Chapter XV. HDR + Panos = Way-Cool Imaging Fun

HDR + Panos = Way-Cool Imaging Fun

We've talked about HDR imaging and shooting panoramas. Now, in this chapter we'll take a look at how to combine these techniques to get some way-cool images.

What? You think this technique is too advanced for a compact camera owner? No so!

Sure, creating an HDR pano will take more time than pointing and shooting with a compact camera, but I teach this technique to beginner students—and they love it! Plus, the results are definitely worth the extra effort.

You'll need a camera with manual exposure control ... and a tripod. If you take the time, or should I say make the time, you can create beautiful panos like this one. Go for it!

HDR + Panos = Way-Cool Imaging Fun

Shooting for an HDR Pano

The first step in creating an HDR pano is to take HDR images for each section of your panorama. Here is a screen grab that shows what I did for my HDR pano. Each horizontal row shows three images for each section of my four-section final image.

My exposures, from left to right: O E V, +2 EV and −2 E V.

Shooting for an HDR Pano

Generate an HDR Image for Each Set of Images

The next step is to create an HDR image from each set of three images in Photomatix. For my pano, I did not play with any of the Tone Compressor or Details ...

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