HDR Help Me Im Young and Stupid

[EOS timmy]

So im 19 and just bought a Cannon rebel XT. So im stuck in the auto zoom mode on my camera and i think playing with saturation and contrast is fun. HELP ME !!! I just recently figured out that something called HDR photography is the pro way to go. So i think?? So i googled it and got this:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/high-dynamic-range.htm

This site is complex i mean i understand whats going on but as i said before im still in auto zoom.

Questions i have:

1. Is that site a good tutorial?

2. Anyone with my camera. How do i play around with exposer on my camera?

3. Anyone have a link to some type of free photoshop i can do this kinda stuff on with out paying $100000.00 dollars.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me.
-Tim

[Trainboy]

Read the manual and figure out how to use your camera before even trying HDR! It's not everything, either. HDR is only for certain situations, too. You take a few different exposures and combine them to make an exposure that has more detail in the light and dark bits (highlights and shadows) basically.
To change your exposure, get out of green box auto mode and into manual mode first!

[eddarr]

Absolutely learn the camera for you try to do anything else.

Step 1: Move the dial to M and leave it there. Spend an afternoon taking pictures of things around the house and load them on the computer to see what the different setting do to the depth of field, motion blur etc. It really only take a commitment of a few hours to be able to shot comfortably in M. You won't be a pro yet but it is worth the investment. After you understand M then you can use AV and TV when you want to.

Step 2: Go take pictures of high contrast scenes like sunsets. Learn to work the exposure to get as good a balance between the highlights and shadows as possible. Don't worry you won't be able to get it right just yet, that comes in step 3.

Step 3: Learn to use filters; such as graduated neutral density and polarizers to get the image as close at possible "in the camera".

Step 4: Work on HDR images, blending exposures, layer masks etc. All of these techniques can improve an image. But they cannot fix an image.

There is absolutely no substitute for getting it right, or at least as close as possible, in the camera. And the only way to do that is learn how to correctly manipulate the camera for a desired result. I know it's not what you wanted to hear but it's the best way.

[EOS timmy]

Thanks you so much for the help. Thats what i needed.

Anyone else want to add anymore help Please do so.

[eddarr]

Also, there are a few free photo processing programs available. One is the Digital Photo Pro that came with your camera, the other is GIMP. I don't have a link to this but do a search in this forum and it will come up. It gets very good reviews from people who use it.

Check out Brian Petersons Understanding Exposure. It is a great book to get you started and can be found cheap at even at the library.

[S.E.V.]

Dont rush into it, it is gonna take some time to nail down.

Things you might need:
1. A good sturdy tripod that will hold your body and lens without moving
2. A shutter remote
3. Filters

Search google for HDR tutorials.

Look into getting Photomatx for the software end of it.

Learn how HDR imaging works.

I'm still trying to nail it down

Here is a thread of HDR images Click Here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=373150)

[Mike-DT6]

That's a great site you have found there. One of my favourites. I've even got it in my recommended sites section! :-D

Mike

[tzalman]

Free HDR program:
http://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/index.html

[PhotosGuy]

To change your exposure, get out of green box auto mode and into manual mode first! See if this sheds some light on using M settings: Virtual Camera
http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/
Notice the background change when you use his "Shutter and Aperture" settings!

GoingManual.com - Camera, PS, & GIMP Tuts
http://www.goingmanual.com/photo/
First look at sfaust's post #82 here:
Manual Photography (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3064755)
Be sure to look at posts #23 & 26.
Layed off...now what? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=245204)

And be sure to look at the tutorial "Sticky"s in this forum, too. Like this one:
Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

Welcome to POTN!