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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> HDR - bracketed or single raw image?
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 02/21/2012 10:10:28 AM · #1
Which gives you the best results? Bracketing or one single RAW file saved at different exposure setting? I've done both and have had decent results but was curious how most handled the process.
 02/21/2012 10:14:29 AM · #2
Originally posted by SEG:
Which gives you the best results? Bracketing or one single RAW file saved at different exposure setting? I've done both and have had decent results but was curious how most handled the process.

Bracketing is a much better method, especially if you bracket wide enough (such as +2EV,0,-2EV). You have richer data to work with from the start. But if the scene is 'changing' such as a windy day or if there is movement of the subject, single RAW files can work nicely. So, it depends!

Message edited by author 2012-02-21 10:17:54.
 02/21/2012 10:55:10 AM · #3
Great question. Always wondered about bracketing for scenes with some movement.
 02/21/2012 11:02:08 AM · #4
Depends on the dynamic range of the scene, which is to state the obvious. Also depends on whether you are working towards a natural look, or a surreal look.

I prefer the -1,0,+1 bracketing, but that's for scenes with dynamic range of 7 or less camera stops between the blackest shadows and the brightest highlights. When the dynamic range is greater than 7 camera stops, I usually add more exposures, like -2,-1,0,+1,+2.

For scenes with more extreme dynamic range, other techniques can be combined with HDR. For example, shooting during the golden hours and using soft grad ND filters can be very helpful in your photography.

I find PhotoMatix works for some HDR scenes and not well for others. Nik's HDR Efex Pro is better most of the time, but not always.

Using one image for HDR used to be called pseudo-HDR.... with good reason. Pseudo HDR works best when you don't really need HDR.

Bottom line: The early history HDR output was surreal and looked "cooked". That created a misconception by many that all HDR output should look over-processed, which is definitely NOT the case. Almost all of my landscape images (advanced edit ruleset) are now HDR images. Most people do not notice the HDR process, which is always my goal.

Message edited by author 2012-02-21 11:02:45.
 02/21/2012 11:06:38 AM · #5
I've never done one of these images...

One to add to my "to do" list. Seems like it could be fun!!!

Message edited by author 2012-02-21 11:06:56.
 02/21/2012 11:26:16 AM · #6
My goals are very similar to Richard's. I almost never want the viewer to perceive that I used HDR techniques.
Multiple exposures are always preferred, but when motion between frames cannot be avoided, it can cause major issues that are not surmountable with multiple exposures and HDR software. One option exists when the scene can easily be split, for instance a sky and foreground. If the motion only exists in the foreground, or only in the sky, then manually blending exposures may give excellent results. Manual blending is in fact my preferred method of HDR when a single RAW exposure is insufficient.
Don't assume that you need to use lots of bracketed shots. For some scenes, two shots will do very nicely. It will become more difficult to blend as the difference in exposure is increased, but this is not always a problem. I've blended two exposures with up to 4 stops of exposure difference without a problem, but that's a special case. Normally 2 stops is about the largest difference that can be easily dealt with.
 02/21/2012 11:44:25 AM · #7
I have tried to run a few copies of the same shot with different exposure values through photomatix and have ended up with a noisy, garbled mess. So if you're going that route I'd certainly recommend manual blending instead of relying on photomatix (or possibly other HDR software) to do the work.
 02/21/2012 11:57:58 AM · #8
Originally posted by bohemka:
I have tried to run a few copies of the same shot with different exposure values through photomatix and have ended up with a noisy, garbled mess. So if you're going that route I'd certainly recommend manual blending instead of relying on photomatix (or possibly other HDR software) to do the work.


I've done it many times, mostly with very good results. You got to pick your shot, though. If it's too severely over or under in one area or another, no amount of fiddling will bring detail where there was none to begin with, just noise and artifacting.

This one's a single-image HDRI shot:



R.

Message edited by author 2012-02-21 12:00:12.
 02/23/2012 03:59:16 PM · #9
Unfortunately I do not have a specific example, but I did this with my Christmas tree over the winter. While a single RAW still gave great results, the -2/0/+2 came out much better. It was cleaner, sharper, brighter, more dynamic range (of course).

I suppose it all depends on the situation of the shot, as a single RAW is good for image/action/quick shots. If you can, I would always recommend 3+ exposures.
 02/23/2012 08:38:43 PM · #10
Let's talk about single exposure HDR.

I've never had any luck with just letting Photomatix or Nik Effex go with one photo, without fake bracketing them first in Lightroom. This supposedly is not necessary, since the app is fully capable of doing that for you.

But they don't seem to. How do you guys do the single exposure HDR?

(And I think the best results I've gotten out of the fake bracketing was actually in PS. But mostly it's been a bust for me...I can do the same with LR's gradient masks. Curious to learn how to make it work (though I almost always bracket, i don't think I'll be doing that with my D800E when it arrives at 36MPixels per shot.)

Message edited by author 2012-02-23 20:40:16.
 02/23/2012 09:39:51 PM · #11
Most of my challenge entries are single exposure HDR in Photomatix. But then how do I know if the result is what you like! For those who like single image HDR toning that does not look like HDR here is one:
02/23/2012 09:50:26 PM · #12
Originally posted by Neil:
How do you guys do the single exposure HDR?


For a mild dose of tone mapping, Nik Viveza works great. If Viveza doesn't do the trick by itself, then I go back to RAW and create 3 bracketed exposures from the single exposure and merge them in HDR Efex pro and open the resultant file in CS5. Then I layer the Viveza file over the CS5 file and mask out what I don't want to keep.

R.
 02/24/2012 08:09:39 PM · #13
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Neil:
How do you guys do the single exposure HDR?


For a mild dose of tone mapping, Nik Viveza works great. If Viveza doesn't do the trick by itself, then I go back to RAW and create 3 bracketed exposures from the single exposure and merge them in HDR Efex pro and open the resultant file in CS5. Then I layer the Viveza file over the CS5 file and mask out what I don't want to keep.

R.


Same here. I create 3 bracketed exposures from RAW file then put them into Photomatix.
 02/25/2012 07:36:21 AM · #14


1 X Raw, LR4 -2, 0, +2 then photomatix and then conversion to B&W.

Obviously just playing with the idea.

Message edited by author 2012-02-25 07:37:15.
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