Close, Closer... and now three steps closer!

There are three basic techniques photographers can use to instantly improve their images... getting closer, finding the right light and creating more images.  Finding the right light is likely the most important as a mediocre composition can be transformed by glorious light.  Moving closer to the subject is equally important.  Many times amateur photographers stand too far awar from people they are photographing - often 10 to 20 feet from their subjects.  This becomes an even bigger problem the smaller the subjects are.

High Dynamic Range image processing - Is it getting an undeserved bad rap?

High Dynamic Range photography, or “HDR” as it’s known by those familiar with the technique is basically the process of merging various exposures of a subject into a single “merged” image.  This merged image typically contains image fine detail in the extreme highlights, mid-tones, and shadow areas.

With a light touch, the technique gives photographers the ability to capture scenes that would be impossible to capture with a single exposure. For example, balancing scenes consisting of varying daylight and incandescent light sources. The technique essentially gives photographers the ability to represent in an image the dynamic range that we’re able to capture with our eyes but typically not with our cameras.

But with great power… (More after the jump...)