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HDR made simple: iPhone 4S
Getting that perfect image has never been easier as far as technology is concerned and the iPhone 4s keeps that momentum going. The capabilities of Apple’s new iPhone are numerous but the HDR feature is one I wanted to highlight here by showing you a clear result of an image with and without the HDR effect.
Here is the image without HDR processing:
Here is the HDR version as developed by the iPhone 4S:
Clearly the blown highlights in the clouds have been corrected and the color of the buildings on the right are truer to reality. Is the image perfect? Certainly not, but it is one that is very pleasing to the eye and can meet just about everyones needs. It also did not take any post processing whatsoever which in my book is a great advantage.
To activate the HDR effect, in the Camera app go under options and turn it on. In the iPhone Settings under Photos there is also an option to keep the “Normal” photo. Now taking an photo will result in the two images being captured, one normally processed and one with HDR processing. ( In fact, Derrick Story has an Maximum HDR technique that you may want to review to further potentially improve your images.)
For me, I use the HDR images as is since I’m looking to quicken my turn around time. For now I am saving both images just in case I want to use the “normal” image, but so far that has not happened!
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Book Review: Top 10 HDR Mistakes and How to Fix Them
8/30/2010
Top 10 Mistakes in HDR Processing and How to Fix Them by Trey RatcliffHigh Dynamic Range (HDR) photo processing is still in its infancy and I think people forget that fact and dismiss it as something that doesn’t work. What most of the naysayers might not realize is that it might not work for them which is okay. HDR is a process that can deliver an image that is not necessarily a duplicate of what the photographer saw when they took the photo, but a representation of the photographer’s vision when they are on location and how they remember it. It is also very important to note that one persons HDR is not the same as another persons. It is a process that can vary tremendously depending upon not only the vision one has about how they want the image to look, but also the process from taking the photographs to creating the HDR image and then the numerous adjustments that can be made to fine tune the result.
For those unfamiliar, HDR is the process of taking multiple exposures of the same scene and then merging those images in a HDR tool resulting in a final image that contains a much wider dynamic range than any one single image taken. It is a useful process when encountering a situation where there is a wide range of light that the human eye can see, but our cameras cannot capture in one frame.
While HDR is still relatively new, Trey Ratcliff has been involved with the process for some time now and if anyone has learned what pitfalls are encountered when trying to realize that HDR vision it is him. I have only dabbled in the HDR world myself and have had mixed results with what I have been able to produce. Part of that is my immaturity as a photographer but the other is going down the wrong path in applying HDR techniques. After reviewing Trey’s e-book on the common mistake associated with the HDR process, I can understand why I have had these mixed results.
The Green/Yellow biomass problem is one I have encountered and Trey’s explanation and diagramming of the problem is straightforward to understand and correct. There are many tips that require a slight adjustment here and there while others require a bit more work, and Trey provides those details in the book. The book provides not only instructions but also includes example images and screen captures of software adjustments Trey uses in tools such as Photmatix and Photoshop.
If you are getting started in HDR and want to avoid some of the main mistakes being made in applying the HDR process to your images, then I recommend getting a copy of Top 10 Mistakes in HDR Processing and How to Fix Them. Mastering the tips will save you many headaches and why not take advantage of Trey’s experience.
