HDR Photography Photo Workshop

Chapter 2. GEARING UP

FOCUSING ON THE PHOTOS

CAMERA TYPES

CAMERA FEATURES

USEFUL ACCESSORIES

LENSES AND HDR

SOFTWARE

Photography is about capturing light with your camera. The unique characteristics of the subject, scene, and photographic purpose, however, suggest or may even dictate specific tools for the job. You don't see photographers shooting long-distance shots of wildlife in Africa using macro lenses. Nor do you typically shoot nice wedding portraits with fisheye lenses.

HDR photography is no different. You capture light with your camera using the tools of the trade. The only HDR-specific tool is the software required to convert bracketed photos to high-hit HDR files, which are then tone mapped.

Therefore, if you are a landscape photographer with all the gear, you're primed to start shooting HDR. If you are an amateur photographer with a semipro dSLR and kit lens, you can start out, too.

This chapter covers a variety of gear that will enable you to take photographs and transform them into HDR according to your creative vision — from cameras to lenses, tripods, and filters. You also get a brief introduction to the different software packages that make HDR possible.

FOCUSING ON THE PHOTOS

Before getting to the gear, it is wise to start with the big picture. Photography in general — and HDR in particular — are activities that require a specialized ser of equipment, the knowledge to use it, and the money to buy it. It is not an endeavor without cost and complexity. Time is also a factor. ...