HDR photography: the basics

In short: HDR (High Dynamic Range) combines several photos with different exposures into one image that shows detail in both bright and dark areas. This allows high-contrast subjects to be captured that a single shot couldn’t fully represent.

In more detail: A camera’s dynamic range describes how large the brightness difference between the darkest and brightest image areas can be without losing detail.

In detail

• Exposure bracketing: Usually three to five shots of the same subject are taken at different exposures, from underexposed to overexposed.
• Tripod essential: For the individual images to align exactly, the camera must stay still throughout the entire series.
• Tone mapping: Software compresses the large dynamic range of the combined images into a range that screens and prints can display.
• Typical subjects: Landscapes with bright skies and dark foreground objects benefit especially strongly from HDR technique.
• Avoiding exaggerated effects: Too much tone mapping creates unnaturally graphic-looking images instead of realistic photos.
• Automatic HDR modes: Many smartphones now combine exposure series automatically right at the moment of capture (smartphone-fotografie-tipps).
• RAW format: Photos in RAW format offer more room for HDR processing than compressed JPEG files (iso-und-bildrauschen).