 |
| From Dexter Yarbrough's Photos |
DJY Photography founder Dexter Yarbrough tests the waters in one of the recent breakthroughs in photography: the high dynamic range technique.
A common reminder in photography teachers emphasize is that the lens never captures a scene the same way the human eye does. Despite of the advancement of technology, even the most powerful camera cannot equate the amazing ability of the human eye to cover 10 million spectrums of colors. In contrast to this, the digital camera saves only 256 levels of light intensity in JPEG format and over 1024 levels in RAW format.
For disambiguation, the high dynamic range technique, or HDR, is not similar to high definition technology. HDR was developed primarily for image processing, computer graphics, and photography. Dexter Yarbrough explains that the concept is an attempt to replicate the way the human eye registers a particular image. Unfortunately, the camera lens captures only one exposure of a scene at a given shot unlike the human eye which automatically adjusts to the different lighting in the environment producing different exposures that create an HDR image in the human brain.
 |
| From Dexter Yarbrough |
As a technique, HDR is not a replacement to traditional photography and requires a degree of expertise for it can either make or break your photographs.
Basically, HDR requires gathering three or more shots of one particular scene. A tripod would be handy if you are unable to keep your hands steady. These shots are merged together producing an image that display a higher spectrum of colors, light range, and detail which are impossible to achieve with a single shot.
This can be done even with a simple point-and-shoot digital camera that allows you to adjust the exposure setting. In an article by Dexter entitled Creative Photos with HDR Photography, he recommends the following camera settings:
- Set your ISO setting to 200 or 40.
- Turn on the aperture priority mode.
- Use the following exposure settings:
- EV 0 (produces normally exposed images)
- EV -2 (produces underexposed images with greater light details)
- EV +2 (produces overexposed images with greater shadow details)
 |
| From Dexter Yarbrough's Photos |
