Lightroom and HDR: In light of all the processing possibilities in Lightroom... is there anything to gain by first bracketing shots and then HDR processing them followed by your normal...

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

In light of all the processing possibilities in Lightroom... is there anything to gain by first bracketing shots and then HDR processing them followed by your normal LR processing? Can't you get the same outcome simply eliminating HDR?

I'm interested in your opinions... Thanks

picpiper Loc: California

bbrowner wrote:

In light of all the processing possibilities in Lightroom... is there anything to gain by first bracketing shots and then HDR processing them followed by your normal LR processing? Can't you get the same outcome simply eliminating HDR?

I'm interested in your opinions... Thanks

Are you asking about eliminating bracketing or eliminating HDR processing?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

bbrowner wrote:

In light of all the processing possibilities in Lightroom... is there anything to gain by first bracketing shots and then HDR processing them followed by your normal LR processing? Can't you get the same outcome simply eliminating HDR?

I'm interested in your opinions... Thanks

Yes, you end up with a raw (dng, actually) file that you can still edit like a raw file in LR. No, you cannot get the same results without bracketing. Keep in mind that HDR merging in LR is just that - you merge your images into one. You still have to process the image to get the tone mapping or fusion correct. The LR HDR function is a lot like the application LR/Enfuse. No image processing, only exposure merging.

joseph premanandan

HDR in my opinion enhances the details both in shadows and in highlights and still you have to edit the final image after merging for tonemaping,clarity,sharpening etc and after you have done the HDR,you can do the tonemaping by using photomatix.,joseph

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bbrowner wrote:

In light of all the processing possibilities in Lightroom... is there anything to gain by first bracketing shots and then HDR processing them followed by your normal LR processing? Can't you get the same outcome simply eliminating HDR?

I'm interested in your opinions... Thanks

When you shoot between three and seven shots, you can have a wide range of exposure, something you're not going get processing just one image. I've tried the HDR single and wasn't impressed.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Bracketing 3 or more images gives you way more dynamic range than a pseudo-HDR done with one RAW file or the two shot merged JPG that many camera have built-in as a scene mode. It's a great technique for scenes with lots of range. Like any other tool, it's best used where needed. It does take time in post to do it right, so I pick and choose when to use it.

philo Loc: philo, ca

I'm not impressed by the hdr merge in LR. When you use nik then you can pick and choice from presets as a starting point.
i was happy to find that I can merge images from bridge by going to the google link with out going to ps.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

philo wrote:

I'm not impressed by the hdr merge in LR. When you use nik then you can pick and choice from presets as a starting point.
i was happy to find that I can merge images from bridge by going to the google link with out going to ps.

The HDR in LR is never going to give you the same results as a program that also alters tone, color and contrast. All it does is simply merge the images. For real estate work as well as other "natural" looking images, it is as good if not better than LR/Enfuse - which basically provides the same results - no exposure fusion, tone mapping or anything else, and you still end up with a merged raw file to which you can do things that cannot be easily done in a pixel based program like Nik or any of the other popular packages.

There is nothing stopping you from using the tone-alteration features in those packages to an exported 16 bit merged HDR image exported out of LR.