HDR Photography: September 2008 Archives

I asked Tony Sweet what exercise our listeners could do to improve their HDR photos. After all, practice makes perfect and exercises are the best way to improve your HDR skills. Tony's answer was more than helpful.

This photograph of a barn frame is the perfect example of how HDR can help you achieve a shot that would otherwise be impossible to get. While lighting controls almost all photography shots and tells you what you can and cannot shoot, HDR lets you work around some lighting challenges. Tony Sweet elaborates on this.

At first glance, this picture of a barber chair looks as though it was shot in a dilapidating environment. Tony explains exactly where this picture was taken and how he captured this shot.

This picture taken on Ellis Island isn't just about the scenery. It goes much deeper than that. This shot was taken at one of America's most significant historical sites. Tony Sweet explains where he was when he took it, and what he saw there.

Usually HDR photography involves multiple shots, but Tony Sweet only used one in this image of Justine's. What was the thought behind a one-shot HDR, and how does such a process work? Tony explained in detail the answers to both those questions.

This sage field is so beautiful; it feels almost more like a painting than a photograph. How did Tony create such an amazing shot? In his interview he explained how and why he used not just one software program, but two, for this stunning image.

Oftentimes when photographing storm clouds, the resulting image doesn't do the actual scenery justice. How did Tony Sweet manage to capture this amazing shot? He answered that question in detail during his 7 Photography Questions interview.

This sunrise image is one that truly takes the breath away. Photographs like this just don't "happen" so I asked Tony to explain how he created such a wonderful photo. His answer was very informative.

Night shots are some of the hardest to get, which is why this one of the Baltimore National Aquarium took my breath away. I asked Tony to explain how he got such a detailed shot at night.

During his 7 Photography Questions interview I couldn't help but ask Tony Sweet what he knows now, that he wishes he had known when he started out exploring high dynamic range imaging. His answer was quite surprising.

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.

Finding great subjects for your photographs isn't always an easy task, and we know that an HDR photo has more technical issues than most other types of photography. Is finding a great subject more complicated too? The answer may surprise you.

Tony had said there were a few common mistakes made when people begin exploring HDR photography, and he wasn't exaggerating. HDR photography is a bit more involved than just pointing and shooting your camera. Here he explains the other common mistake people tend to make.

When people begin exploring HDR photography, there are some common mistakes they seem to make. I asked Tony Sweet if he could explain what these mistakes were and give some tips on how to avoid them.

So if you want to pass by the most common HDR pitfalls, you're going to need this information...

Tony Sweet mentioned tone mapping more than once or twice during his 7 Photography Questions interview. I knew some of our listeners would be thrown by this technical term, so I asked him to elaborate on what it was and how it applies to HDR photography.

When it comes to HDR software, there are quite a few options to choose from. You don't want to invest in software only to discover you made the wrong choice.

Tony Sweet told us which HDR software he prefers for his HDR photography, and why so many pros use it.

Whenever the topic has come up, all of the pros I've spoken with in these interviews have suggested shooting in RAW format rather than JPEG or TIFF. A subscriber asked if Tony Sweet felt the same. We got to the bottom of whether or not RAW was right for HDR, and why.

A point and shoot digital camera is so easy to use, but is it capable of handling HDR photography? That's exactly what I asked Tony Sweet during his 7 Photography Questions interview. Here's what he had to say...

Everyone knows that photography isn't a cheap hobby or profession, and HDR high dynamic range photography is no exception to that rule. We asked Tony Sweet what equipment is essential for doing HDR. The shopping list he provided wasn't as long as you might think.

Many people have heard about high dynamic range photography, but so many amateur photographers have no idea what it really is. So if you're not sure what HDR means or what it entails, you're certainly not alone. I asked Tony Sweet to explain the technology and techniques behind HDR during his 7 Photography Questions interview.

High dynamic range photography treads where our cameras (and sometimes even the human eye) cannot. Dramatic images can be achieved, and the weaknesses caused by the limitations of equipment and exposure can become a thing of the past.

We begin with what (exactly) high dynamic range photography is and how it works. We then explore the important questions, along with the secrets and techniques that set apart the pros from the beginners. Tony Sweet has the answers and he reveals it all during this 7 Photography Questions interview.

HDR photography can take photographers beyond the limitations of their cameras. Exposure and light can be manipulated like never before to create images that used to be impossible.

The problem is, not everyone truly understands what High Dynamic Range or HDR photography is and how it can be used to create amazing photographs.

If you want to learn to manipulate your exposures and create breathtaking photographs with details in the shadows, midtones and highlights (instead of just one or the other), then you need to learn about HDR, and that's exactly what Tony Sweet's 7 Photography Questions interview will teach you.