Bracketing - Nothing new, just research results
Mar 14, 2014 22:05:43 #
Following the previous thread I created on bracketing I used the answers to do some research, weighting the for and the against.
More than a few landscaping photographers are recommending to use SPEED bracketing and avoid blending problems which is what I thought. No one says anything about ISO so I will let this go for now. I need to experiment further on that one (ISO).
They also are all adamant about using a tripod and not go 'handheld' at all, no surprise there.
One of the other recommendations was to use raw, use raw use raw. No surprise there either.
A few others had a different take on the 'bracketing'. They recommended not to bracket at all but to expose for what was important in each zone. They did not recommend two or three or any specific number but to adapt to the conditions.
One thing is certain, HDR or picture blending for any reason is more than guessing or instinct. As usual this is about getting it right in the end of a long process.
More than a few landscaping photographers are recommending to use SPEED bracketing and avoid blending problems which is what I thought. No one says anything about ISO so I will let this go for now. I need to experiment further on that one (ISO).
They also are all adamant about using a tripod and not go 'handheld' at all, no surprise there.
One of the other recommendations was to use raw, use raw use raw. No surprise there either.
A few others had a different take on the 'bracketing'. They recommended not to bracket at all but to expose for what was important in each zone. They did not recommend two or three or any specific number but to adapt to the conditions.
One thing is certain, HDR or picture blending for any reason is more than guessing or instinct. As usual this is about getting it right in the end of a long process.
Mar 14, 2014 23:20:17 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Following the previous thread I created on bracket... (show quote)
Thanks for the Summary .... and the affirmation of concepts I had believed all along.
Mar 15, 2014 05:40:08 #
Actually it is pretty easy: for HDR make sure you have no blown highlights in the darkest exposure and full detail in the shadows in the lightest. You should have one frame "normally" exposed in the middle of those two, and that's about it. ISO bracketing will increase noise in the shadows, sometimes a lot, depending on how much the shadows have to be pulled up in tonemapping.
Mar 15, 2014 07:09:05 #
The scientific approach, varry the variables and examine the results. Kudos Rongnongno
Mar 15, 2014 07:26:50 #
Most of the time you can get by with 2-3 exposures - one to ensure highlights are not blown, and one that ensures that the shadows are properly recorded, even if you will end up making the shadow areas in post processing (tone-mapping). If the highlight(s) are really bright, like a light source (the sun in a sunset for instance), then three exposures would be a good idea.
Mar 15, 2014 10:34:46 #
peterg
Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
Gene51 wrote:
Most of the time you can get by with 2-3 exposures - one to ensure highlights are not blown, and one that ensures that the shadows are properly recorded
Right. I usually start with 3; but I check the camera's histogram to make sure I didn't miss anything.
Mar 15, 2014 17:51:04 #
GaryS1964
Loc: Northern California
I have read to use the lowest ISO possible which is what I try to do. This requires a tripod because the exposures are long especially in low light.
I think you can get good results from handheld HDR. I've done it. In those situations I use my cameras built in HDR feature, throw away it's resulting HDR image and use the bracketed RAW images and process them in HDR software.
I think you can get good results from handheld HDR. I've done it. In those situations I use my cameras built in HDR feature, throw away it's resulting HDR image and use the bracketed RAW images and process them in HDR software.
Mar 16, 2014 01:24:29 #
Actually, this image was bracketed with a Nikon D7000, 3 images, +2, 0, -2 done hand held with the camera on High Speed.
Mar 16, 2014 16:57:42 #
GaryS1964
Loc: Northern California
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Actually, this image was bracketed with a Nikon D7000, 3 images, +2, 0, -2 done hand held with the camera on High Speed.
I like the way this shot turned out. Looks like it could have been a painting. It's unfortunate the view through the windows is blown out. I'm not familiar with your camera but perhaps a wider spread (+3 0 -3) or five shots (+3 +2 0 -2 -3) would have captured the scene outside the windows. Did the -2 shot show any outside detail? If so a photo merging technique mentioned to me in regards to one of my shots by a fellow Hogger could help capture that detail.
Mar 16, 2014 17:46:00 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Following the previous thread I created on bracket... (show quote)
I'm new to HDR. Would you please explain SPEED bracketing?
Mar 16, 2014 17:51:04 #
aammatj wrote:
"Speed" is only the shutter speed being used to create the various exposures, leaving the aperture and ISO as constant. Sorry I omitted 'shutter' that would have made the statement clearer, my mistake.I'm new to HDR. Would you please explain SPEED bracketing?
Mar 16, 2014 18:08:19 #
Thanks for the explanation. Can't wait to experiment with HDR.
Mar 16, 2014 20:57:42 #
I have another HDR image, which is not ready for publication, where I used Photomatix to change the exposure slightly on one of the images to bring out the exterior detail. Next time I go back to Bodie, CA I will have a tripod and an external device to get a 7 image spread.
Mar 17, 2014 08:20:30 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
I have another HDR image, which is not ready for publication, where I used Photomatix to change the exposure slightly on one of the images to bring out the exterior detail. Next time I go back to Bodie, CA I will have a tripod and an external device to get a 7 image spread.
I was in Bodie. I suggest 9 EV spreads. These are done in Adobe RGB, so they look too pale here.
Mar 17, 2014 08:36:21 #
I almost wish I had passed by this posting. My brain is starting to hurt from all the input. I keep trying to learn something new each day and each day seems to compound into something new (for me). Now I will have to research bracketing and HDR. Thank you, or not, for the tips. My expectations are greater than my ability.
:shock:
Rongnongno wrote:
Following the previous thread I created on bracket... (show quote)
:shock:
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