Rick Sammon's HDR Photography Secrets for digital photographers

Rick Sammon's HDR Photography Secrets for digital photographers

by Rick Sammon
Released May 2010
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470612750

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Book description

Top photographer Rick Sammon shares his greatest HDR tips and tricks

High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a process in which a photographer shoots multiple shots of the same subject at varying exposure settings and then "stitches" the images together with photo-editing software into a single photo that presents sharper color and focus than a single image. World-renowned digital photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon reveals his most amazing HDR tips, tricks, and techniques for creating the best possible HDR images.

Packed with more than 150 of Sammon's stunning full-color photos and more than 200 techniques, this invaluable guide inspires and motivates you to capture and edit your own unique still-life images.

  • World-renowned digital photographer and Canon Explore of Light Rick Sammon reveals a wealth of unparalleled High Dynamic Range (HDR) tips, tricks, and techniques

  • Inspires both amateur and experienced photographers to boost their creativity, and improve the quality of their images in the digital darkroom

  • Features more than 150 beautiful images from Sammon's own portfolio as well as more than 200 tips and tricks for shooting and editing HDR images

HDR Secrets for Digital Photographers unveils an abundance of tips and tricks that will help you make your good HDR photos great.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Thank You
  5. A Walk Before the Run: Basic Photography Tips
    1. Make Photographs
    2. Tell a Story
    3. Consider the Background
    4. The Name of the Game is to Fill the Frame
    5. Check Your Camera Settings
    6. Choose Your Lens Wisely
    7. Interesting Subjects Make Interesting Photographs
    8. See the Light
    9. Create a Sense of Depth
    10. Move It
    11. Take a Walk
    12. Compose Carefully
    13. Before HDR
    14. Extreme HDR
  6. About This Book
    1. About the Layout
    2. A New Way of Seeing
    3. Don't Overdo It
    4. About the Pictures in the Book
    5. The Impact of Subject
    6. It's Photography
    7. Adventure Awaits
  7. Welcome to the Magical World of HDR Photography
    1. Bracketing is the Starting Point of HDR
    2. Creating an Effective and Impressive HDR Image
    3. Seeing Into the Shadows
    4. Try HDR Even When You Don't Think You Need It
    5. High Depth Range Images
    6. Highly Do-It-Yourself Rockin' Images
    7. Pseudo HDR Images and HDR-like Images
    8. Realistic or Artistic
    9. Envision the End Result
    10. Composing in a New Way
    11. Life After HDR in Photoshop
  8. I. To HDR or Not to HDR ... That is the Question
    1. I.1. No Substitute for Good Light
    2. I.2. RAW Files are Packed with Data
    3. I.3. When HDR Rules
    4. I.4. More Exposures Mean More Data
    5. I.5. HDR is Not a Magic Fix
    6. I.6. The Right Light for the Situation
    7. I.7. Strong Light Might Be the Right Light
    8. I.8. Soft Light is Sometimes Right, Too
    9. I.9. Always Be Prepared for HDR Photography
  9. II. Must Know Info
    1. II.1. See the Light & Determine Bracketing
    2. II.2. Too Few and Too Many Shots
    3. II.3. Spot Metering Can Help
    4. II.4. What Your Eyes See vs. What Your Camera Sees
    5. II.5. Check Your LCD Monitor
    6. II.6. Auto vs. Manual Bracketing
    7. II.7. Look for Highlights and Shadows
    8. II.8. Careful Bracketing Pays Off
    9. II.9. Movement Can Be Okay
    10. II.10. Two-Image HDR Images
    11. II.11. Pseudo HDR Images
    12. II.12. Aperture Must Remain Constant
    13. II.13. Carefully Focus; Manually Focus
    14. II.14. Reduce Digital Noise
    15. II.15. Check for Chromatic Aberrations
    16. II.16. Steady Your Camera and Try Not to Touch
    17. II.17. Hand-Held Images Can Work
    18. II.18. Basics are Essential
    19. II.19. dSLR vs Compact Camera
    20. II.20. Sharpen Your HDR Images
    21. II.21. HDR vs. RAW File Processing
    22. II.22. Faster with Photomatix
    23. II.23. HDR File Management Suggestion
    24. II.24. Separate Your Shots
  10. III. Photomatix: The Most Popular HDR Program
    1. III.1. Getting Started
    2. III.2. Generate HDR: RAW vs. JPEG
    3. III.3. Don't Panic!
    4. III.4. Taking Control of Your Image
    5. III.5. Tone Compressor for Realistic Images
    6. III.6. Tone Compressor Adjustments
    7. III.7. Details Enhancer for Artistic Images
    8. III.8. Detail Enhancer Adjustments
    9. III.9. Watch the White Point and Light Mode/Smoothing
    10. III.10. Suitable for Framing
    11. III.11. The Subject Often Dictates the Effect
  11. IV. Pseudo HDR Single Files with Photomatix
    1. IV.1. Contrast is the Determining Factor
    2. IV.2. Starting Point
    3. IV.3. Different Options
    4. IV.4. Better Safe than Sorry
    5. IV.5. JPEG to HDR?
  12. V. Exposure Fusion with Photomatix
    1. V.1. Launching Exposure Fusion
    2. V.2. Adjusting Your Images: Highlights & Shadows Adjust
    3. V.3. Adjusting Your Image Part II
    4. V.4. Exposure Fusion with Help from Photoshop
    5. V.5. True HDR with Help from Photoshop
    6. V.6. Look Closely and Carefully
  13. VI. Enter Topaz Adjust
    1. VI.1. Topaz Command Center
    2. VI.2. Improving an Image
    3. VI.3. Dramatic Differences
    4. VI.4. Subtle Differences
    5. VI.5. Add Drama to a Landscape
    6. VI.6. With a Little Help from Photoshop
    7. VI.7. The Beauty is in the Details
    8. VI.8. Awaken the Artist Within
    9. VI.9. Highly Dramatic Color
    10. VI.10. Creating Color
    11. VI.11. Apply Topaz Adjust Selectively
    12. VI.12. The Softer Side of Topaz Adjust
    13. VI.13. Expect Surprises
  14. VII. Photomatix Meets Topaz Adjust
  15. VIII. Expanding Dynamic Range in Photoshop
    1. VIII.1. Adjustment Layers are the Law
    2. VIII.2. Basic Adjustments, Big Improvement
    3. VIII.3. Photoshop vs. Photomatix Pseudo HDR vs. Topaz Adjust
  16. IX. Expanding Dynamic Range in Adobe Camera RAW
    1. IX.1. Exposing for the Highlights
    2. IX.2. ACR Preview Window and Basic Tab
    3. IX.3. ACR vs. Photomatix
    4. IX.4. Recovery and Fill Light to the Rescue
    5. IX.5. Avoid Photo Washouts
  17. X. The Lucis Pro Approach
    1. X.1. First Look: Lucis Pro Adjustment Window
    2. X.2. Split the Channels and Work in Black and White
    3. X.3. Check Before You Click
    4. X.4. Lucis Pro Meets Lucis Art
    5. X.5. Lucis Pro vs. Photomaix Pseudo HDR
  18. XI. Creating HDRs from Fast-Moving Subject Photographs
  19. XII. Shooting HDR Panoramas
    1. XII.1. Basic HDR Process Multiplied
    2. XII.2. Standard Photomatix HDR Processing
    3. XII.3. Let the Pano Fun Begin
    4. XII.4. Photomerge Magic
    5. XII.5. HDR Pano vs. Traditional HDR
    6. XII.6. Manual Exposure vs. Automatic Exposure
    7. XII.7. The Fun and Creativity Continue
  20. XIII. Converting HDRs to B&Ws
    1. XIII.1. Silver Efex Pro Overview
  21. XIV. My HDR Gear: The Stuff of Magical Imagery
    1. XIV.1. Cameras, Lenses and Tripods
    2. XIV.2. In-the-Field Gear
    3. XIV.3. HDR Rocks!
  22. XV. Cool Web Sites
    1. XV.1. True HDR Plug-in Sites
    2. XV.2. Favorite Plug-in Sites
    3. XV.3. My Web Site
    4. XV.4. Rick's Digital Learning Center
    5. XV.5. Digital Photo Experience
    6. XV.6. Plug-In Experience
    7. XV.7. Stuck in Customs
  23. Post Script Learn by Questioning
    1. More Before HDR Images
    2. Picture Processing Info
    3. Look Ma! No Details Lost

Product information

  • Title: Rick Sammon's HDR Photography Secrets for digital photographers
  • Author(s): Rick Sammon
  • Release date: May 2010
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470612750