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Mimic ND grads and extend dynamic range with HDR shooting techniques
there will always be those occasions where either the dynamic range of a scene is so large that even stacked ND grads can’t cope with it, or you’ve simply not got any grads with you. Fear not – high dynamic range (HDR) imagery is the perfect solution.
Take a set of three exposures that cover the correct exposure for the foreground, then one two stops underexposed and another two stops overexposed. These are blended together in software to reveal detail in all parts of the scene – from the shadows all the way to the highlights.
1 SELECT THE SETTINGS
Set the camera up on a tripod and select standard landscape settings; so that’s Aperture Priority, ISO 100 at f/11 or f/16. It’s imperative that all settings except shutter speed stay the same, and that the camera doesn’t move between shots. Manually focus one third of the distance into the scene.
2 SET AUTO BRACKETING
All modern cameras offer Auto Exposure Bracketing. This is a feature that allows you to set the number of shots and the exposure difference between them. The middle exposure will be the one you set the camera to. Set AEB to three frames, two stops apart. Use a shutter remote to take the shots.
3 USE LIGHTROOM
Load your exposures into Lightroom and find the thumbnails while in the Develop module. Click on the first, hold down the Shift key and click on the third to select all three images. Now go to Photo > Photo Merge > HDR and a dialog box will appear, generating an image preview to show the likely result.
4 CHOOSE SETTINGS
When the preview generates make sure Auto Align and Auto Settings are ticked. The auto settings provide a starting point only. Assess how much movement there was and set Deghost Amount accordingly. When Show Deghost Overlay is ticked, it highlights where it has taken place.
5 APPLY ADJUSTMENTS
The HDR Merge window will close, and the HDR image will be produced, appearing in the thumbnail bar. Apply the settings that recover the most detail and suit your editing style. Apply Shadows and Highlights strongly, and boost Whites and decrease Blacks to avoid low contrast.