HDR Photography anyone?

bitslammer

First off I'll try to explain what HDR imaging is. In a nutshell it's a process to try to mimic more closely what your eye can see as opposed to a camera sensor. It's best used in situation where you have both really bright and really dark sections in a picture. Excellent example and explanation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

My issue is I'm trying to find affordable or better yet free software to do this. SO far I like FDRTools Basic 2.3.3 but I'm still learning. Anyone else messing around with this?

Here's my work so far.

First shot of my home office. As you can see the light from the window and monitor is somewhat "blown out" or too light. Also the darker areas are somewhat...well dark.



Here's the HDR Image. Pretty good but a bit over saturated on some of the blues.The monitor is better as you can actually see the image, but the window is still way overexposed. You can only barely see the blinds.

Capt Frank

Hey Chris,
Things have been hectic since I got into town but are settling down, maybe we can get together soon
You've got mail.

Capt Frank

Gator Bait

 
Hi Chris

I haven't had a chance to look into HDR very much but would like to. On the surface it sounds like a similar out come to the Zone System made famous by Minor White. I did start to look at HDR one day but everything I saw pointed to $$$ I don't have. If you are finding good free resources I would love to hear about them. I'm way to tired to think about this tonight. This weekend I will try to give it some coherent thought.

Gator

 

bitslammer

Here's a good start: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-high-dynamic-range-hdr-software.htm

Village Idiot

Comes in PC and Mac platforms.

http://www.hdrsoft.com/

Gator Bait

 
Thanks Chris, I will be looking into your link. It looks very interesting. I would look at it now but I have my brother on the phone and he will not stop talking. :S

Gator

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

I use HDR images for creating the lighting in architectural models, but i don't mess with it in the day to day world myself (just for work).

you can light a model simply by using a spherical shot of the "real" world (taken in HDRI mode), and using that as the light source.

you should still be able to find detail in the whites just as you did in the chair and under the desk in the darks.. but i'm not savvy as to how to put them together.

i did a quick (very quick) check of Photoshop Elemants ($79) but didn't see anything re: HDRI

have you done any QTVR stuff?

all that stuff is nearly automated now. five or six years ago it was a b!tch.

Gator Bait

 
I like your desk top image Chris, very appropriate, Egg Rock Light! :laugh:

Gator