HDR Photography Course

This exciting course is Two courses in One! You not only get your 4 normal interactive video courses. Gavin Philips gives you a further 8 video instruction lessons to download and keep.

Gavin not only explains how to use HRD techniques effectively, but also goes through his own unique workflow week by week to show you how he created many of his award winning photographs.

Once you have created photos using HDR and YOU see the unlimited creative potential that you have, I’m certain you will be enjoying selective HDR in your photography forever.

There is what I call straight HDR, and I usually create one of these for every winning shot. This will be perfectly lit, with excellent detail and clear colours.

Then there are the unlimited colour, black/white and/or a combinations of colors, along with many other effects that you can create in Photoshop. You chose where, and how to apply them.

What works with your images and artistic style will be unique for you and your photography. You will only find what you like with lots of fun experimentation in your photography and Photoshop.

You need never be concerned about going too far, but make certain that you go far enough. Remember the late great Fred Pickers quote, ‘Photographers owe nothing to reality.’

Landscapes and wildlife

Streams, forests, old barns, flowers, mountains, big sky, horses; anything natural (I include farm equipment in this, like tractors outside) and shooting outdoors.

In our opening week the most important thing is to experiment with capturing HDR. I guarantee you are going to love the images you will be able to create.

Also, get comfortable checking your camera settings and keeping the camera perfectly still on your tripod for the sets of HDR. You want to shoot as many sets of HDR as possible. Try different angles and perspectives. We want as much variety as possible.

If you are capturing any wildlife, remember that the animal must be still or moving VERY slowly. If it, or they, are moving slowly, shoot several sets.

Architectural/Cityscapes

This is any man-made building or object that you can shoot outdoors. This could be a sky-scraper, skateboard park, outdoor aircraft/train/car museums, abandoned warehouses/factories, bridges, churches, sculptures, fountains etc.

Look for interesting angles and perspectives. If photographing skyscrapers, see if you can catch something interesting in the reflections of the windows.

If you are photographing where there are people, be patient and wait for as few people walking in your shot as possible.

Night HDR

This can be architectural or landscape. Any interesting outdoor photo shot at night. It is preferable to have some ambient or artificial light.

Look for well lit architecture or churches. City night life with old pubs and restaurants can make great night HDR shots. Well lit fountains.

Interiors

Any interior space. Homes, greenhouses, conservatory’s, hotels, churches, restaurants, trains, museums, boats, factories.

You will get perfectly lit and clean interior shots without the need for additional artificial lighting.

What equipment and software do I need?

A digital camera that has an auto exposure bracketing feature (at least up to 2-stops over and underexposed) and shoots RAW. Nearly every DSLR has these features. Check your camera’s manual to see if it has these features.

Tripod

You can shoot HDR hand-held, but most of the time you will need a tripod.

Recommended Lens’s

You can shoot with any lens. A wide angle lens (14 mm) is recommended. Sometimes I use a Fisheye as well. Most often I correct the distortion with a Photoshop plugin and nobody knows I used a Fisheye.

Optional

Manual Colour Correction for interior photography. I use the CBL Lens that takes a light reading and colour corrects your camera for that specific lighting.

You can also experiment with the auto White Balance settings that your camera offers.

HDR Compact Cameras

I have not tried these cameras but will be purchasing one of these shortly. They are far easier to carry around than DSLR’s and lenses. These are great ‘grab’ cameras that will always be with you. You can shoot HDR on the fly and hand-held. As the old saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you.

These cameras shoot RAW and offer AEB

After much research (January 2012) I have found that the Panasonic G3 Micro four thirds camera offers the most versatile AEB for HDR in a compact camera. It offers 3,5,7 frames in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV Step, + or – 3 EV.

The Panasonic (G10) has these features, but it does not go up to full 1-stop EV exposure steps though.

The Olympus Pen E-P3 is also a micro four thirds camera that offers RAW shooting and auto exposure bracketing.

The Canon G12 offers these features, but only shoots up to 3 shots in auto exposure bracketing.

If you are considering purchasing, please check the specifications of these cameras to make certain they offer what you need.

Software

Adobe Photoshop CS and onwards or Photoshop Elements 9 and onwards.

Photomatix . Free trial version available.

Artizen . Free trial version available.

Optional – I use it

Dynamic Photo HDR - Free trial version available.