Spring Melt

[Marko]

yes fabulous comments everyone and I like how you made casil answer the question JJ!

I have nothing to add here except do you have a histogram feature on your camera? We talk about histograms and HDR in the following 2 podcasts.
Hope that helps

Marko

Histograms - http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=85
HDR - http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=198

[casil403]

I have an HDR setting in my camera...is this what you are talking about JJ?
I also threw in a bit of a blue tint in #2.

Thanks for all your comments everyone...I'm learning that snow is a bit of a bugger to work with for newbies!

[jjeling]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artieph...hy/2811988021/

Check this link out. It will explain to you what HDR is in an extreme way.
There are two things I think you might be understanding as HDR.
The first is the Multi-exposure. This is not HDR. Im glad you have a Pentax so I can help out here. Multi-exposure allows you to take between 2-9 shots, then melts them all into one picture. The parallel to tricking old 35mm into allowing two pictures on one exposure. This can be done in post production as well. But if you are far away from a computer, and really are going for a desired effect, it will work. It is important to play around with this setting to get a good understanding of how it works. Below where you choose the number of exposures you want, make sure the Auto EV is checked. It will make sure the combination of all the pictures are properly exposed instead of blowing out the whole picture.

Now, what I really think you are looking at is the auto bracketing. You can choose between 3 and 5 shots in your chosen succession at 1/3 all he way up to 2 stops apart. This is the beginning of HDR. You need to take these shots in order to combine them all. What happens in PP is all of the perfectly exposed areas of several images are merged into one image creating an exaggerated color scheme and a very dramatic image. Bracketing can also be used if you are in a situation where you need a shot really fast. Generally people prefer certain settings for bracketing and once turned on will just shoot away. If a subject is not going to be around long, turn your bracketing on. It will almost always result in one keeper if you are pressed for time and cant fiddle with other settings.
No camera can produce an "HDR" image. Bracketing allows you to take differently exposed images that can later be merged in post production as an HDR image. When you get around to trying it, always make sure you are using a tripod, otherwise, images will not line up properly, and will pretty much ruin your attempt at it.

Hope that helps. There has to be someone here that can explain this better than I can.

[JAS_Photo]

Photomatrix will create your HDR photo for you once you plug in your images. The program is about $99 U.S. to buy but you can download it for a free trial to see if it something you would like to try. Search HDR in flickr and you will find some amazing examples.

Here is another thread that touches on the subject.

Click for HDR


Check out Z06-jim's photos here for some impressive HDR

[Barefoot]

I have an HDR setting in my camera...is this what you are talking about JJ?

“No camera can produce an "HDR" image.” Don’t let “Mr. Pentax” steer you in the wrong direction.

If your camera has an HDR mode, then you must have either the K20D or the K200D either of which does indeed have the ability to create HDR images in camera. Please read your manual as how it’s used, and then post some results for us to see. Just remember, still life/landscape only and use a tripod with your image stabilization mode turned off.

The intention of HDRI is to accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows, however many photographers now take images that could otherwise be properly exposed for the sole purpose of using the tone mapping functions available in most HDR programs. Tone mapping is what gives those images their “otherworld” appearance.

Without tone mapping, the typical HDR image can appear a little flat and de-saturated. It is the tone mapping function that provides the saturated, almost un-real looking colors that people really love, or hate, in HDR imaging. In other words, simply bracketing 3 or more images and combining those in software will not give you the type of image most now associated with HDRI.

If you would like to try a fine piece of HDRI software that is very easy to use and doesn’t cost a penny, look at this:

http://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/

[jjeling]

I was not aware that either camera had HDR. From my knowledge there is an expanded dynamic range, it does not seem like it would be the same HDR image as you would get with photomatix.

I do understand that images are captured in a standard 8 bit color scheme. With the expanded dynamic range, it doubles this to 16 bit color. However, even with a perfect exposure with the expanded dynamic range turned on, a true hdr picture does not seem likely. Colors may be much more accurate and contain better detail but it does not seem likely to be a true HDR image. If that is the case however, consider me corrected. If it is, then chalk one more point up for Pentax. One more option Pentax offers that Nikon and Canon have yet to address.

[jjeling]

Im a member over at the Pentax Forums, and just placed the question over there. I really hope I am wrong here. It really would be another great option from Pentax.

[Barefoot]

http://forums.prophecy.co.za/f72/pen...t-dslrs-44098/

[jjeling]

Thanks for that Barefoot. Im am glad to stand corrected. Now Im wondering if I should have held off and bought a K20 instead of the K10. Hmm, maybe Ill have to just buy a used one in the future.

[Barefoot]

One more option Pentax offers that Nikon and Canon have yet to address.

I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that Nikon and Canon haven’t investigated their options of including this function is their cameras. HDR is controversial among photographers. If, and when, it gains more widespread acceptance, I feel sure that you will see it offered in models from all the major manufactures.

It was rumored that Pentax made the jump in an effort to sway uncommitted first time buyers in their direction and to make the process easier for those that are not prone to developing the skills necessary to create HDR images in third party software.