bernie's Big Bad Boat!

Irene, Bernie and Speedy

Every year, each group of students at PrairieView chooses a group photo. This photo is framed and displayed on the wall of PrairieView alumni. On Wednesday, May 18, Group B of the 2010-2011 class traveled out to Irene and her husband Bernie's beautiful cottage on an island in Lake of the Woods.

Our group had decided we wanted to do a photo on a boat, in formal wear, with a glass of champagne! We chose this setting through a group brainstorming session and after narrowing the choices down, Irene suggested we use her boat for a photo shoot on the lake.  Needless to say, we were all very excited about the adventure!

We could not have asked for a more perfect day. Clear blue skies, warm and sunny! We carpooled in Jen and Hayley's vans and Ross met us in Kenora shortly after we arrived. The drive out was uneventlful but beautiful nonetheless. I think I can speak for all of us and say it was nice to get out of the city and back to nature!

Irene and Bernie have been building their cottage for ten years, and are now enjoying the beautiful haven they have created. They were very gracious hosts, letting us use the boat for the photo, then the delicious BBQ of ‘choice’ wieners and icy cold beer! Some of the other highlights were: Bernie showing off his new dream boat, seeing the massive eagle nest, photographing seagulls and pelicans on Bird island, and cruising by some incredible cottages along the shores.

 

Their generosity to the group was humbling and it highlights one of the great blessings from this course; the amazing people I have met and worked with over the past 9 months.

Each person came to this course a unique individual. We are all here for different reasons, and we all have different paths ahead of us. For me, the course allows me to add professional photography services to my graphic design business, as well, to indulge my passion of macro, nature and landscape photography.

During the course, I have drawn inspiration from my classmates. Each is a unique, vibrant individual with a wonderful, creative vision. Some have inspired me with their dedication and courage in leaving their careers for something very different. Others have inspired me with the way they see and interpret the world around them. All of us learning together, encouraging each other to create better images, creates a synergy that invigorates me and re-affirms my decision to pursue this career.

 

For the past 12 years, I have been an ‘amateur’ photographer. I have taken various classes in photography, and I've joined an art gallery to sell some of my photographic art. When I found myself in a position to start my own business using my graphic design career and to take the diploma course, it truly was a dream come true!

This course has been a great challenge. I've had to stay very disciplined to meet tight deadlines, as well as to stretch my creativity for various assignments. I have discovered new avenues and styles of photography that I enjoy and I look forward to my career in portrait and wedding photography, as well, continuing to create photographic art.

Wherever my journey takes me, I will always remember this milestone, and the amazing experience this course has been. Especially the amazingly talented people I have come to know.