HDR Experimentation

HDR stands for 'High Dynamic Range'. It is a technique that works really well with landscape photography. For my experiment I used photographs I had taken of the sky, wanting to capture the movement of the clouds. I was interested in the effect that the movement would create in the final image.

Here are some examples of HDR photography:

I took three photos of the same subject, at three different exposures. One over exposed by one stop, one at 'correct' exposure, and one underexposed by one stop. I used a tripod to ensure that the images were all exactly the same, so they would align correctly.

Unfortunately, the lens of the camera that I was using had not been kept properly, and so had dust and hairs actually inside of the lens which ruined the images. When I get a new lens I should retake these pictures.

Below are my three original images.

Overexposed

Correctly Exposed

Underexposed

After importing the images to my computer, I used the 'merge to HDR' option in Photoshop to create a HDR image. This is the resultant image.

I didn't feel that this image had the correct 'HDR' feel. This could be due to my subject matter, or to the movement of the clouds, or perhaps my images were exposed wrong. To try to improve the contrast between the sky and clouds, I used Levels to make the darks darker. 

I feel that this picture was much more successful, but I need further experimenting in order to achieve a well done HDR photo.

Inspired by Harris Shutter Effect

I used a similar method to the Harris Shutter effect to create the purple glow on this image. The motion blur creates a dreamy mistiness to the image, the light coloured splurges also do not cover up the subject, thus not detracting from the final image.

The pink and blue shadows around the hair and chin add a little interest to the image, and also give it a bit of a pop feel. Because of the 'double image' effect, it looks like the subject has moved, making the image appear candid and more natural. 

Harris Shutter Effect

The Harris Shutter effect is created by combining three pictures of the same subject with three different colour exposures, one red, one green, one blue. When combined, areas of overlap are coloured more like the 'original' image, whereas the rest take on the colour that that exposure was at.

This technique is good for showing movement of a subject, and also creates an interesting, slightly psychedelic effect.

Below are some examples of the Harris Shutter effect:



















































After researching into techniques on how to emulate the harris shutter effect using photoshop, I recreated my own image.

While I really like the effect it made, I feel as if the final image may have been more successful with more movement, and perhaps a more interesting subject. The slight registering error of the overlap of the images on the carpet produces a really nice effect, and I would keep it in mind for future photographs with interesting patterns.

Energy, Power, and Dynamism

For this unit I will be focusing on Dynamism, especially photography capturing movement, be that due to motion blur, or a freezing a moment in time.

To get the feeling of movement into my images, I will use a range of shutter speed in my photography. Slow shutter speeds give the impression of an object moving quickly, and add interest in sport photography. On the other hand, by using a fast shutter speed, I can capture an instant, and so can create captivating snapshots that my be unseen to the naked eye.

I want to convey a feeling of movement through a still image, so lighting, focus, subject, aperture, and location will all be very important in producing a successful final image.

Pinterest Inspiration Board

Follow Lucy's board Dynamism on Pinterest.