HDR Photography How To

If you’ve been looking for a tutorial on creating HDR images, look no further. Alan Kesselhaut has made a great video explaining all the aspects of high dynamic range photography starting with the equipment and ending with the editing process. Kesselhaut covers the three most popular pieces of HDR editing software: Photomatix, Adobe Photoshop, and NIK HDR Efex Pro. If you’re willing to donate an hour and a half of your time to the following video, you will more than likely come away from the experience with an enriched knowledge and greater appreciation of the photographic technique:

Kesselhaut’s suggested camera setting for HDR images are as follows:

  • Shoot on aperture priority mode.
  • ISO 100 or your cameras lowest ISO setting
  • f/8
  • High speed continuous
  • Always shoot in raw
  • Turn on the auto bracketing feature with highlight warning.
  • Turn off auto focus.

high dynamic range photography

Kesselhaut further adds that you should be checking your histogram frequently. And 95% of the time, 3 images will be enough to create a good HDR photograph.

how to shoot hdr

“Editing is very hard, but it comes with practice. Just trust yourself.”

Try the Leading HDR Photography Software:

Photomatix is the software of choice for most professional HDR photographers. Create high dynamic range photos with the look you want, from realistic to creative, using one-click presets and a large range of settings. Includes alignment of hand-held shots, powerful ghost removal tools, batch processing and more: Try Photomatix HDR on Your Photos

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3 responses to “HDR Photography How To”

  1. Kay Brewer says:

    This had the potential to be a fabulous tutorial on HDR if Mr Kesselhaut had stuck to his request that people hold their questions until the end. But he didn’t. There were constant interruptions by people going on and on with comments and questions. I couldn’t hear the questions, he kept half way answering therm and then saying he would get to that. I finally had to stop the video. I wanted to hear what he had to say, but the interruptions just got too annoying and time-eating.

  2. Michal says:

    Both example pictures in this “tutorial” are fine example of when and how not to do HDR.

  3. Roy says:

    The B&H videos are always pretty informative.
    I enjoy creating HDR photography for Landscapes and Architecture… The portrait HDR look still hasn’t grown on me.

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