New York City
High-Dynamic-Range Imaging (HDR)
I've been experimenting with HDR images for a few years. With HDR, it's possible to have tremendous detail in the darker elements of your photo, even when you have full saturation of white elsewhere. You can also stylize your images by experimenting with Photoshop's HDR composition process.
To get started, use a tripod and take multiple, bracketed exposures of your subject. Then use Photoshop's Automate, Merge to HDR Pro to create your composite HDR image.
Various HDR merge controls in Photoshop let you control the degree of realism vs. whimsical coloring, softening, shadows, etc. Shooting in raw format is encouraged because raw format images provide more detail to the HDR composition process, resulting in amazing HDR images that can be printed at very large size.
Jan 2021 - I now have a more sturdy tripod to precisely frame the images and to hold the camera absolutely still, even with wind gusts. This is especially important with HDR photography at ISO 100, 15+ second exposures, and large f-stops. The first two photos below use my new tripod setup.
↑ Sunset view of Queensboro Bridge as it disappears into Queens. HDR intensified image with sharpening and auto-color palette choices from Photoshop.
↑ Sunset view of Motorgate Parking Garage and Manhattan Park apartments, Roosevelt Island, New York City. East River, Roosevelt Island Bridge, Ravenswood Generating Station and Queensboro Bridge. HDR Intensified Image with auto settings.
↑ East River and Manhattan Upper East Side.
HDR Intensified Image with Pink Color Emphasis.
↑ Grand Central Terminal HDR Composite Image.
Last warm evening of 2017 for outdoor photography.
↑ Roosevelt Island Parking Garage, East Channel of the East River, and
Ravenswood Generating Station. HDR Composite Image.
Ravenswood Generating Station. HDR Composite Image.
↑ East River and Manhattan Upper East Side. HDR Intensified Image.
Orange and Blue Color Emphasis.
↑ Northeast Roosevelt Island, Astoria House, RFK Bridge, and Railroad Bridge.
HDR Composite Image.
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Below we begin a new series of Summer 2020 HDRs from June 10, 2020, taken with my Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Lens. Slightly humid: 72F/22.2C, 85% RH
↑ Northeast view w/ RFK Bridge at bright horizon.
↑ Manhattan Park's shared front lawn on Roosevelt Island, New York
↑ 40 River Road and Motorgate Parking Garage, separated by the East Channel of the East River from Ravenswood Generating Plant, with the red and white smokestacks at right rear.
