Ever try to take a photo but it doesn’t turn out as nicely as the scene looked in person? It is especially challenging to take good photos when the subject has both bright areas and dark areas. Like a scene with areas of both bright daylight and dark shadows.
Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights. The human eye can see more dynamic range than a camera can capture in a single image.
There is a technique called high dynamic range (HDR) photography that can create a photographic image featuring both the bright and dark areas with a proper exposure. Since a camera is not able to capture both the bright areas and dark areas properly in a single photo, the HDR process combines multiple photographs
The process involves taking multiple digital photos of the subject in rapid succession, using exposures ranging from under-exposed to over-exposed images. Specialized HDR computer software combines the best parts of each of the images to make a final composite image. Here are a few samples showing what the HDR process can do.
Tree in Windsor Gardens along the High Line Canal.
Sunrise view of the Lowry Town Center.