The HDR Alternative
That??™s no longer the case. These days, you can take pictures with a much deeper exposure
latitude that accurately depicts the full range of colors, brightness, and contrast in a scene. You
can get a dozen stops of exposure information rather than just six. No, the sensitivity of digital
cameras themselves hasn??™t improved??”and I don??™t expect that to change anytime soon. Instead,
High Dynamic Range (also known as HDR) photography relies on a technique in which you take
a series of photos, each with a different exposure, and combine them afterwards on the PC.
Intrigued? Check out some of these photos taken by HDR enthusiasts: www.flickr.com/
groups/hdr/pool/.
CHAPTER 15: Create Special Effects 333
So how do you get started with HDR? Since HDR requires that you take a series of photos,
I highly recommend using a tripod. Yes, it??™s possible to hand-hold your camera, but the results
may not be as good, and you??™ll be relying on your software??™s ability to line up each photo
perfectly??”something I??™ve never known to happen quite to my satisfaction.
Begin by setting your camera on the tripod and line up your scene in the viewfinder. To
trigger the camera, I also recommend a remote control (many cameras work with an infrared
remote), a remote cord, or the camera??™s self-timer.
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