We recently featured a gallery of photos which included a selection of the best HDR images. High Dynamic Range Imaging or HDR is a technique which allows for a far greater dynamic range of exposures than normal digital imaging techniques. This can be achieved by modifying a set of photos with Photoshop using the Merge HDR function.

This technique may seem a little advanced for novice users but with a little patience, even a beginner has hope of creating a master piece HDR image.

So first off, you will need to take your pictures. The idea is to take a photo of the same scene several times with different exposures.

If you’re new to world of manual exposure then don’t worry, follow the main steps and you should still end up with a nice looking image. People with knowledge of manual exposure settings will be able to better produce the specific image tone that they require.

If possible set your camera so that it shoots your photos in RAW format. This will capture more dynamic range data than a JPEG file and it also gives a great deal of temperature latitude.

You should make sure you camera is stabilized on a tripod so that it doesn’t move.

Now set your camera to manual exposure setting. Meter your scene and select the aperture you would like. If your camera has an ISO setting, choose a low setting to reduce noise.

If you are not sure about the metering and aperture settings; it is possible to use the automatic metering and aperture modes to estimate your values, you can then input these values into the relevant manual exposure settings.

The HDR technique requires at least three (but can be done with more) photos of the same scene to be taken at different shutter speeds.

In this example there are three pictures taken at -2EV, metered EV and +2EV. To achieve these different exposures you change the shutter speed accordingly.

A slower shutter speed allows more light to pass though the lens. If a quicker shutter speed is used, less light will pass through.

Professional photographers are able to trade off shutter speed and aperture by using units of stops. A stop up and down on each will halve or double the amount of light regulated by each.

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