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What is HDR Photography

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Click to view larger image of an HDR photo taken at nightYou might have noticed that I describe some of my photos as being "HDR". You might be wondering just what is HDR photography, so here's an explanation for you.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. HDR photography consists of blending multiple exposures of the same subject at the same aperture setting but with different exposure lengths. Shooting the same subject in this manner is known as "bracketing" and most SLR digital cameras will have a bracketing setting. My Canon EOS 20D for example, allows you to shoot 3 images in a bracket. Under the menu option you specify the exposure intervals and then you also need to set the camera to shoot multiple exposures. When you hold down the shutter release, the camera will take the 3 different exposures for you. The result is that you end up with photos that are under-exposed, correctly-exposed, and over-exposed.

In the blending of the multiple images into the one photo, the over-exposed image is accentuated for the shadows, and the under-exposed is accentuated for the highlights. The correctly-exposed image is used for the mid-tones.

There is software available to assist with the blending, starting with Photoshop and other programs available online. I also have purchased Dynamic Photo HDR from mediachance.com, and Photomatix Pro available from hdrsoft.com. Photomatix has a free version, but when you save the file it puts Photomatix all over the face of the photo, so if you're going to get serious about this stuff, you'll need to hand over some money.

Here's a link to some of my HDR photos.
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Young at Heart: The Active Seniors Collection + Massive Redbubble Sale!

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Ollie Grandpa Stepping into the freedom of retirement after a long, 45-year career completely shifts your perspective. You finally have the time to let loose, hit the road, and truly embrace the fun side of life! That joyful, unrestrained energy is exactly what I wanted to capture in my newest Redbubble collection. I'm so excited to introduce my new " Active Seniors " series, featuring designs that perfectly embody the "young at heart" spirit. The series features a vibrant, adventurous little old lady tearing it up, and a matching active grandpa catching some serious air on a skateboard or cruising on a bright orange motor scooter. Complete with flower-adorned helmets, flying striped scarves, and big, beaming smiles, these characters are a tribute to everyone who refuses to slow down. These make fantastic graphic tees, travel mugs, or stickers for your own "Fa...
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Taking Photos in RAW DNG Format with Mobile Devices

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Note: This post was originally published on January 16, 2017, as the second part of a three-part series on RAW format mobile photography. Some details — particularly the apps' feature sets, Android versions, and the state of mobile RAW photography — have changed considerably since then. I've left the original text in place as a record of where things stood at the time. Following on from yesterday's post ( What is RAW photography format? ), today I am going to share with you some ways you can take RAW DNG (digital negative) files using an Android device such as a smartphone or tablet. Currently I am using a Google Pixel XL smartphone running on Android 7.1.1 (Nougat). If you haven't yet read yesterday's post, I recommend that you take the time to do so to give you an understanding of the advantages of taking your photos in RAW format. Android Apps That Allow You to Take Photos in RAW Format Currently, these are the two apps I use on my Google Pixel XL ...
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Sure to Rise Parody of the Edmonds Cookbook

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Sure to Rise — Kiwi Easter Parody Some artworks need explanation. This one, for any Kiwi who sees it, needs none at all. A Phrase Every Kiwi Knows by Heart "Sure to Rise" is one of those phrases woven so deeply into New Zealand culture that most Kiwis can't remember the first time they heard it. It belongs to Edmonds, the Christchurch baking-powder company founded by Thomas Edmonds in 1879. According to family legend, a doubtful customer once asked Thomas whether his baking powder would really work better than the unreliable products then on the market. His reply — "It is sure to rise, Madam" — became the most enduring marketing slogan in New Zealand history. The phrase, paired with a stylised rising-sun logo, has appeared on Edmonds baking powder tins for nearly 150 years. Edmonds is now part of Goodman Fielder, but the brand and the slogan remain unmistakable f...
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