Mr.Wilson's Satellite Digital Photography Course: Advanced Students: HDR Pro Project

Hello Students,

Your new assignment is to shoot a set of "bracketed" images and combine them with Photoshop's "Merge to HDR Pro" feature. HDR Pro is a powerful tone mapping program, and is the best way to merge multi-exposure images. Bracketing refers to shooting images in multiple exposures, normal, over and under exposed... which are then combined to show a greater depth of light, a higher dynamic range... of color, light and dark.

Project Requirements:

• You will produce 4 final images for this project, 1 landscape, 1 architecture, 1 still life, 1 automobile

• You must use a tripod to shoot a set of multiple exposure images. and then combine them with the Merge to HDR Pro feature in photoshop. Take 3 different exposures, underexposed, normal and overexposed.

• Write down the shutter speed, aperture and ISO for each image you take, HDR Pro may need this information. You can look it up in your EXIF data as well. Use the inspector in the Preview program to see the data.

• For your first image you will merge the separate exposures and use the sliders in the HDR Pro interface to achieve your best desired look.

• For the other 3 images, reload your separate exposures in HDR Pro and choose your 3 favorite Presets from the Preset Menu.

• Post your final images to the flickr account when complete

Tips and Advice to get great results:

Subject matter is your choice, but avoid any portraits or any subject that will move between taking each picture. Only attempt portraits if your model can stay perfectly still for all exposures. otherwise there will be ghosting and blur in your image.
HDRI process works best with landscapes, cars, architecture and objects that have rich texture or very shiny surfaces, like cars.
HDR Pro can align your images, but if there is too much movement between exposures than results can be less than desirable.
Use a tripod, it is mandatory for this project!