Comments on: 10 tips on how to do HDR photos without a tripod

By: Destiny

Destiny — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 19:26:28 +0000

Hehe Looks good.

By: nhzt

nhzt — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:48:00 +0000

Great article but there is a mistake.. There is not Hagia Sofia Mosque in christian community. There is the temple or the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Today, Hagia Sophia is a museum and sometimes a priest celebrates mass.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:52:09 +0000

In reply to Serban Streza. Awesome I'm so glad. Yes I hate that over done look too. I call it "neon puke" and in my HDR class I say not to do that.

By: Serban Streza

Serban Streza — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:33:54 +0000

Darlene, Thank you so much for the info. I assumed everything you explained here but was never sure. I wasn’t aware of the noise reduction in the computer before exporting (from Lightroom in my case) to the hdr software (HDR Efex pro in my case 🙂 ) but I’ll give it a try. While I embrace HDR I was put off several times by exaggerated effects that you see every time you look for HDR photos. 90% of the photos are way too strong effects. Yours are just right! You lit this light again in me. Thank you!!!

By: Meiki67

Meiki67 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 07:51:37 +0000

It’s one second BEFORE the series – the series itself is certainly without interruption. You would not believe how long ONE second can be if you use it consciously – to hold your hands quiet after pressing the shutter release and making the last corrections to camera alignment …

By: Darlene

Darlene — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:51:42 +0000

In reply to Meiki67. Thanks for that. But is the one second timer just before the first shot or all of them? If it's the first that would work great. If its before each then getting the images lined up might be harder.

By: Meiki67

Meiki67 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:54:27 +0000

Thank you for this most learned article !
May I add one important tip which I use on my Canon S95 : I shoot HDR most of the time without tripod – I define a one second selftimer which after pressing the shutter release gives me enough time to put the camera in final position and avoids camera shake caused by the pressing.
Just my two cents …
You can visit my portfolio at flickr and especially The making of a vivid HDR photo

By: theorist

theorist — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 06:02:45 +0000

I should add that, if you are going to use my suggestion with a slim P&S, a form-fitting rubber case would help, both to protect the camera and to increase friction.

By: theorist

theorist — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:59:07 +0000

I see, that makes sense.

I have a suggestion. Under #5, about bracing, you write “Lean on something solid like a table or wall if you have the option.” But better than bracing yourself is to brace the camera. I used to take open-shutter night shots with exposures of 1-3 minutes using my old film SLR (the shutter would stay open as long as I held the button — it was called “bulb mode”) without a tripod. They came out well because instead of bracing myself against a table or wall, I would brace the camera. Ideally, I’d find a low wall, press the camera down firmly on top it, and take the shot. The friction and pressure would keep the camera immobile. So if you are in a cathedral, say, look for a nearby column or door jamb and hold the camera firmly against it.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:24:45 +0000

In reply to theorist. No I haven't played with those much because I prefer to have the control over how it gets merged. The in camera HDR does more of an exposure blend to even out the brights and darks and you get a more natural looking image than is possible using the other method. I think there's an application for it and I think the Sony's are pretty good. But I haven't personally tried it.

By: theorist

theorist — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:52:53 +0000

Darlene,

Do you have any experience with in-camera HDR, like that featured on the newer Sonys? I assume you set it to HDR mode, press the button, and it automatically takes a set of bracketed shots and combines them in the camera. I was wondering what kind of results they give.

Thanks!

By: Duke

Duke — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:18:18 +0000

Darlene,

Thanks for the clarification. You read my question right; I read step 7 wrong!!

By: Darlene

Darlene — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:11:03 +0000

@Duke – when you are underexposing you want a gap on the right – so nothing flashing, anywhere on the whole image. That will be -2 or greater (-4).

– when you are overexposing you want to keep going brighter until you have a gap on the left side of the histogram now (+2 or +4).

Does that help? Not sure if I read your question right or not.

By: Duke

Duke — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:37:36 +0000

Step 7. I’m not getting a gap on the left until at least the normal (0) exposure. Shooting at -2 demands jamming the left side. Otherwise there will be flashing. Right? And as for flashing, a great deal at +2, but you meant what you said, that no flashing on the -2 exposure, right? Please enlighten, thank you.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:14:21 +0000

In reply to Gordon Jenkins. Great idea!

By: Gordon Jenkins

Gordon Jenkins — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:51:46 +0000

Great article. One other tip that helps me avoid the shakes with my D800 is to go to the menu and select a one (or two) second delay in the d4 menu (exposure delay mode). This permits me to get the shakes inherent in pusing the shutter button out of the first shot, which will occur one second AFTER I push the shutter button.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 06:16:53 +0000

In reply to Jayne Cabique (JPC Photos). Glad you're enjoying it, you go Aussie girl!

By: Jayne Cabique (JPC Photos)

Jayne Cabique (JPC Photos) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:13:55 +0000

This site was very helpful, I am using a NIKON D3000, she is an oldie but a goodie, I truly love the look of HDR photography, and have used your guide to reset my ca,era and am off to
‘shoot”.. I really have no idea what I’m doing with this process, but i guess I will have a whole load of fun along the way…Love your work, I too inspire to be as good..Thanks, I will keep you posted as to how I went once I purchase the soft ware required…..

I’m an inspired Aussie girl Thank you 🙂

By: Darlene

Darlene — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 05:05:03 +0000

In reply to Simon.

Hi Simon – Just post a link to somewhere online where we can see your HDR images.

Thanks
Darlene

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 03:14:20 +0000

Very nice images and useful hints. I didn’t get how to share with you my HDR images. Tnx