Any digital photo experts here? HDR photo processing.

whitegoods_engineer

I've been trying to Google an answer but just cannot find one.

I want to be able to manipulate all of the tonal range of HDR photos.

I know I can take bracketed pictures and merge them in an HDR programme, using the merged image to manipulate.

Now my camera automatically creates an HDR picture and saves 2 photos on the card.

One photo appears to be non-adjusted, the other appears to show much more detail in the shadows and highlights.

My question is, is this photo the one with all of the relevant tones for me to manipulate or do I have to have 3 merged photos in a manipulation programme in order to access all of the tones?

I'm guessing that the improved photo is just the camera's finished HDR exported as a jpg and that I will need all of the under and over exposed photos in a processing programme in order to do this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Johnmcl7

What model of camera is it? I agree with the post above that if the camera supports the raw format, that's what you should be using.

The raw format is sort of like a digital negative as it's unprocessed version of the photo and allows you to recover information which can be lost when the final jpeg is produced.

John

whitegoods_engineer

Thanks for the replies.

The camera is a Sony RX100 (MKI).

I've experimented, and found that if I use HDR mode, I can hear the multiple exposures being taken, but I am just left with 2 photos. One looking better exposed all round than the other. I'm guessing that's 2 camera-processed JPEGS, one normal processed and one in-camera HDR processing (The file sizes are both nearly the same, small JPG sizes unlike RAW files).

Can I assume then, that if I take it as a RAW file, that the multiple exposures in the bracketing are all available within the RAW file, OR would I need, for example, 3 RAW files, 1 underexposed, 1 normal exposure and 1 overexposed to then combine for full HDR availability, (or 3 JPGs)?

I'm confused whether the RAW file will have enough dynamic range in order to process as an HDR.

So, is a RAW file taken using HDR different to a RAW file which is taken not using HDR?

forgotmyname

JPEG files are smaller because its a lossy format, your losing quality over saving in RAW format.

Zoom into a jpg file image and you will see artifacts, these are added when compressing the image. Take a picture of a large block of colour and jpg compresses it which will normally add arifacts, especially if there is a slight colour change over the area.

RAW is every pixel in perfect condition...
See.... http://photographersconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/final-edit-up-close-lose-black-detail-and-sharpness.png

Johnmcl7

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

So, is a RAW file taken using HDR different to a RAW file which is taken not using HDR?

I've just checked my RX100 which is a mk4 but it's the same as the mk 1 from what I can remember in that it doesn't allow certain features like HDR to be enabled - when I have raw and jpeg set as my quality options, HDR-Auto is disabled and I can only choose the DRO settings (auto or different levels). As the raw file is unprocessed if you are able to produce a raw file from the HDR mode it must be an untouched one.

Generally to get the best HDR images you need bracketting to take multiple shots and combine them, the camera can take bracketted shots at different exposures using the drive mode settings. You can push the dynamic range from a single raw file which is what the DRO setting does but not a huge amount compared to the bigger sensors.

John

lemontart

You can manipulate any photo what ever way you want with your photo editor. Just because the camera does x y or z is not a barrier to that. Bottom line is that you are happy with the result however it is achieved.

wongataa

With in camera HDR modes you do not see the photos taken to make the HDR image. The camera deletes them. The resultant HDR image will only be a regular jpg file as well and will not be suitable for further editing. If you want full control over the HDR process take three images and merge them yourself with appropriate software.

shopbot

For most control of the process you need at least 3 bracketed photos shot in RAW. The in-camera HDR you describe only has the data of that finished photo not the photos that were used in it's making.

The in-camera HDR photo may have some latitude for further adjustment but this'll likely be a JPG image and this is not ideal for working on. This will degrade every time you press save.

As for RAW files..you will get a better HDR from three bracketed RAW files than one single RAW file. The reason is that whilst RAW files are easily adjustable you can introduce artefacts such as noise when processing. For example if you take a RAW file and increase it's exposure by two stops you will introduce noise. If you compared that to a photo taken in-camera with an exposure of plus two stops there weren't be the same noise.

Can I ask what's the end goal of your HDR processing? If it's simply to increase the dynamic range of your photos then shooting in RAW and learning digital post processing maybe enough to get the results you want. However if you are after an HDR look then yes you need to be using HDR software.

lemontart

In Camera Hdr explained here - http://ketteringsnappers.freeforums.net/thread/343/camera-hdr

Creating Hdr effects in photo editor tutorials here - http://ketteringsnappers.freeforums.net/thread/384/hdr-effects

Also regardless of what some say, you can do it with JPEGs, though you are better off with raw images as they contain more data to work with. Raw v Jpeg explained here - http://ketteringsnappers.freeforums.net/thread/571/raw-jpeg