HDRs - 3 exposures from one RAW or multiple shots

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appletart

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Tim
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I enjoy my HDRs, and learnt using multiple shots... but I'm not going to lie, sometimes I find it less hassle just to take one RAW, and then create 3 different exposures... Just what is the difference in quality when you do it that way?
 
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appletart said:
I enjoy my HDRs, and learnt using multiple shots... but I'm not going to lie, sometimes I find it less hassle just to take one RAW, and then create 3 different exposures... Just what is the difference in quality when you do it that way?
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thats what i do, and i too was wondering what you may lose, you certainly gain if its hand held with no movement, but is it true hdr?
 
I generally use 3 RAW photos and export from Lightroom to Photomatix- not a big hassle

Even so, 1 raw still has a limited dynamic range compared to even 3 JPEG. If you're using HDR to capture something that could be done with 1 shot, then why bother with HDR?
 
appletart said:
I enjoy my HDRs, and learnt using multiple shots... but I'm not going to lie, sometimes I find it less hassle just to take one RAW, and then create 3 different exposures... Just what is the difference in quality when you do it that way?
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You'll get a lot less noise using 3 raw images
 
appletart said:
I enjoy my HDRs, and learnt using multiple shots... but I'm not going to lie, sometimes I find it less hassle just to take one RAW, and then create 3 different exposures... Just what is the difference in quality when you do it that way?
Click to expand...

If you want the HDR "look", Rather than create 3 files, you can try reducing the contrast and blacks to make the image look flat. This is counter intuitive, but is preserves more of the information in the highlights and shadows on the image. Then take that image into your HDR software and apply tone mapping to it. This will help bring out the subtle details in the shadows and highlights as it does with real HDR photos.
 
I always multiple exposures for HDR, and very rarely as few as three. Normally it's 8-14 seperate exposures for me. But I generally only use HDR for scenes with a huge dynamic range where one exposure couldn't get close.

Trying to do HDR with only one exposure is missing the "high dynamic" point completely, although the tone-mapped look is a valid process in its own right (if you like that look).
 
Scrulooose said:
I'm new to this HDR game and ive done an experiment with my bathroom sink (haha). Shotting 3 images then importing to Photomatix, but i just cant seem to get it.
Here is the example of my sink:http://s1057.photobucket.com/albums/t393/SCrulooose/?action=view&current=HDR1.jpg

Whats the deal? Can anyone help me or give me any advice on what im doing wrong? Thanks in advance!
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not the technical terminology but you cranked that way up to 11! Also looks like a fair bit of ghosting - were they handheld?

tone it down a bit - I use photomatix within aperture and that gives me about 8 different presets or I can tweak it myself.
 
Scrulooose said:
I'm new to this HDR game and ive done an experiment with my bathroom sink (haha). Shotting 3 images then importing to Photomatix, but i just cant seem to get it.
Here is the example of my sink:http://s1057.photobucket.com/albums/t393/SCrulooose/?action=view&current=HDR1.jpg

Whats the deal? Can anyone help me or give me any advice on what im doing wrong? Thanks in advance!
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Either the source images haven't hit it quite right, or the processing is a little harsh.. whichever the cause, there are large blown areas which shouldn't be there with HDR. My guess is that you can pull some of those back by adjusting the processing.
 
daugirdas said:
One properly exposed RAW file, and a proper processing. Best IQ and saves time.
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But isn't always capable of getting the result desired.
 
Alastair said:
But isn't always capable of getting the result desired.
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Agreed.

If you have dramatic highs and lows, the 2 stop saving grace camera raw gives you just isn't good enough.

If your scene is needs just 4 stops then the RAW file will suffice but sometimes you need may need 6 stops to create the scene.

I did one last night which was a night scene hdr and that needed 7 stops.
 
I like to use RAW in a slightly different manner. I use exposure bracketing in camera in RAW and then if that hasn't given me the results I want I can then adjust the RAW's as necessary to create extra images.
 
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