My photo
... is a freelance photographer working in Middle Georgia

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Needing Some Rain

It's the end of July in Georgia, it's hot and dry. We need rain. Stopped on the way home from Warner Robins and shot a picture of this corn. It is a field on Lakeview west of Highway 41. Thought this image says it all.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

An Explanation of HDR Photography


 The top photo is an HDR photo. HDR is High Dynamic Range.  You can see all the detail in the photo, much as your eye would see the scene. The bottom photo is how your camera see the same scene. Your eye and brain compensates for all the differences between the highlights(brighter areas) and the areas in deep shadow. The camera has to average all these values and give you something in the middle.

To do this as an HDR image, I shot an exposure that captured the shadow area, overexposing the rest of the image. I shot a second image that was the camera's chosen exposure, then did one more that captured the brighter areas. It left he truck under the barn too dark.

I then used an HDR program to combine the images giving the top photograph. The three images have to be done without moving the camera, so all parts of the image will match up when you combine them. Best to shoot on a tripod.

These were done with Photomatix software. With it, you can use up to nine exposures. The key is be sure you get the extremes in exposure in your scene covered. Most DSLR's have auto exposure bracketing which helps in doing the needed exposures. I set my D600 to do three exposures, each two stops apart. 

If you want to try this, there are several free programs, and a bunch, including Photomatix that have free trails that usually last a month. 

Just a reminder, ask permission before you photograph something on private property. 


   The last image was done with a program called MachineryHDR. It produces images that are kinda surreal. The colors are a bit exaggerated, detail is intensified. For some images I like the look, but like a fisheye lens, it ca be very overdone. Each photograph is different. So are personal taste.


Thursday, July 7, 2016

Its Been A While

 I have recently started a new project that requires doing large amounts of HDR photography. Most of what I have been shooting lately has been HDR just to improve my skills in that area. The learning curve is pretty steep for an old man, but it has been fun.

I have tried several programs, as I have written before, and still come back to Photomatix for the result I like. I don't really care for the exaggerated look that you so often see in HDR. You get the look, but still close to reality.

I had gone out this morning to shoot with my newest camera, a Kodak Retina that is almost as old as I am.
It is a 1950 model, a cool little film camera. More on it soon.  Anyway, I carried along my D600 and decided that these two store fronts on Lowe Street in Fort Valley were too good not to do in Color. My little Retina is loaded with Ilford HP5. 

Really like the window shot. It makes for a nice image, lot of symbolism going on there!



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