HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) or simply HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a technology for working with images and videos whose brightness range exceeds the capabilities of standard technologies.
Imagine that you decide to take a photo of a building with your phone camera. You're trying to photograph a building, but it turns out to be too dark in the background. bright sky. Accordingly, it is very difficult to distinguish any details, but the human eye, looking at the building, sees all these details and distinguishes them perfectly.
If we set the exposure on the building itself, highlighting one or another area, we will see the building in all its glory, but the sky will turn into a spot, “blurring” the photo. It turns out that we need to combine the two indicated images into one so that both the sky and the building fit together normally in the image. This is where HDR technology will help us, which actually combines several different images with different exposures, allowing us to get a high-quality photo.
Most modern smartphones support the use of HDR technology, so, in theory, there is no need for a third-party application. But this is not always true, since in some cases the operation of the HDR mode leaves much to be desired and a third-party application will help you get out of the situation, with the help of which you can get much better images. In addition, they often contain additional settings, including changing brightness, contrast, etc. Similar apps on Google Play Store And App Store there are a great many, which one copes with its responsibilities better, it’s up to you to download and try.
Please note that using HDR mode is not recommended while moving: the image uses several exposures of one scene and if this scene suddenly changes, imagine what kind of photo awaits you...
Examples of pictures in normal mode and HDR mode (on the right - HDR mode):
Is HDR the key to success?
No! In any case, not always, since often the use of HDR mode has a negative impact on image quality. For example, it is not recommended to photograph monochromatic objects. In any case, use different modes, try to take as many photos as possible to understand where and when to use the HDR mode.
The modern art of photography is not only about successfully capturing the beauty of a moment or capturing an object from the best angle. Today, many photographers strive to improve their photos by passing them through various filters, as well as adding special effects. One of these effects will be discussed today. It's called High Dynamic Range (abbreviated HDR) or high dynamic range.
A little about technology
Many owners have heard about HDR technology digital cameras, but not all of them understand how it works. So what is HDR? The human eye is truly a miracle of technology. Unlike cameras, it easily adapts to changes in lighting up to 24 exposure levels, thanks to which we can equally well distinguish fine details on both dark and light backgrounds. The dynamic range of most digital cameras is much lower, they have difficulty adjusting to light, so they only capture areas with a certain level of illumination well.
So, if we manage to capture a dark building well against a light sky, the latter often turns into a blurry whitish spot, and vice versa, if the light sky comes out well, the detail of the dark building is lost, and the area of the photo in which it is located turns out to be noisy. These flaws are especially visible in photographs taken with imperfect cameras. mobile phones. HDR technology is aimed at eliminating this shortcoming. When using the HDR mode, the camera takes a series of photographs at different shutter speeds and exposures, while autofocus during the shooting process alternately concentrates on areas with different levels illumination and distance from the lens.
Having created several frames, the camera then stitches them together programmatic method into one image that is rich and detailed in dark and light areas. This key difference HDR images from regular photos. The quality of the resulting image depends on the algorithm used. Photos in which the images are simply superimposed on each other and slightly shaded are of less quality. To take HDR photos over High Quality Additionally, various sections of the frames are analyzed in order to identify the most successful ones.
HDR mode in phone and camera cameras
When using a camera, there are two ways to create high dynamic range photos. The first is more complex, time-consuming and is used mainly when shooting with professional digital cameras. Its essence is as follows. The photographer takes three to five photographs in Bracketing mode, and then stitches the resulting frames together on a computer using Photomatix or another similar program. The resulting image is then optimized for correct display on displays.
But there is an easier way to get an HDR photo. Many modern cameras, including those built into phones, allow you to shoot HDR in automatic mode. In this case, the camera does everything for you. She herself sets the desired exposure, she does serial shooting herself, she stitches and processes the resulting frames herself. In Nikon cameras, for example, you can enable the HDR option in the settings Photo Shooting Menu – HDR – HDR mode – On.
The automatic HDR mode in a smartphone works on the same principle. The phone's built-in camera takes two or three frames and immediately saves them into a single JPEG image. As a rule, HDR in a phone camera is turned on in its settings. In some device models, the option is located in the effects subsection, in others there is a separate icon next to the flash to activate it. Often in the parameters there is an option to manually adjust the exposure.
TVs with HDR support
HDR technology today is supported not only by cameras, but also by some TVs with 4K resolution, for example, Vizio P50-C1, Sony XD8005 or Samsung KU7000. The picture on such TVs has more saturated colors, dark areas look even darker, and light areas look even lighter, resulting in greater detail being achieved.
However, HDR support on a TV is not at all the same as HDR support on cameras. If in cameras the effect is applied at the moment the photo is taken, then in TV it is applied at the moment the picture is shown. In fact, this means that in order to get the effect, HDR must initially be supported by the content itself, of which there is currently very little.
What you need to know when shooting HDR
The use of HDR mode is justified when shooting landscapes, single objects, and also to obtain detail in low-light conditions. To avoid shifts and, as a result, frame mismatches when shooting, it is strongly recommended to use a tripod. But for photographing moving objects, HDR shooting is not suitable, as the photos will turn out blurry.
It is preferable to create HDR photos in the classic way using manual settings and third-party desktop programs, in this case the photo turns out to be of higher quality. However, if the original images were created in RAW format, tone compression will be required, otherwise the HDR photo will look somewhat unnatural on computer monitors.
Programs for creating HDR images
It is important to understand that real HDR photographs can only be obtained by merging and processing several frames taken with different exposures, and it does not matter whether the photos are created manually or automatically by the device’s camera. As for creating HDR images from regular JPEG or even RAW files using programs like Dynamic photo HDR or Photomatix Pro, in this case we can only talk about giving the effect of high dynamic range, but not about creating full-fledged HDR.
You can't create an HDR photo from 8-bit images, which you usually have to deal with on the Internet, just as you can't create one by brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights from a single RAW file. In both cases, the resulting file will be a pseudo HDR image. However, using applications such as EasyHDR, Photomatix Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Dynamic photo HDR, Corel PaintShop Pro and the like, you can give ordinary images a semblance of HDR, improve color, and add a surreal effect to them.
I am glad to welcome you to my blog. I’m in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. All of us photographers have an endless love for photography. And who doesn’t want to end up with a perfect picture!
As soon as the words “ideal”, “maximally realistic”, “in high resolution” are heard regarding a photo, I immediately want to talk about a wonderful invention called hdr. The term “bracketing” is closely related to this. Let's look at all the new concepts in order. So, what is hdr photography?
What is hdr photography?
HDR photography– this is a high resolution and large image. This means that you can become the proud owner of a photo in which all colors and lights are clearly represented, including very bright and dark areas.
At the same time, your equipment will not tell you that in some places of the frame information is lost due to illumination or a catastrophic lack of light rays.
The fact is that most often, using a conventional camera it is almost impossible to take such a picture. And it’s not about the capabilities of the camera or the skills of the photographer, although these are significant factors influencing the result.
Unlike the human eye, the camera has a very difficult time with high-contrast scenes. We can perceive all the shades of blue sky and gray or brown earth, for example, but technology cannot.
She will definitely either make the sky overexposed somewhere, or lead the earth's surface into darkness, or choose some middle option. None of them would suit me. Here I see only a few options:
- know exactly how to set up the camera, which most likely will be completely manual;
- pull out light areas or work out shadows in Lightroom/Photoshop;
- take a photo using HDR technology.
How is an HDR image created?
To create the kind of photo I talk about in the third point above, you need to superimpose several photos taken with slight differences: overexposed, normal, underexposed. They mainly combine photographs taken using exposure compensation. But there are other options.
Most often these are three photos, but sometimes there are more - a whole series. Naturally, in the latter case, more patience and skills will be required to turn, in fact, raw material from many photographs into just one, so to speak, ideal one.
It is in the camera that it will be more convenient for professionals to work. If you are more comfortable and accustomed to operating in semi-automatic styles (,), then choose them.
The main thing here is to change only one of the main parameters from frame to frame, and usually only by one or a couple of steps, which depends on the general lighting.
Example with: f=7,1 f=8 and f=9; s: t=1/100, 1/160 and 1/250. Take photos and look at the results. In principle, you can try to shift it a little and play with the focus. But these are other types of bracketing that also exist.
Below is an example where different shutter speeds were used, but the aperture and were left unchanged. After combining these three photos, we get a wonderful photo.
Note. Taking a photo like this with extremely high dynamic range isn't always appropriate and won't always look the way you originally thought. Neither a computer nor a printing press can fully reflect the richness of light and shadow.
It is also possible to strengthen the so-called unwanted halos around objects, and they will have to be actively corrected in graphic editors.
Of course, the image in any case will be more colorful and incredibly clear, if everything is done correctly, than a regular photograph, say, in jpeg.
Also keep in mind that while hdr will look adequate when shooting landscapes, architecture, or interiors, this may not be the case when photographing movement. Overlaying a picture can give an unpredictable effect, especially when the camera is unstable.
What is HDR in a camera?
Photographers, I have good news for you! If you have a good DSLR camera, it has a wonderful feature called AEB (for Canon cameras), an acronym that stands for Automatic Exposure Bracketing.
BKT button or bracketing function in a Nikon camera.
Are you too lazy to bother with preparing hdr? So she will take all the shots for you!
Everything is very simple: you read the instructions for the camera, turn on the desired option, and when you press the shutter, the device will take three pictures. These will therefore be light, normal and dark - which is what we need.
Of course, the work doesn't end there. To our joy, the camera can shoot in beautiful, which does not compress the photo, but saves all the information about it. To create HDR photographs, you can also use the JPEG format.
But unfortunately, it won’t make an HDR image right away. You'll have to copy everything into a computer and combine and process it there. special program. You will need Photoshop for this, in which you can select the desired parts from all the pictures and combine them beautifully, for this in the menu File – Automation choose Merge to HDR Pro.
There is also a simpler Photomatix utility, where in just a couple of mouse clicks you can get a high-quality professional photo.
If you are interested in such a concept as HDR, and you also liked the article that I wrote for you, then you will definitely be interested in the following video courses:
- Digital SLR for a beginner 2.0(if you have NIKON) or My first MIRROR(if you have CANON) - Great course. It is necessary for those who have very little understanding of their SLR camera, and who only takes photographs in automatic mode. A DSLR can do more! Everything about this is written in this course.
- Lightroom is an indispensable tool modern photographer – The course will teach you how to use one of the programs beloved by photographers, Lightroom. It is very convenient to work with RAW photo formats.
- Photoshop from scratch in VIP 3.0 video format– A course especially for beginners. As you understand, any photographer should be able to process photographs after shooting, but without the basics it is simply impossible to achieve the desired results. If you are completely new to Photoshop, then you should start with this video course.
- Photoshop for the photographer 3.0. VIP– The latest video course in my arsenal, which is intended specifically for photographers. All the tricks and subtleties are described to create a masterpiece from a simple photograph.
Bye, readers! That's all for me. Don't miss my articles - and you will know everything about photography! Please note: you can subscribe to blog news - very convenient. Share the article, I will be very pleased.
All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.
One of the newest and most popular technologies is HDR. It was she who made it possible to bring the image obtained through a recording device as close as possible to the real one, that is, the one that our eyes see. The abbreviation stands for: High Dynamic Range, which in Russian sounds like “high dynamic range”. In short, HDR technology combines several still images into a single one, which would require different exposures to capture them well, while each object (highly backlit or darkened) is highlighted.
As for cameras, including those built into car recorders, the HDR mode works as follows. Let's look at the example of a photo of a fountain on one of the bright sunny days. The sky is so light that it will simply turn white, but the fountain will come out just right. If you concentrate on the clouds, the fountain will come out so-so. HDR is designed to preserve vital brightness and not “sacrifice” any of the image details. By the way, it is used not only in cameras, car recorders, classic video cameras, but also in televisions and smartphones. Ideal for capturing low-light situations, but not ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects.
HDR function: highlight and highlight all the details
DVRs are improving along with others useful gadgets. The most common video recording format is no longer HD with an acceptable image quality, but Full HD, or even Super HD (involves shooting with a resolution of 2304*1296 pixels). It is clear that in the latter version the detail of the picture is simply “wow”, but if it is obtained in dark time days on the street or in slushy weather, high resolution will lose its influence on the final result. What is HDR in a DVR? The answer is obvious: this is a function that will improve the picture obtained in unfavorable environmental conditions.
The question of whether to enable HDR in the DVR disappears by itself. After all, thanks to it the driver will receive a clear image:
- road markings;
- automobile state numbers;
- pedestrians, faces of other car owners;
- prohibitory and other signs on the side of the road;
- many other things that can play a decisive role in the investigation of road accidents and controversial emergency situations on the road.
But all the listed details are illuminated by the car’s headlights (not in clear weather, of course). Plus, the sun's rays can always get into the lens. HDR settings are carried out through the menu using function keys and the display. Just select the “video recording settings” item (the name and location may differ depending on the recorder model you are using). HDR works exclusively in the same mode at 30 fps and a resolution of 1920*1080 pixels.
WDR for HDR competitor or assistant: what's the difference?
To understand what is the difference between WDR and HDR, you need to understand what determines the efficiency of the recorder from the considered point of view. The dynamic range of the sensor, the essence of which is relative to the luminosity of the brightest and darkest “target” in the captured frame. The unit of measurement is decibel. It is the Dynamic Range that identifies the accuracy of the brightness and color of the picture, eliminating distortion.
Budget video recorders, as a rule, have a narrow dynamic range (no more than 70 dB), which is why in difficult recording conditions, darkening or highlighting appears, the contrast leaves much to be desired, which is why a number of video details are quite difficult or even impossible to see.
A multilayer glass lens, complemented by an IR filter, will help here, allowing for more accurate transmission of brightness/contrast light flow to the sensors of the matrix built into the device. In the case of a direct hit sunlight or oncoming headlights, a so-called polarizing filter (CPL) will help out. But there is one big “BUT”: the price of more equipped DVRs can be very steep.
The creators of automobile devices have realized how to increase the Dynamic Range without practically increasing its cost - in software and hardware, using HDR matrices. There are two types of High Dynamic Range:
- Consistent(from the English word “sequential”) - several separate frames are created with different meaning shutter speeds, preserving detail in the brightest/darkest areas. Suitable for recording smooth motion on video and in the absence of moving objects, since they are blurred when combining the resulting images. It is embedded in surveillance cameras (in supermarkets, for example). Requires more memory resources.
- Chess(from English - staggered) - the overall frame is formed from alternating points (pixels) of two photographs with different shutter speeds. It is precisely this type of HDR function that is used in car recorders, it does not “eat up” a lot of memory, and does not distort objects in motion. The minimum required frame rate is 60 fps, so HDR may not be supported in some resolutions.
So what is more useful - WDR or HDR?
The beauty of HDR is that it increases Dynamic Range by as much as 15 or even 18 dB! Wide dynamic range or, in short, WDR (translated as extended dynamic range) is, unfortunately, a more expensive solution. The reason is in the matrix, its Dynamic Range exceeds 100 dB. However, thanks to it, the recorder can film what is happening in the most difficult conditions illumination without losing contrast, detail, and the same brightness.
WDR essentially automatically adjusts these characteristics, adjusting exposure where needed, i.e. darkened areas of the frame are brightened and, conversely, too light areas are darkened. Maintaining this balance guarantees high-quality video when leaving or entering a tunnel, when the lens is “blinded” by direct sunlight. So, now it is clear that the purpose of these two modes is identical, just the implementation method is different.
High Dynamic Range mode - extended dynamic range - is used when shooting complex scenes with a combination of light and dark areas in the frame. In this case, HDR allows you to save maximum information, avoiding overexposure or, conversely, darkening part of the frame. There are several options for obtaining an HDR image. Let's look at them using the example of one of the most advanced smartphones -
The first method is the built-in HDR option in standard application smartphone cameras. In this case, HDR mode takes a single shot, reducing the contrast and saturation of the photo. At the same time, the dynamic range of the image does not increase much, so this option is suitable for subsequent photo processing.
The second option is to download special application for HDR shooting. It is often preferred by more advanced photographers. Here, during HDR processing, the camera takes not one, but several pictures at once with different exposures: high, when objects in the shadows are brightened, normal, and low, when excessively light areas of the frame are darkened. The application then creates one composite image, which allows you to ultimately get high quality photo, as sharp as possible and close to what the human eye sees.
Thanks to HDR technology, scenes that combine bright areas with deep shadows are rendered in high dynamic range photos without blowing out or losing detail. Specialized applications for HDR photography take an unlimited number of frames with different exposures, as many as a specific scene requires. If desired, using this option, you can even get an HDR photo from a regular photo.
However, it must be taken into account that this method does not work when shooting moving objects, children running, animals, sports activity, since in this case the frames in the picture will blur and double.
Another method of obtaining an HDR image is implemented by programmatically reducing the brightness in light areas of the frame and increasing it in dark areas. However, this method requires caution: always install only minimum values! And it is strictly not recommended to use it when processing portraits and selfies, as it creates an oversaturated effect on the face, which sharply highlights wrinkles and blemishes on the skin.
Today, such top smartphones as have the ability to shoot with manual settings and in RAW format. Moreover, when RAW processing You can achieve even greater dynamic range in your shot. Therefore, this version of a photo in an uncompressed format is preferable when shooting with a smartphone.
HDR modes are ideal for photographing landscapes, to correctly convey subjects against a bright sky or sea. The HDR option is also indispensable when shooting high-contrast scenes with very hard light.
But don’t forget that to get an optimal quality photo, you can simply take pictures using the first option - the built-in HDR option in your smartphone camera. There is no maximum brightness capture here, but the pictures will look natural, without oversaturation. And if you wish, in subsequent processing you can always add a little more dynamic range to the photos by combining the first and third options.
So that you have no doubt that taking HDR photos on a smartphone is not difficult and very interesting, watch our new video from the series about mobile photography:
