[Xander]

I'm using a D40 and don't have autobracketing on it . I have CS3 and I've been using the HDR feature, but not getting good results. Since I don't have autobracketing I'm extremely confused on how to get the exposure(s). I know one is a 'normal' pic, but how do I decide the other two or more?

Thanks,
X

[Xander]

bump .... 10 Char

[ZJeepMI]

I use photomatix, it works well. I'm not sure if I do it completely right, but I think the results are ok. What I do is take one picture so it is fairly dark, one completely normal, and one too bright. So, the only thing I change is shutter speed. Here is the outcome, not my best one but the only one on this computer.

[CHI JPR]

Originally Posted by Xander

I'm using a D40 and don't have autobracketing on it . I have CS3 and I've been using the HDR feature, but not getting good results. Since I don't have autobracketing I'm extremely confused on how to get the exposure(s). I know one is a 'normal' pic, but how do I decide the other two or more?

Thanks,
X

what's up Pal? I asked the same question of htat dude on Extremes site who did a bunch of pics from the Jeep fest on how to do it, and I too shoot with a D40 and am NOT sure also how to do it without autobracketing. Shoot me a PM if you figure it out.


btw- I hope your at the All Star game!!!!!

[Xander]

Originally Posted by CHI JPR

what's up Pal? I asked the same question of htat dude on Extremes site who did a bunch of pics from the Jeep fest on how to do it, and I too shoot with a D40 and am NOT sure also how to do it without autobracketing. Shoot me a PM if you figure it out.


btw- I hope your at the All Star game!!!!!

Hey mang! I think the guy at the fest just auto brackets and 'plugs n' chugs' with the software, so there really isn't that much to it for him (which i'm not a fan of). I really like to mess with it, but I don't get anything like him yet. But thats the fun of it.

No I'm not at the All Star game, but my dad has front row tix to tonite AND last nite. Hows the little jeeper?

[jeepsarecool]

Ok, here's what you do.......................

Obviously, you set your camera on manual mode. I usually adjust it to "correct exposure" and then dial back the SHUTTER SPEED (it's important to adjust shutter speed and not aperture for this) at least a couple of stops. My camera is set on 1/3 stops, so every three clicks of the dial equals one stop. Take a photo. Click the shutter speed back up a stop, take a photo. Repeat that to get as many photos as you want/need.

Of course you need to be using a tripod, and you need to do this as quickly as possible because the light can change so much in a few seconds.

The way to determine if you've captured the entire dynamic range is to have your camera set to the histogram while you're doing it. You want the photo with the longest shutter speed to not have any data blocked up on the left side of your histogram (the darks) and you want your photo with the shortest shutter speed not to have any data blocked up on the right side of the histogram (the lights). That's how you know if you've got enough exposures.

The important thing is to always have the same number of stops between each exposure. I always just do one stop for simplicity's sake, but you could do 1/2 stops or whatever you want.

Then you just plug the photos into your HDR converter (I used photoshop at first, but I suggest Photomatix) and adjust it however you want.

[AlTheKillerr]

damn everyone on here is getting into HDR now

[jeepsarecool]

Originally Posted by AlTheKiller

damn everyone on here is getting into HDR now

It's your fault. You keep showing off your HDR photos and making everyone want to try it.

I really haven't been doing any HDR lately. I go through cycles of what I like to do. There are some times when HDR works very well though when you have extreme lights and darks in the same image.

[AlTheKillerr]

yeah ive notice that it doesnt work to well at times which bums me out but thats ok. i like the idea of using it for the story though just because it makes the pictures abit more story like and less real