HDR Guidelines Part 1

The following post is some basic guidelines for shooting HDR source material. Parts 2 and 3 will be up in the next couple of days. Enjoy and shoot well.

High Dynamic Range Considerations - Bull's Guidelines

Shooting a scene with a dynamic range (DR) exceeding the capability of your sensor will either leave you with blown highlights or no shadow detail. Shooting multiple images to overcome the limitations of your sensor may, with sound processing, give you good highlights and shadow detail. When shooting multiple images try to ensure the exact same composition for each shot (to ensure optimum processing each pixel should match exactly!)

Different situations require more or less stability. For example, a series of bracketed shots taken with camera auto exposure bracketing (AEB) functionality and high shutter speeds may be hand held. For more challenging situations a sound tripod and ball head optimized as below will create a better series of source files.

-Use a STABLE tripod and head (a poor tripod is the number one equipment issue seen here at LIGHT.) The following tips may help make the tripod more stable.
-Lower legs

-Lower center column all the way and lock down

-Hang a weight
-Remove camera strap

Once the camera is firmly attached to the tripod via a good ballhead (Really Right Stuff BH-40 or BH-55) the following may also help reduce vibrations.
-Mirror lockup (more on mirror lockup's efficiency or lack thereof later)
-Cable or wireless release
-If no release, use the camera’s self timer

Part 2 soon.

Fiat Lux!