Exposure Blending

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I am curious to understand how this technique works. I like the fact that the effect is a little more subtle than HDR. Is it a case of layering the exposures on top of each other and using masks to show the various elements that have been exposed for? Or is there more to it? Also how would you stop it all looking 'out of sync' with each other? I can only imagine doing it and ending up with a very botched result!

I think this guys work is truly amazing!
Flickr link
 
In a most basic way take 2 shots on a tripod. Bracket so that you expose one for the sky for example, one for the foreground.

Overlay the light one over the darker one. Then use the eraser to start showing the darker sky on the darker layer underneath the lighter one.

The trick is to work slowly, careful use of eraser size, edge and opacity to make sure it looks natural and avoid any halos in the region where the 2 layers 'meet'.

I've used this method a bit. You can get good results. It is very similar to using an ND grad filter but more time consuming! Sometimes this method can be preferable however.

Loads of guides for PSE and PS online!
 
Thanks for this, very helpful, especially this bit "go down stairs and speak to your wife who you will be ignoring even more than usual".

Seriously, this is what I have been trying to achieve with exposure blending (I've been calling it HDR) and it's good to read an tutorial aimed at exactly what I'm trying to achieve. I will be giving it another go out of work hours!
 
There's also software that will do this for you automatically, such as 'PhotoMatix' (it does Exposure Blending as well as HDR) and 'Enfuse'.
 
johnsy said:
I found this article helped http://www.davidclapp.co.uk/blog/articles/8-exposure-blending-basics.html
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link, very helpful indeed!

SummerSound said:
There's also software that will do this for you automatically, such as 'PhotoMatix' (it does Exposure Blending as well as HDR) and 'Enfuse'.
Click to expand...

I found that these tools alter every element of the image, whereas I am looking for a technique that will allow me to expose for 3-4 different elements of a scene and then pull them into a photo one by one. Rather than layering them on top of each with the dynamic range going through the roof and rendering a final result. if that makes sense? :shrug:
 
hsuffyan said:
I found that these tools alter every element of the image, whereas I am looking for a technique that will allow me to expose for 3-4 different elements of a scene and then pull them into a photo one by one. Rather than layering them on top of each with the dynamic range going through the roof and rendering a final result. if that makes sense? :shrug:
Click to expand...

Same here!

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm

The above is useful too and possibly in particular the workflow for fine art print bit as I think that's what he does though I've not read it all yet.
 
Freester said:
In a most basic way take 2 shots on a tripod. Bracket so that you expose one for the sky for example, one for the foreground.

Overlay the light one over the darker one. Then use the eraser to start showing the darker sky on the darker layer underneath the lighter one.

The trick is to work slowly, careful use of eraser size, edge and opacity to make sure it looks natural and avoid any halos in the region where the 2 layers 'meet'.

I've used this method a bit. You can get good results. It is very similar to using an ND grad filter but more time consuming! Sometimes this method can be preferable however.

Loads of guides for PSE and PS online!
Click to expand...

Better still use a non destructive method. On the top layer, apply layer mask reveal all. Then paint mask with black to hide the part you don't want. Much easier than using the eraser as it allows you to change your mind. If you make a mistake just paint mask with white.
 
Yeh fair comment about the non-destructive method.

I do this in PSE where you don't exactly have a layer mask.

I'm sure there is a non destructive way however. In PSE I normally make a copy of both layers and then make them non-visible so I can at least fall back to the original layer.
 
Freester said:
Yeh fair comment about the non-destructive method.

I do this in PSE where you don't exactly have a layer mask.

I'm sure there is a non destructive way however. In PSE I normally make a copy of both layers and then make them non-visible so I can at least fall back to the original layer.
Click to expand...

I'm sure I've read a work around for Elements somewhere. Maybe someone can help you out there.
 
i read somewhere that the easiest way to create a layer mask with the right 'holes' in it, is to paste on of the images onto the mask itself, which will translate the image into shades of gray. rather than painting in the dark/light areas. i havent tried it yet, will report back!
 
hsuffyan said:
i read somewhere that the easiest way to create a layer mask with the right 'holes' in it, is to paste on of the images onto the mask itself, which will translate the image into shades of gray. rather than painting in the dark/light areas. i havent tried it yet, will report back!
Click to expand...

Didn't work. I added layer mask reveal all. Then selected the original image and pasted it onto the mask. Result : Total white out.:thumbsdown:
 
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