Difference btween HDR vs RAW Blending

Can anyone enlighten me to the difference / advantages between HDR and simply applying different exposure compensations to a single RAW image and then applying maks to the relevant areas of the RAW image please

They're pretty much the same thing.. If I had to pick out a difference, I'd say HDR concentrates more on increasing the dynamic range of the shot as a whole, where as blending really utilizes the multiple exposures to bring out lost detail and portions of the shot that were not able to be captured due to the extreme range of lighting.

Taxboy wrote in post #2658822
Can anyone enlighten me to the difference / advantages between HDR and simply applying different exposure compensations to a single RAW image and then applying maks to the relevant areas of the RAW image please

The most obvious one is that HDR works with bracketed exposures. There is more dynamic range to work with from 3 or more exposures then with one exposure.

Virtual_D wrote in post #2658875
The most obvious one is that HDR works with bracketed exposures. There is more dynamic range to work with from 3 or more exposures then with one exposure.

Agree with post above.

Also, even though working in RAW, if you go too far increasing or decreasing exposure, you can introduce noise or other problems into image... even for a typical image, I try not to push it past 1 1/2 stops if I can help it.

But if there is motion in image (people or other objects) or you MUST shoot handheld, you don't have any other option, and single RAW is viable alternative... plus single RAW is great for getting the hang of it using photos you already have in you library!

HDR from multiple shots (i.e. bracketing) requires a scene with little to no movements. RAW doesn't have that restriction because it is a single shot. RAW is limited to the dynamic range of the camera sensor and of that specific exposure. HDR has no limit, i.e. you can keep on adding more and more exposures at different stops and merge it all together. It is common to merge between 3 to 8 exposures to form an HDR image.

HDR primarily increases the dynamic range, although in situations where multiple exposures are not possible due to subject motion the use of a single RAW is the only option with satisfactory results I must add.

Thanks for clarifying this so quickly