P#18 Q6A: How Can I Take My HDR Images From Basic to Truly Spectacular?
Tony Sweet reveals the tips, tricks, secrets and techniques for creating amazing HDR images
While most HDR images are attractive, not all of them are spectacular. How do you get yours from mediocre to extraordinary? Tony Sweet offered some guidance during his 7 Photography Questions interview.
Start With Your Subject
Tony Sweet: The first obvious answer would be to find a truly spectacular subject and just get in there and punch up certain controls and make it more dramatic. There's a control called Gamma, which is an overall control for globally brightening or darkening of an image. You'd be surprised how dramatic HDR images can get when you darken them.
People tend to baby these controls and move in little increments. Push them all the way down. See what it gives you. Nobody gets hurt. Push them all the way up and all the way down to the extremes. Sometimes you can find some unexpected drama that way.
Audri Lanford: I love it. What is another one of your secrets for getting such amazing HDR images?
Tony Sweet: Oh boy, do I have a secret?
Audri Lanford: It's probably not something you think of as a secret because you know it, but to other people...
Tony Sweet: That's a good point. I find that going out in the magic light (the marginal light, the first light or last light of day) can create some real drama. It takes that great image and brings out a little more detail. You can bring up a lot of color and make it very dramatic.
In Summary
It seems that HDR photography isn't very different from other types of photography -- in terms of the basics, at least. To get extraordinary HDR shots you need a good subject, and then you need great light. Those are two of the secrets Tony uses to create such spectacular HDR images.
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