Rules of thumb for HDR

[Conor McDonald]

Tomorrow im going to give this a proper shot after messing about today. One of the things I noticed with bracketing was that the camera wasnt exposing the each area of the shots well enough. If I switch to manual can I expose the number of shots myself within any range or have they to be a stop apart. Also when I get my first change to edit the levels with the 32bit image if I cant get the shot balanced within reason is it a fail straight away? Thanks for your help.

[luigis]

You need a shot that is properly underexposed (no blown highlights)
And you need a shot that is properly overexposed (no dark shadows)
In between you need from 0 to many shots. Use 2EV as spacing as there is no need for a shorter interval.

You can use exposure together with bracketing; if you need to take for example -1, 1 and +3 or +2, +4 +6
Only when 3 shots is not enough you should go to Manual mode.

When you use bracketing you don't touch the camera between shots and that makes sure you get a proper alignment. Bracketing is good but if the dynamic range is too big sometimes 3 photos are not enough.

[Conor McDonald]

Thanks im also not sure when I should use it, of course its when the LDR isnt efficent but should my HDR be like a painting or should it be what im seeing?

[luigis]

That depends on your personal taste or artistic interpretation of the scene.

[Conor McDonald]

I see. im looking forward to this challenge tomorrow! Await my results :)

[luigis]

Whatever you do don't let the opinion of others change the way you see the world. You need to develop your own style and then just improve around it.

Good luck with the HDRs!

[R1200GS]

That depends on your personal taste or artistic interpretation of the scene.

Excellent answer.

Conor, no one can tell you how to represent your vision to others. Keep working on your image till you like it.

[Lowner]

Rule of thumb? Try to restrain yourself in post processing, well over 99% of the HDR's I've seen are WAAAY over the top. Keep it looking as though it might have actually looked like what you produce and you've done a good job.

[digirebelva]

Rule of thumb? Try to restrain yourself in post processing, well over 99% of the HDR's I've seen are WAAAY over the top. Keep it looking as though it might have actually looked like what you produce and you've done a good job.

Again that goes back to personal taste, most try it that way for a while then get tired of the look and move away from it;)