7 Unique Tips For Great HDR Photos

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range; and the abbreviation is often used in a longer form, HDRI - High Dynamic Range Imaging. HDR is a form of photography that enables you to create a picture with a greater dynamic range than is usually possible. Instead of taking just one picture, HDR uses three images, taken at different exposure. You can then use image editing software to put those three images together and highlight the best parts of each photo. In the case of HDR on smart phones and cameras, they do all the work for you.  

But when you should use HDR? Here are few tips for taking some stunning HDR images.

Use A Tripod

A tripod will not only allow you to stabilize each individual image, but in order to capture the full dynamic range of the scene you will need to take multiple exposures with your camera and it’s vital that these frames line up perfectly. A tripod will ensure that each frame you capture is identical to the previous one, with the only exception being the exposure times.

Color Control In HDR

One of the biggest complaints from non-HDR fans is the often over-the-top cartoony coloring that seems to come with tone mapped images. There’s nothing wrong with strongly colored images. However, knowing how to control the colors in our image to increase their impact is at the heart of all color photography.

Keeping Shadows and Highlights to Increase Mood, Energy

HDR by its definition serves to rescue highlights and darkened parts of a scene. Our goal is to create a range of light much closer to that in the real scene than our camera is capable of catching in a single frame. Ultimately, shadows within our images begin to dwindle and our shots sometimes lack highlights. Here is the thing; shadows are absolutely paramount in creating good images. In the end, without these, we can be left with flat images that simply don’t move people. 

Know When You Should Use HDR

Use it during sunrise or sunset, especially when you are photographing into the sun. Use it to photograph during the middle of the day. Use it to photograph architecture or man-made objects, as HDR has a way of really bringing out the detail of craftsmanship.

Control The Urge To Go Big

This is where HDR becomes a tricky subject. Some people say that its their style to create over the top, surrealistic style, HDR photography and other’s say that they are destroying the world of photography by creating these highly saturated and oddly lit photographs. It’s easy to get carried away with tone mapping your images, but if your goal is to recreate what you saw, the best way to do this is to remember to tone it down a bit before you press that process button. 

Point Up

It is one most commonly overlooked perspectives in HDR photography, but shooting the sky can create some tremendous photos, especially with HDR. Many amateur photographers look for perfect blue sky or perfect sunny days, and while they certainly have their place, cloudless skies can make some of the most boring photos. Instead, look for action.   

Blend With The Original

Sometimes no matter how you process a photo, it just won’t look completely right. Some parts might be too intense or you might have an especially noisy sky. One grate way to create problematic HDR image look more realistic is to blend it in some way with one of the original exposures.

These are only few suggestions for helping you to get a grate final image. The best way to improve is obviously practice. Shoot a lot, process a lot and make notes what works and what doesn’t. If you keep these tips in mind, I’m sure you will be creating stunning HDR photos.

Best Camera Settings! Product Photographers should know

You don’t have to be professional photographer to take decent photos, but a product photo requires more than just aiming and shooting. When you are photographing product image for selling online, you want to take best result possible. A great product photo will make your store look professional and show that your pay close attention to details. 

Here are the most important camera settings for product photography.

File Format

The automatic setting on your DSLR will allow you to capture JEPGs. The next level to take photos on your DSLR means moving from JEPG to RAW. RAW image capture exactly the way you and the camera see your product. RAW images contain all of the information you need to make any and all adjustments necessary to produce the exact image you want. So when you shoot your product image select RAW format.

 Aperture

The aperture is the size of the opening of the lens that lets light pass through to the camera’s sensor. The aperture is adjustable, and is often also referred to as the “f/stop.” The smaller the apertures value for f/stop number, the larger the aperture. Simply put, an aperture of f2 lets in a massive amount of light, while an f/stop of f22 lets in very little light. If you are unfamiliar with the term, just go an aperture between f/4.5-f/7.1. This is the perfect range of aperture for product photography. 

Adjust Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is how first the camera opens to let light a close again. When shooting in aperture mode, the camera will, generally, set the shutter speed for you. Change the aperture and you change the Shutter speed again. They work conversely. If you chose Shutter priority mood, it will allow you to control shutter speed, the camera will automatically set the aperture for you. What really matters here is this: if you are going to hand hold the camera for your images, make sure the shutter speed is no slower than 1/60th of a second. 

Choose Your ISO

ISO or International Standards Organization is the measure of the camera’s sensitivity to light. In the days of physical film cameras, it was called “film speed.” Set your ISO to a low rate, because other wise your image really can be grainy. You should start a setting 100. If your image needs more brightness adjust the settings between 200 to 400.

Set Your Exposure

Exposure refers the amount the lights allowed to pass through your camera. For product shots, you’ll want brighter shots, so try setting your exposure to +1 or +1.5. However it does take time and experimentation to get the right setting. So be patient to become an expert about exposure setting. 

White Balance

White balance is the process to remove color from photo. Fluorescent or even normal sunlight can really affect your white backgrounds. It is best to choose the Automatic setting for white balance for your product photography. This is one setting where the DSLR will do the work for you. 

Taking product image is a lot of work. But you will be proud the product sells. If you follow the setting above for your next product photo shoot I hope you will satisfy with the result. 

The Checklist Why DSLR Different From other Compact Camera

DSLR (Digital SLR)

DSLR is the short form if    “Digital Single Lens Reflex”. In simple word DSLR is a digital camera that uses mirrors to direct light from the lens to the viewfinder. A DSLR camera has an image sensor instead of film, and a digital image memory. DSLR cameras are very expensive, only affordable by the professional photographers. 

What do DSLR cameras consist of?

Let’s take a look of the different parts of DSLRs 

• Lens 
•  Reflex Mirror
• Sutter 
• Image Sensor
• Prism
• Storage
• View Finder

Compact Camera

Compact cameras are the cameras which are appropriate dimensions for putting them into pocket instead of special camera bag. A compact camera also has an image sensor like DSLRs, but its sensor size is smaller. It has an optical lens, but is it is not portable. It has a LCD monitor instead of viewfinder.

What do Compact Cameras Consist of?

• Fixed lens
• Image sensor
• LCD screen
• Storage

The Checklist Why DSLR Different From other Camera

In this checklist you will get to know about the differences between DSLR camera and normal camera.

1.     View Finder

One of the major differences between DSLR camera and compact camera is the way of viewing. You can capture the exact image, which you can see through the optical viewfinder of DSLR camera. On the other hand compact camera has an electronic or LCD screen, which is offset from the lens, and doesn’t matches with the viewfinder image.

2.     Image Quality with ISO Level

In image quality there is no alternative of DSLR camera. It can capture excellence image in low light with out noise. The reason is the photographic lens which makes exposure for image sensor and improves the image quality. And also for the high ISO level. On the other hand digital cameras have laggings to the image quality or require a flash in low light condition.

3.     Cameras Constriction

The camera body constriction itself makes DSLR totally different from other camera. The body of DSLR cameras is super heavy. The DSLR camera consist of Aperture, Sutter and lens which are the physical components of the camera, hence making DSLR camera looking large and expensive. 

Normal cameras are small and easy to carry. They don’t have physical Sutter or any mirror component like DSLR camera, hence making a compact camera less expensive.

4.     Camera Sensor Size

Basically DSLR cameras have larger image sensor than compact camera. And the image which captured with DSLR camera contains much more pixels. Compact cameras have small image sensor that’s why this types of camera provides less pixels.

5.     Lens

In this fact DSLR cameras always stand 1^st. Because the lens of DSLRs can be changed when need. If one wants to capture portrait one could use wide angle lens, and many other lens according to the situation. Compact cameras contain fixed lens. So no one can change it.

Under the circumstances we can easily realize why DSLR camera is different from compact camera. Let’s get enjoyed with DSLR having HD image quality. Taking images more fun!

5 Photo Effects Manipulate our Images More than Creative

Photography is not all about taking pictures. It involves many creative tasks what your photography much more good. There are many effects which can make your photography more creative and excellent. You can use either picture editing Software or online based photo editing tools to make your images more creative.

1. Blur :
      To make your image more creative you can make blur effects. This effects will be applied for to make your object more focus. In this picture your object will be clear but other picture object will be blur . 

2. Black and while :
      Black and white picture is rare in the photography . But you can use such black and white pictures for bringing old style. For example you are making photography of a model with a sun-glass. Such object looks sexier with black and white effects. 

3. Distortion effects:
      This is another type of effects. For any type of objects such effects can bring more good in your effects. Suppose you want to make your picture more spice. This effect will let your picture in distorted position. Really this is awesome effect more making your picture more creative.

4. Noise effects:
      Noise effects is really good options for getting more creative photos. This effect will make your photos in murky positions. This will reduce your image sharpness. 

5. Edge:
      Edge is a good image effects that will make your photography really awesome. These effects will really help you to make your photos more Sharpe and really this will create good effect if you take wildlife photography. So to bring good sharpness in your picture you can use such effects.